May 23rd 2015 Premier Firearms Sale
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 5/22/2015
According to the factory letter, this gun is listed in order book No. 2 as a Model 1874 Mid-Range No. 1 rifle invoiced at the Bridgeport factory dated June 6th, 1876 to Edwin S. Harris, a gun dealer in New York City. It is described as .40 caliber, case length not specified, with a 30" full length octagon barrel. It is noted as being equipped with a long range stock. Not noted Mid-Range No. 1 rifles usually had Vernier tang and wind-gauge front sights. The breach of the barrel on this rifle is stamped "44". It has the Lawrence stamped rear sight and "Old Reliable" stamp on flat. Equipped with the original tang sight but the front sight is a standard sporting sight. The walnut stocks exhibit the factory fine checkering with a Schnauble fore end tip, pistol grip with the base of the grip checkered, and the Sharps coarse checkered steel shotgun buttplate. As this rifle is a .44 caliber, not listed .40, while researching these rifles we have found many inconsistencies, and this rifle is definitely all original. Barrel retains approximately 95% of the original factory blue finish, starting to dull, with some light freckling and typical sharp edge wear. The case colors on frame have darkened with visible pattern. Wood is in beautiful near mint condition with no cracks or chips and sharp checkering. Action is perfect. Strong clean bore. This fine condition rifle is accompanied by a rare original Sharps 1874 leather carrying case with original straps made for the 30" 74 Sharps with a shotgun butt. It is in very good condition with some typical checking, but is far more rare than the rifle itself. A beautiful combination in stellar condition.