November 5th & 6th 2016 Premier Firearms Sale
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 11/5/2016
We measured the bore and it is most likely .44-90 but should be chamber cast to determine the exact caliber. According to the research letter by Dr. Richard Lebowski it is listed in the order book No. 2 as a Model 1874 Long Range No. 1 rifle invoiced at the Bridgeport Factory on April 8th, 1876 to William Read & Sons, Boston, Massachusetts. It is listed only as a “Long Range Rifle Complete” but the price of $125 -20+10% clearly indicates it was a No.1 Grade, probably with spirit level front sight. The Read Store purchased this rifle for H.P. Blake of Walpole, Massachusetts. Blake has extensive correspondence with the Sharps Company on this gun. He returned serial No. 156515 to the factory for stock work, then a new barrel with lighter rifling, and finally for an extra-long range veneer staff to correct his poor scores at 800-1000 yards. He eventually pronounced his rifle perfect. It is interesting to note, that when the sight is removed, the serial number matches that of the serial number on the veneer base, so it was numbered and fitted to this gun. While not mentioned in the letter, the full octagon barrel is stamped “Frank Wesson Worcester, Mass”. The barrel is not cut for a rear sight and sports a spirit level target front sight. The discussion as to the last change regarding the veneer sight as the rifle then being perfect that the Wesson barrel was the new barrel with lighter rifling, but no mention of why they used a Wesson barrel. According to Sharps Firearms, Sellers, there were 70 No. 1 long-range rifles produced at Bridgeport in the period Nov. 1875 to Oct. 1879 and according to the referenced publication they all had 34" octagon barrels while this rifle measures 32”. The original numbered base contains a C. Sharps reproduction vernier staff. Other features on this rifle include a long range veneer base at rear of stock. The walnut stock is finely checkered with pistol grip and checkered steel shotgun butt plate. Stock is excellent to near mint with original finish and no cracks or chips. Left side of stock has an adhered sticker that reads “R.D. No. 4 Schenevus, New York”. All of the appended metal including trigger plate, lock plate and butt plate, along with the butt stock are matching numbered “5516” instead of the last four digits of the SN which is “6516”, apparently an assembler’s mistake. As to condition, the barrel retains approximately 90% original blue finish with usual age freckling. The frame retains generous portions of original case colors with the majority turned gun metal grey. Stocks are excellent with sharp checkering. Trigger is checkered. Butt stock displays beautiful deluxe grain. Perfection action. Strong rifled bore with some minor black powder abrasion. Beautiful special order, high condition and storied long range Sharps rifle.
Model
Long Range Model 1874 No. 1