GUN FALL 2016
The live portion of this session begins on Tuesday, October 4, 2016.
VERY FINE SHARPS MODEL 1874 HEAVY BARRELED SPORTING RIFLE SHIPPED TO KITTREDGE, CINCINNATI, 1877.SHARPSSPORTING 187416006845-2 7/8Cal. 45 2-7/8" chamber. Fine sporting rifle with 30″ heavy oct bbl, Rocky Mountain style front sight and Sharps-style ladder rear sight and 4" mid-range tang sight. Top flat of bbl is marked with the Bridgeport address and "Old Reliable" cartouche. Cal. marking is on top flat and right side flat over the chamber area. Trigger plate has dbl set triggers. Mounted with nicely figured, straight grain American walnut with semi-schnable forearm and straight stock with checkered steel Sharps buttplate. Gun was not disassembled other than checking bbl for matching SN, otherwise appears all orig and matching and well fit. According to Sharps Firearms, by Frank Sellers, there were about 3,881 Model 1874 sporting rifles produced at Bridgeport in the period 1871 to 1880. Sharps Factory letter states: from Order Book No. 5, Model 1874 Sporting Rifle was invoiced April 7, 1877 to B. Kittredge & Co., Gun Dealers & Wholesalers of Cincinnati, Ohio. Rifle is further described as being 45 Cal, using 2-7/8" shell, with a 30" full oct bbl, sgl trigger, open sights and oil finished stocks. The weight was listed as 11-1/2 lbs, price was $38.00 less 20 + 10%. The order to the Kitteredge firm on this date consisted of 30 Model 1874 rifles, configured all identical to the above description and ordered to weigh between 11 and 12 pounds. This gun conforms to letter with exception of this gun having set triggers and 4" tang sight and varnished stock, which accounts for the extra 1/4 lb, as this gun weighs 11-3/4 lbs. Gun appears orig and all matching, though minor discrepancy on letter which could easily be seen as a clerical mistake among 30 guns. CONDITION: Very fine, all matching. Bbl retains 95%+ thinning orig blue turning plum with edge wear. Receiver retains about half of its muted and bright case colors with balance a dark mottled silver/grey. Breechblock retains bright dark case colors in protected areas. Lockplate and hammer retain strong case colors in sheltered areas with balance faded to a mottled silver/grey. Lever retains traces of case colors in protected areas. Stocks are sound and solid retaining much of their orig varnish with hand worn patina, scattered storage dings, dents and cosmetic blemishes. Set triggers are crisp. Mechanics are fine, bright shiny bore. 51017-1 JS (10,000-15,000)