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LOT 1076
Documented San Francisco
Shipped “Frontier Used” Sharps
Hartford Model 1874 Sporting Rifle in .44 Caliber
with Factory Letter - Serial no. C,51777, 44-77 cal.,
30 inch octagon bbl., blue/casehardened finish, walnut stock. The Sharps Model 1874
was one of the classic western firearms and were particularly popular with buffalo hunters. The
accompanying factory letter indicates this rifle was invoiced on October 18, 1873, to Sharps dealer Liddle & Kaeding & Co. of San Francisco, California, as a Sporting Rifle in .44 caliber with a full 30 inch octagon barrel, double
set triggers, open sights, oil finished stocks, weight unlisted and a list price of $42. The rifle has a German silver Rocky Mountain blade front sight in a dovetailed base, “SHARPS RIFLE MANUFG. CO. HARTFORD CONN” ahead of the Lawrence patent buckhorn notch and folding
ladder rear sight, “CALIBRE 44” on top of the breech, a pewter forend cap, matching serial number “C,51777” marked on top of the receiver tang and on the bottom of the barrel, “51777” stamped inside of the forearm channel and on the interior of the steel buttplate.
CONDITION: Very good as frontier used, retains 40% original blue finish, strong patterns of case colors showing in protected areas, with smooth gray and brown patina and scattered heavy freckling and light pitting on the balance characteristic of a working gun, and clear markings and edges in the metal. Wood is also very good, with scattered light scratches, a few small chips, refinished forearm showing a repaired crack at the front left and discoloration, and otherwise defined edges. Mechanically excellent.
Estimate: 4,500 - 7,000
LOT 1077
Fine Sharps Model 1874 Sporting Rifle in .40-70 - Serial no. 158266, 40-70 Sharps cal., 30 inch octagon bbl., blue/casehardened finish,
walnut stock. These Sharps Model 1874 rifles were a highly valued arm on the frontier, not only due to their firepower but also their long range accuracy.
These rifles were popular for both protection and hunting and saw widespread use throughout the turbulent American west. According to “Sharps Firearms”
by Frank Sellers, Sharps only manufactured approximately 6,400 of these sporting rifles in a variety of configurations between 1871 to 1880. This example is fitted with a 30 inch heavy octagon barrel and is chambered for the desirable .40-70 caliber. Dovetail mounted German silver blade front sight and a notch ladder rear sight. The top barrel flat is marked “Old Reliable” ahead of the Bridgeport address with “CALIBRE 40” at the breech, with “70” on the right barrel flat at the breech. The left side of the receiver is marked with the two-line Sharps 1869 patent date, and the matching serial number “158266” is marked on the upper tang and underside of the barrel. It is mounted with a smooth walnut forearm and straight grip stock with a steel buttplate.
CONDITION: Fine, retains 75% faded original blue finish on the barrel with scattered light freckling, smooth brown and gray patina on the mostly silvered out casehardened surfaces, and sharp markings and edges in the metal overall. Wood is also fine with scattered scratches and dents, a chipped section at the toe, and defined edges. Mechanically excellent. A fresh example of a desirable Sharps Model 1874 rifle!
66 Estimate: 4,500 - 6,500