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LOT 3043 Very Fine and Scarce Sharps Borchardt Model 1878 Sporting Rifle - Serial no. 6632, 40 Sharps cal., 26 inch round bbl., blue finish, walnut stock. This is an attractive and desirable example of a Sharps Borchardt Model 1878 sporting rifle chambered for the .40 Sharps bottlenecked cartridge. The Sharps Rifle Co. manufactured a total of 750 Model 1878 sporting rifles with round barrels between October 1877-October 1881. Most of these saw heavy use on the Western frontier for buffalo hunting. The rifle has a blued 26-inch round barrel that is marked on top with “OLD RELIABLE” in script followed by “SHARPS RIFLE CO. BRIDGEPORT, CONN.” ahead of the rear sight, “CALIBRE 40” on top of the breech, and “1 1/16” on the right of the breech (should be 1 11/16, factory error). The left of the receiver is roll-stamped “BORCHARDT PATENT./SHARPS RIFLE CO. BRIDGEPORT, CONN./U.S.A.” in three lines. The matching serial number is marked on the bottom of the receiver, barrel underneath the forearm and inside the forearm channel. The receiver, breech block and lever have a casehardened finish. The walnut buttstock and forearm are uncheckered and have an oiled finish, with a checkered shotgun style buttplate. The barrel is fitted with a dovetail mounted blade front sight and folding ladder rear sight. CONDITION: Very fine, retains 85% plus original blue finish and strong patterns of original case colors visible in protected areas with mostly smooth gray patina on the
exposed casehardened surfaces, some marring on the pins on either side of the receiver, and sharp markings and edges in the metal overall. The wood is also very fine with some scattered light dents and scratches, and defined edges overall. Mechanically excellent. Estimate: 5,000 - 8,000
LOT 3044 Special Order Winchester Model 1873 Lever Action .44-40 Rifle - Serial no. 440503B, 44 WCF cal., 24 inch octagon bbl., blue finish, walnut stock. The Model 1873 is one of the most famous of all American firearms and has been popularly known as “the Gun that Won the West” due to its popularity with pioneers. It was often paired with a Colt Single Action Army or other revolver chambered for the popular .44-40 W.C.F. cartridges. This made carrying ammunition for both your rifle and your revolver simple and allowed an individual to be ready to defend themselves against man or beast in a variety of tough situations. This Model 1873 has that classic frontier look of a true survivor of the American West, was manufactured in 1892, and has a special order half magazine. The rifle has a third model receiver with integral dust cover rail and dust cover with grip serrations at the rear and standard markings including the caliber designation on the barrel and cartridge elevator. It is fitted with a dovetail blade front sight and an elevation adjustable rear sight. The buttstock is fitted with a trapdoor crescent buttplate (cleaning rod not included). CONDITION: Very good, retaining 20% original blue finish in the protected areas and heavier amounts of original blue on the receiver and lower tang with a smooth brown-gray patina associated with spending a lifetime in a challenging environment on the balance. The wood is also very good and shows similar working gun character. Mechanically excellent. A well-traveled special order Model 1873 that certainly saw period use. Estimate: 1,800 - 2,750
LOT 3045
Very Scarce Blued Finish Remington Model 1875 Single Action Army Revolver - Serial no. 44, 44 WCF cal., 7 1/2 inch round bbl., blue finish, walnut grips. While limited in production to only approximately 25,000-30,000 revolvers between 1875-1889, many of these “Improved Army” or “Frontier Army” revolvers saw hard use in the hands of Native Americans, settlers, and lawmen in the West. The Model 1875 was Remington’s answer to the Colt Single Action Army and is arguably a more solid firearm with fewer main components than Colt’s revolver, but it simply suffered in the famous “Peacemaker’s” shadow. Handling one of these revolvers, it is easy to see that a gunslinger in the American West that truly knew their firearms might prefer one of these over the hype of the Colt Single Action Army. “E.
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REMINGTON & SONS. ILION.N.Y. U.S.A.” marked on top of the barrel. There is a lanyard ring and stud fitted to the butt. The serial number “44” is marked on the left of the grip frame, the trigger guard tang, and on the inside of each grip panel in pencil. The caliber marking “44” for .44 W.C.F. is on the lower portion of the left grip panel. CONDITION: Fine, retains 60% of the bright original high polish blue finish with the balance mostly a smooth brown patina and some scattered light spotting. The grips are very fine with some scattered light handling marks throughout. Mechanically excellent. Estimate: 5,500 - 8,000
LOT 3046
Antique Colt Frontier Six Shooter Single Action Army Revolver - Serial no. 165865, 44-40 WCF cal., 5 1/2 inch round bbl., blue/casehardened finish, hard rubber grips. Following their introduction to the Colt line in 1877, these Frontier Six Shooters became part of the legendary duo of the American West. Due to their .44-40 W.C.F. chambering, these revolvers could be easily paired with a Winchester Model 1873, allowing their user to be capable at most ranges and in any situation, while only carrying one type of ammunition. This example was manufactured in 1896, when many parts of the Western Frontier remained very much wild. The top of the barrel is marked with the standard single-line address with “COLT FRONTIER SIX SHOOTER” on the left. The two-line patent dates followed by the circled Rampant Colt are marked on the left of the frame. The matching serial number is marked on the bottom of the frame, trigger guard, and back strap, and the assembly number “496” is marked inside the loading gate. It is fitted with a blade front sight, groove rear sight, and a pair of later production replacement, checkered hard rubber grips with American eagles at the bottom and Rampant Colts at the top. CONDITION: Very good plus, retains 40% of the original blue finish and 20% of the original case colors with the balance mostly a smooth grey patina speckled with brown in places, typical of a frontier sidearm. The modern replacement grips are slightly undersized with a few scattered light handling marks and crisp checkering. Mechanically excellent. Estimate: 3,500 - 5,000