May 28 & 29, 2020 Extraordinary, Sporting, & Collector Firearms
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 5/28/2020
Shipped from the Bridgeport factory on April 22, 1878. Listed as a No.1 Long Range Rifle, .45 caliber. Long range vernier tang sight with extra base mounted to the stock at the comb heel. Spirit level globe front sight. 34" full round barrel marked "OLD RELIABLE" "SHARPS RIFLE CO. BRIDGEPORT CONN."Shipped to Mr. Joseph Hall, Hartford Connecticut in 1878. Mr. Hall was Principal of the Hartford Public High School. Highly figured English Walnut stock and forearm with ebony tip. Checkered wrist and forearm. Blue with case hardened frame, lever, and hammer. Checkered hard rubber shotgun style buttplate. Standard trigger. A fresh to the market rifle that has been in Hartford Connecticut for the past 130+ years. CONDITION: Excellent plus with 98% heavy original blue on the barrel. Strong traces of fading case color on frame and hammer. Bore is excellent and bright. Action is tight and crisp. Overall a very desirable and rare model Sharps long-range rifle. According to Frank Sellers book "Sharps Firearms" only 46 Model 1877 No. 1 Long Range rifles were built. Accompanying the rifle is a Sharps archival letter dated February 28, 2007 and signed by Dick Labowskie, that documents configuration and shipment. Interesting to note the sale price with accessories was $112.00. -MKS-
Paperwork
Labowskie Letter