GUN SPRING 2016
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 3/14/2016
RARE SHARPS #1 CREEDMOOR LONG RANGE TARGET RIFLE. SHARPS #1 CREEDMOOR C54117 44-90 Cal. 44-90 2-5/8 BN. Rare Sharps with 32" mid-weight oct bbl, spirit level windgage front sight, no rear seat & long range vernier rear sight base with the number "54220" on left side of base. The 5-1/2" staff is a reproduction and is not fitted with detent slot. Top flat of bbl has the 1-line Hartford address and Cal. marking that is surmounted by an "L". Mounted with very nicely figured American walnut with checkered rnd Sharps forearm that has pewter tip, a checkered pistol grip buttstock with hard rubber grip cap & smooth steel shotgun buttplate. Accompanied by a Sharps records letter over the signature of Dr. Richard J. Labowskie, owner of the records, which shows that this rifle, noted as SN "154117", is listed in the order book as a "Creedmoor Rifle" and was invoiced to John P. Moore''s Sons, New York City. The record shows that it was a 44 Cal. with 32" oct bbl, single-trigger, "graduated" (assumed to be an early misnomer for vernier) and windgauge sights. The letter also states that the Creedmoor Rifle designation is actually not in the record but the price of $125 clearly indicates that it was the #1, or highest grade. This rifle was in a shipment of three Creedmoor rifles. The letter also states that John P. Moore''s Sons received 19 of the first 20 Creedmoor rifles shipped from the Sharps factory in 1874. The very first Creedmoor rifles were invoiced on March 16, 1874 and the letter states that this rifle constituted the second group. According to the book Sharps Firearms, Sellers, there were 134 of these rifles produced March 1874 - Dec 1875. These rare rifles acquitted themselves very well in long range shooting both in the U.S. and abroad, used by many winning U.S. teams. CONDITION: Fine to very fine, all matching except tang sight as noted above, including receiver, bbl, lockplate, trigger plate, buttstock & forearm. Bbl retains about 90% strong orig blue with some light surface roughness about a foot from the muzzle and showing light sharp edge wear. Receiver retains faint case colors on the left side with the balance a mottled silver/brown patina. Lever is matching patina. Lockplate retains traces of dark case colors under the hammer, otherwise is also matching patina. Wood is sound with light nicks & scratches and a small grain check near the left heel with the buttstock retaining about 85% orig varnish and the forearm about 70% orig varnish. 49705-1 JR85 (17,500-27,500)