April 11-13, 2023 Firearms and Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 4/11/2023
A very fine and interesting example of a No. 1 Creedmoor rifle built in Hartford, Connecticut. Per the included factory research signed by Dr. Richard Labowskie, this rifle was invoiced as a discounted sporting rifle in .44/90 with 32" full octagon barrel, single trigger, and both Vernier and windage sights, to New York dealer Homer Fisher, along with 2 other rifles on December 6th, 1875. Rifle remains as shipped, featuring a richly blued 32" medium tapered octagon barrel roll marked on the top flat with 1-line Hartford address and "CALIBRE 44" designation. Spirit level wind gauge adjustable front sight and folding long-range Vernier rear sight bearing matching "54263" on base. Standard smooth walnut forend with decorative pewter tip. Interestingly, rather than a standard broad Creedmoor style stock, this rifle is fit with straight grip walnut sporting stock with rifle butt plate. Surviving correspondence between Fisher and Sharps indicates his concern receiving the rifles in said configuration. This concern was alleviated after selling the rifles in 1876, with satisfactory performance at the Creedmoor range. Dr. Labowskie hypothesizes these discounted rifles were sold to clear out stock to make way for the newly designed Long Range rifles. CONDITION: Especially fine. The barrel retains nearly all of its wonderful factory applied blued finish barring some faint silvering along high edges and a few minor marks. The action also retains generous amounts of case color, now somewhat muted. Brilliant nitre blue is still present on most screw heads, some starting to fade. The forend remains in excellent condition, with the stock having been refreshed, fitting slightly shy to its mounts with a few minor blemishes present. Mirror bore displaying still sharp rifling throughout. Mechanically fine. Matching serial numbers observed on the tang, barrel, forend, and sight base. The stock and butt plate remain unnumbered. PROVENANCE: The Dr. Richard Labowskie Collection.
Paperwork
Factory Letter, Record Copy