Don,
Once again I have the twin to one of your rifles. Mine is the same configuration as yours except it is in .25-36 caliber and it has a hard rubber buttplate. It is s/n 127XXX shipped in 1895. Mine also has the long takedown lever, and honestly I have seen very few with the long takedown lever. In all my years collecting Marlins, I'd say I've seen fewer than 5 or 6 with that lever. Makes me wonder if that was something used early on and later rifles were the shorter levers. I've see a very few with the flush levers too.
WB