My M90 engraved

[aiformula]

Was looking for some more info on my semi-recent purchase tonight and came across this forum.  Figured if anyone was going to appreciate this little gem I found, it's gotta be you folks.  So, forgive me for bragging, but here are some pics of the new queen of my collection.











Any insight anyone might be able to give me on the general production vintage or possibly a line on who the engraver might be would be greatly appreciated.  It appears to be hand worked engraving and not a pantograph/stylus job. 

[BobSm]

These were made from 1937-1942 then again after the war from 1949 through 1958.   My books say the prewar guns had ribs between the barrels and post-war guns didn't.  Both eras offered single triggers.

Cornell Publications has catalogs for those years that may specify what engraving (if any) was available.  Otherwise it's likely to have been engraved privately.   There should be a signature somewhere....perhaps even beneath the stock.  These may also have been for sale at various overseas military gun clubs for US occupation forces after the war.   A serviceman could buy a gun in Germany, Japan or Korea and have it engraved locally back when labor in those countries was inexpensive.   For example some of the best pheasant hunting in the world was at the US Rec Center on Cheju Island, Korea, and Germany had GI gun clubs with hunting privileges at almost every major installation.

http://www.cornellpubs.com/old-guns/historic-marlin-firearms.php

[BarkeyVA]

Beautiful gun!  What barrel length does it have, and what guage is it?

The serial number without a letter prefix in front of the numbers and and the 2nd variation forearm iron would indicate that your gun was made prior to WWII, probably between 1939-1941.  However, the checkering pattern on the stock (and 2nd variation forearm) suggests that it was made after WWII but before 1951.  Marlin introduced a 3rd variation forearm in 1951.  

After WWII Model 90's had a letter prefix indicating the year of manufacture as part of the serial number stamped on the bottom of the frame.  Is it possible there was a letter prefix in the serial number on the bottom of the frame that got distorted or obscured during custon engraving?

Does your gun have a web or is it open between the barrels?  Prior to 1949 Model 90's had a web between the barrels.  However, ther must have been a transition period as Marlin phased in the open barrel design, because I have a 12 ga. Model 90 made in 1947 that is open between the barrel, which is unusual.  I have a 16 ga. Model 90 made in 1947 that has the web.

 I can't help you with the source of the engraving.  Marlin did offer hand-engraved presentation guns and special order Model 90 Skeetkings were hand engraved. The engraving on your gun is much more elaborate than on Skeetkings.  Perhaps others will recognize the pattern and style of engraving.

Brophy, in his book, Marlin firearms, A History of the Guns and the Company that Made Them, published in 1989 by Stackpole Books, devotes about 8 pages to the Model 90.  The book is out of print but you might be able to get a copy to read through inter-library loan.  It also comes up for sale from time to time on eBay.

[Rachethead]

I've collected shotguns for many years and have never seen a factory engraved Model 90; and although this is a very interesting example, I seriously doubt this is factory, or factory contracted work.  The engraving work appears to be of Germanic style in that the style is bold and contains many animals that are typically not hunted/chased with a shotgun.  Another indication that this is not factory work is the quality of the wood.  High-grade factory produced and engraved American guns always feature exotic/and or highly figured wood with elaborate checkering; the wood on this gun is plain grained walnut and features the standard Model 90 checkered panels.

[BarkeyVA]

Ratchethead,

There is an article about  the Marlin Model 90 "Skeetking" in the Summer 2009 (Issue 2) of The Double gun Journal starting on Page 83.  It includes several photos of the standard factory hand-engraving and fine figured wood typically offered.  Skeetkings were available by special order in 12, 16 and 20 ga. and .410 bore with 26" or 28" barrels. According to Brophy, they were only sold in 1939 and 1940.