Rare Presentation Marston Sporting Rifle. .36 caliber with a 28” barrel. This gun is serial number 114. Nice sharp gun with mixture of brown finish and brown patina. Barrel is marked “Sprague & Marston New York”. From our research, this appears to be a marking used between 1851 – 1853. Flayderman’s Guide lists these guns being made in the mid 1850’s, but it appears they were being made earlier than this by the marking and inscription. The inscription is a presentation in a silver plaque on the right-hand side of the butt stock. It reads, “Hoc Guard / 3rd Place / Won by / Thomas Shipley / Nov 10th 1852”. Clearly these guns were being made as early as 1852. We were not able to locate a Thomas Shipley in a cursory search. Frame is factory engraved. Action is tight and works properly. Bore has rifling with pitting.