GUN FALL 2015
The live portion of this session begins on Monday, October 5, 2015.
EXTREMELY RARE SHARPS MODEL 1877 OVERBAUGH LONG-RANGE SINGLE SHOT TARGET RIFLE.SHARPS187716170345-100Cal. 45-100 Outstanding Sharps rifle with 34" medium to heavy rnd bbl, windgauge, spirit level globe front sight, no provision for a rear sight and orig, matching numbered Vernier tang sight with 4" staff. Heel of buttstock is also mounted with a sight base that has last 3 digits of matching SN on left side. Top of bbl is marked with the Bridgeport address and the "Old Reliable" cartouche. Chamber area of bbl has a single Rigby flat. Mounted with very highly figured French or Circassian walnut with checkered Sharps forearm that has horn Schnable tip. Buttstock has a curl on the checkered grip and has Sharps checkered hard rubber buttplate. Accompanied by a Sharps Rifle Company records letter which identifies this rifle as a long-range #1 target rifle in Cal. 45-100. Records also note that it is "An Overbaugh". Records further note that it only had heel sights and was shipped June 7, 1877 to Frank Hyde of the Sharps Rifle Company at no cost along with a bridle leather case & ammunition.
The letter further details that Mr. Hyde was an accomplished shooter for the Sharp Rifle Company and participated in the Creedmoor & international matches. Records show that he returned the rifle on Sept 26, 1877 with 1 set of sights and the case. This rifle was again invoiced to C. S. Davidson, Hartford, CT on Oct 4, 1877 and was returned, date not noted. It was shipped again Feb 13, 1878 to S. A. Hubbard of Hartford, CT with both of those entries noted as "Hyde''s Gun". The letter continues that "We can be sure that it was in his (Hyde''s) possession and obviously used by him between June 6, 1877 and Sept 26, 1877". A P.S. at the bottom of the 2nd page states that Frank Hyde shot a score of 214 out of a possible 225 at 1000-yds at the NRA rifle range at Creedmoor, Long Island, NY in Aug of 1877 which is the highest score, to date shot on that range in practice for the upcoming international matches of 1877. It continues that on Sept 13 & 14 the international matches for 1877 were shot at the Creedmoor range. Frank Hyde shot a 209 and was 3rd for the 1st day. On the 2nd day, he shot 205, placing 5th, which secured the match for the American team. Weight 10lbs 1oz. According to Sharps Firearms, Sellers there were only 46 of these rare rifles produced at Bridgeport, Jan 1877 to March 1879 making this one of the more rare Sharp rifles. It is with some certainty that we can state that this rifle was used by the accomplished marksman Frank Hyde and other renowned shooters over the years. In addition to being a very rare rifle, it also has a strong history. CONDITION: Very fine. Bbl retains 96-98% strong orig blue with a small ding, a couple of small scratches, a spot of light pitting & some scattered, very light surface etching. Receiver, breechblock, lockplate, hammer & lever retain about 60-70% faded orig case colors, brighter in sheltered areas. Forearm horn tip has a hairline crack, otherwise wood is sound with a series of small dings on the buttstock, a few scratches & scrapes showing moderate wear and overall retains about 92-93% strong orig varnish that is slightly crazed. Mechanics are crisp. Bright shiny bore. 49403-10 JR (25,000-35,000)