Marble Game Getter

Lore & Background

The Marble Game Getter was first introduced as the Model 1908, with advertisements indicating availability by November of that year. The First Generation was produced between 1908 and 1918, primarily in a .22 Short/.22 LR over .44 Shotshell configuration, though other rifle calibers such as .25-20, .32-20, and .38-40 were also made. Barrel lengths of 15 inches were common, with some 18-inch and 12-inch models produced. Two variations existed: the 1908A, which featured a flexible rear tang sight mounted behind the hammer, and the 1908B, which had the sight hole plugged. The left side of the frame was stamped "-MANUFACTURED BY THE- MARBLE SAFETY AXE CO. -GLADSTONE, MICH. U.S.A.-" and "GAME GETTER." The serial number is on the frame below the barrels, accessed by pulling the trigger guard rearward. After the 1934 National Firearms Act (NFA), the 12-inch and 15-inch models were discontinued for domestic sales, though shorter-barrel versions were offered in Canada until 1955. The 18-inch barrel variation was administratively removed from the NFA in 1939 by the Bureau of Internal Revenue after determining that it was not concealable on the person. The last Model 1921 was produced from spare parts in 1962.

Reader's Guide

The Marble Game Getter occupies a unique niche as a compact, multi-caliber combination gun designed for hunting small game and pest control. Its folding stock and over-under configuration made it portable and versatile, appealing to outdoorsmen who needed a single firearm capable of taking both small game with the rifle barrel and birds or pests with the shotgun barrel. The manual hammer striker allowed the user to select which barrel to fire, adding to its practicality.

In the United States, the Game Getter's legal status is shaped by the National Firearms Act of 1934. Models with shotgun barrels between 12 and 18 inches require registration and a transfer tax stamp as an Any Other Weapon. The 18-inch barrel variation was administratively removed from NFA regulation in 1939 after the Bureau of Internal Revenue determined it was not concealable on the person. However, removing the stock from an 18-inch model makes the weapon less than 26 inches overall, reclassifying it as a weapon made from a rifle or shotgun under the NFA. Original Model 1908 and Model 1921 guns produced before 1943 are classified as Curios & Relics but remain subject to NFA provisions if their barrels are under 18 inches. In Canada, the Game Getter is classified as restricted or prohibited depending on the caliber under current laws.

The three generations reflect the evolution of the design over more than five decades, from the early 1900s through the mid-20th century. The Third Generation's brief production run and the eventual cessation of the line in 1962 mark the end of a distinctive firearm concept that combined two barrels in a lightweight, packable form.

Did You Know?

• The First Generation (Model 1908) was produced between 1908 and 1918.
• The Second Generation (Model 1921) was essentially a new design with a redesigned grip, folding stock, and safety.