November 3-4, 2017 Firearms & Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 11/4/2017
By using a combination of Civil War surplus parts and newly made parts, E.C. Meacham of St. Louis advertised and sold these 1874 style Sharps Sporting rifles. The offered example is of the highest quality, meticulously fitted and finished, with all proper Sharps markings. The 30” heavy octagon barrel is larger than the frame at junction and is stamped “Old Reliable Sharps Rifle Co. Bridgeport Conn”. The frame tang is serial no. C39425 indicating Civil War surplus. The right side plate is stamped “C Sharps Pat October 5th, 1852”. Left side is stamped “C Sharps Pat September 12th, 1848”. The patch box used is the one on Civil War Sharps. Double set triggers, fine course checkering at wrist with a slight Schnabel forend, German silver knife blade front, RS Lawrence 1859 patent ladder rear sight. As to condition, we cannot say enough. This is arguably the finest surviving 1874 Meacham Sharps rifle in existence. The barrel retains all of its original blue. Razor sharp legends with just some very minute octagon flat high edge thinning with a hint at the muzzle. Rear sight screw retains 75% blue. The top of the hammer, top tang, lower tang and bottom of trigger guard have grayed out. Balance of gun retains 90% case colors. Buttplate retains traces of colors. Top screw has 90% blued finish. Wood is nearly flawless, extremely dark with raise grain. Bore and action are like new. This heavy Buffalo gun weighs 11.8 ounces. You will sometimes find target Sharps rifles in this type of condition but the sporting rifles, especially those made with the heavy barrels intended specifically for Buffalo hunting, were always used hard as they were extremely expensive in their day and hunters making a living with their weapons used them on a daily basis. We have never seen nor heard in any auction or in any book, of a finer condition Sharps conversion sporting rifle. If you collect Sharps rifles, this rifle belongs in one of the country’s finest collections given the rarity and condition. The last known lineage of this rifle was sold approximately ten years ago by David Condon for approximately $15,000 and has been in a private collection since.