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MS 066 - L.C. Smith, Marlin & Hunter Arms Companies Collection

 Collection
Identifier: MS 066

Abstract

Serial number record books from these companies: Series I-Marlin; Series II-Hunter Arms-L.C. Smith.

Dates

  • Created: 1890-1918
  • Other: Date acquired: 10/01/1989

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

McCracken Library staff may determine use restrictions dependent on the physical condition of manuscript materials. Restrictions may exist on reproduction, quotation or publication. Contact McCracken Research Library for more information.

Conditions Governing Use

ALL MATERIALS RESTRICTED TO STAFF USE ONLY.

Biographical or Historical Information

Marlin Firearms Co., formerly of New Haven and North Haven, Connecticut, is a manufacturer of high power, center fire, lever action, bolt-action, and .22 caliber rimfire rifles. In the past, the company made shotguns, derringers and revolvers. Marlin owned the firearm manufacturer H & R Firearms. In 2007, Remington Arms, part of the Freedom Group acquired Marlin Firearms.  Remington currently produces Marlin brand firearms at its Kentucky and New York manufacturing facilities.  John M. Marlin was born in Connecticut in 1836, and served his apprenticeship as a tool and die maker. During the Civil War, he worked at the Colt plant in Hartford, and in 1870 hung out his sign on State Street, New Haven, to start manufacturing his own line of revolvers and derringers. The outstanding team of inventors he was able to attract developed breakthrough and enduring models, such as the Model 1891 and 1893 rifles. Updated as Models 39 and 336 respectively, they are the oldest sporting shoulder arm models still in current production by their original maker. The lever action 22 repeater (now Model 39) was the favorite of many exhibition shooters, including Annie Oakley. When John Marlin died in 1901, his two sons took over the business and began a diversification program. In 1915 during World War I, a New York syndicate bought the company and renamed it the Marlin Rockwell Corporation. Marlin became one of the largest machine gun producers in the world for the US and its Allies, building the M1895 Colt-Browning machine gun and a later variant called the "Marlin gun". In 1917 Marlin Rockwell bought out the Hopkins & Allen Arms Company to promote an expanded line of firearms and improve the image of the Marlin company as makers of "sporting arms".  The sporting firearms part of the business became a new corporation, which staggered until 1923, when it went on the auction block. Courtesy Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marlin_Firearms)

The Marlin company has recently been sold, and is now owned by Sturm, Ruger, & Co.

Extent

19.00 boxes

Language of Materials

English

Physical Access Requirements

Poor physical condition. Individual portfolios needed for each volume. Work in progress on re-housing volumes.

Source of Acquisition

Lieutenant Colonel William S. Brophy (United States Army Ranger Retired)

Method of Acquisition

Gift.

Author
Samantha L. Harper
Description rules
Other Unmapped
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
Eng

Repository Details

Part of the McCracken Research Library Repository

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