September 20th 2015 Premier Firearms Sale
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 9/19/2015
.40 bore with a 30" barrel. Amongst the most desirable Sharps Model 1874 sporting rifles ever manufactured are the heavy barrel models, those in which the breach of barrel is larger than the frame, that were shipped to destinations out West. This is such a rifle. It was shipped to J.G. Dowe on July 22nd, 1878 from the Bridgeport factory to Bozeman in the Montana Territory. Dowe was acting as a bankruptcy receiver for Walter Cooper, another Bozeman gun dealer. A total of 60 octagon barrel sporting rifles and 50 business rifles were shipped in the same order, along with 35 carbines and 18 sets of reloading dies in 20 crates. This rifle is listed in order book No. 6 simply as a .40 caliber business rifle with no other information. The rifle weighs 14 lbs, is .40 caliber with the 2-5/8" case, double set triggers. Top of the barrel is stamped "Old Reliable Sharps Rifle Co. Bridgeport, C.". Caliber is stamped ".40 calibre 2-5/8". Has the standard folding leaf ladder sight, blade front sight. Left side of frame is stamped "Sharps Rifle Co. Pat. App.". Gun remains in excellent all original condition. The barrel retains approximately 85% of the original blue finish with thinning at muzzle, razor sharp edges and perfect legends. Case colored frame has basically nickeled out. Forearm is excellent, with specially made dimensions to accomodate the extra large full octagon barrel with no cracks and most of its original finish. The stock is also in excellent condition with no cracks, almost all of the original finish, and perfect wood to metal fit. When, and if, one finds a surviving example of a heavy barrel Sharps buffalo rifle that was sent to the far Western areas, they usually have varying degrees of damage. The forearms are usually broken, given the heavy weight of the barrel, and the stocks are usually weathered as well. This rifle shows no such damage and remains in beautiful, fine, all original condition. It is interesting to note that the left side of wrist has the metal plate, which would indicate that Sharps was still using up their supply of old stocks. The bore is strong and the action is perfect. Arguably one of the finest condition heavy barrel Western shipped Model 1874's to survive.