May 23rd 2015 Premier Firearms Sale
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 5/22/2015
According to the factory letter, this rifle was shipped to Thomas Cater, a Philadelphia judge and president of the Burlington, New Jersey Rifle Club. It was shipped as a Mid-Range No. 1 .40 cal to Tryon & Co. on May 20th, 1876. Equipped with a veneer tang and wind-gauge front sight. It was sent back September 22nd, 1876 to be fitted with a heel position sight. The letter goes on to state that there was much correspondence about this gun, and that it was eventually rebarreled to .45 caliber and returned to Tryon on April 20th, 1877 thus ending correspondence. The gun is presently stamped "Caliber .40" and the side of the barrel is stamped "Mid-Range 50", so it was apparently changed back again when it was returned to Tryon on April 20th for resale by the Judge. The factory wrote him that they had shipped hundreds of rifles out West without a complaint and for him to send the rifle back. The gun currently features the following: 29-3/4" octagon barrel stamped "Caliber .40", "Old Reliable Sharps Rifle Co. Bridgeport, Connecticut" on top of barrel, "R.S. Lawrence 1859" stamped rear folding sight, globe front sight, Sharps long range tang sight serial numbered to gun, plate covering the veneer heel sight fitting, brass half swiss buttplate, and walnut stock checkered in typical mid-range pattern. The barrel retains approximately 90% original factory blue, beginning to fade and thin. Case colors have basically greyed out. Wood is excellent with no cracks, retains most of the original varnish, and the checkering is sharp. Action is perfect. Strong clean bore.