Marlin Model 1881 Large-Frame .45-70 Govt Lever Action Rifle with Rare Factory Double Set Trigger, 28-Inch Octagon Barrel
Produced in 1883 and ordered with a scarce factory double set trigger, this Marlin Model 1881 represents one of the earliest successful repeating rifles chambered for the powerful .45-70 Government cartridge. Fewer than 20,000 Model 1881 rifles were built, and factory double set trigger examples are estimated at under five percent of that total, making this large-frame, 28-inch octagon-barreled Marlin a highly desirable antique for shooters and collectors alike.
Condition
Overall Condition: Very good condition, showing only light, superficial signs of prior handling or use.
Bore Condition: Good - Clean, well-maintained, minor wear marks.
Bore Rifling: Fair Rifling - Worn rifling, slight loss of definition.
Specific Condition Notes: Considering its age of well over 100 years, the rifle remains in remarkable shape. The rear sight is a later replacement and is slightly loose. The toe of the walnut stock was repaired at some point in the past.
What’s Included
- Marlin Model 1881 Large-Frame lever-action rifle
Marlin introduced the Model 1881 as a robust, side-loading, top-ejecting lever gun capable of handling big-bore cartridges. This large-frame variant was specifically engineered for the .45-70 Government round, giving hunters of the era repeating-rifle firepower in a cartridge previously reserved for single-shot rifles.
The 28-inch octagon barrel is paired with a full-length, 10-round tubular magazine, offering 10+1 capacity—an impressive figure for an 1880s big-bore rifle. Iron sights consist of a blade front and an elevator-adjustable semi-buckhorn rear to suit period shooting preferences.
Factory double set triggers on the Model 1881 are rare special-order features. When the rear trigger is “set,” the front trigger breaks at a markedly lighter pull, allowing precise shots with the hefty .45-70 cartridge. This uncommon factory option significantly elevates both the rifle’s collectibility and functional versatility.
The rifle retains its original blued finish on the receiver and barrel, complemented by a straight-grip walnut stock and matching forearm. A crescent steel buttplate and external hammer complete the classic 19th-century Marlin profile.
With serial number 6551 placing manufacture in 1883, this Model 1881 predates Winchester’s Model 1886 and stands as a landmark in the evolution of repeating big-bore rifles made in the United States.