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This exact rifle is pictured on page 319 of the book “Freund & Bro. Pioneer
Gunmakers to the West” by F.J. Pablo Balentine, in which the caption lists
all of its features along with the statement, “This rifle originally belonged to
Montgomery C. Meigs (1848-1930), Surveyor General of the United States.
It went to his daughter, a Mrs. Orr, then Dede Jasiman [Jasmann], then the
present owner.” It has accompanying provenance, two different factory
shipment records, and subsequent tasteful period alterations performed
by the well-known Freund & Bro. out of their Wyoming Armory shop in
Cheyenne, Wyoming, where they regularly modified firearms, particularly
Sharps rifles, to fit their customer’s needs. Two accompanying factory
letters list the rifle by its serial number 156478 as originally invoiced from
the Sharps Bridgeport factory on June 24, 1876 to John P. Lower of Denver,
Colorado, as a “Model 1874 Sporting Octagon Rifle” in .40 caliber, with a 28
inch octagon barrel, double set triggers, a knife blade front sight, weight at
10 lbs., with a list price of $40. The factory letter further states that this gun
was reportedly returned to the factory and re-barreled, then reshipped on
August 18, 1876, to Ben Kittredge and Company of Cincinnati, Ohio, again
listed as a “Model 1874 Sporting Octagon Rifle” but now in .44 caliber,
with a 32 inch octagon barrel, double set triggers, open sights, oil-finished
stocks, weight listed at 11 lbs. 13 oz., with a list price of $42. One of the two
mentioned factory letters only lists the first shipment to John P. Lower, and
shows a list price of “$40 less 25%” with weight not recorded, but states
that the price indicates that it was a standard weight rifle at 10 pounds.
Consignor notes accompanying this rifling list that it was once displayed
in Cody, Wyoming, in 2013 next to another Freund altered Sharps, serial
number 157130, that is fitted with this guns original “156478” numbered
barrel. The display notes state that this rifle, 156478, is wearing a barrel
numbered “157404” (unconfirmed, unable view due to leather cover). A
third factory letter accompanies this lot that lists serial number 157130
as one of ten “Model 1874 Carbines” invoiced from the Sharps Bridgeport
factory to Ben Kittredge and Company at an unlisted date in caliber .50,
with 25 inch round barrel, weight not listed and net price of $15. It is
likely that these two rifles made their way to Freud’s shop in Cheyenne,
Wyoming, sometime around late 1876-1877 where they received their
alterations. An accompanying April 20, 1995, dated letter of provenance
from Susan Jasmann (spelling of her last name is hand corrected) states
that this rifle, serial number 156478, was sold by her mother, Alice O.
“Dede” Jasmann, to the current consignor around 1969 and originally
belonged to her great grandfather Montgomery C. Meigs. Alice Orr, the
daughter of Montgomery C. Meigs, owned this rifle for many years, and
then gave it to Susan’s mother, also named Alice. A death certificate was
located for Montgomery Meigs, listing him as born February 27, 1847 in
Rouses Point, New York, with a December 9, 1931, date of death at 84 years
of age in Keokuk, Iowa, with his profession listed as “U.S. Civil Engineer.” The
death certificate lists his father with the same name, General Montgomery
Meigs, who was a prominent, well-known career U.S. Army officer and also
a military and civil engineer alive between May 3, 1816-January 2, 1892.
A December 10, 1931, dated newspaper obituary was also located for the
younger Montgomery C. Meigs, owner of this Sharps rifle, that states, “Maj.
Meigs, 82, retired U.S. engineer, was in charge of river work at Keokuk from
1882 until 1926. He went to Keokuk from Rock Island. He was an inspector
for the government when the Keokuk lock and dam were built.” This rifle
features the fancy period inscription “F.W. Freund./-PATENTED-/AUGUST 1.
1876./JANUARY 2. 1877.” on the left of the receiver in reference to two of
Frank W. Freund’s patents for improvements in breech loading firearms,
which this gun has features of. These two referenced U.S. patent numbers
180,567 and 185,911 are illustrated and described on pages 150-152 and
172-175 of F.J. Pablo Balentine’s book “Freund & Bro. Pioneer Gunmakers to
the West”. This exact rifle is also pictured on page 270 of the book “Sharps
Firearms: Model 1878 ‘Borchardt Patent’ Rifles and other Sharps Models,
Volume IV” by Roy Marcot. Features a 28 inch period replacement factory
octagon barrel chambered in .45 2 7/8 Sharps with the boxed “Old Reliable”
marking on the top barrel flat ahead of the non-viewable Sharps address
(hidden beneath the leather cover), with double set triggers, and Freund
modifications including the camming breech block, double extractors,
hammer with extension, Freund patent dovetail mounted blade front sight
marked “FREUND PAT.S” and “1876” on top, modified Lawrence patent rear
sight, leather wrapped barrel and walnut forearm adapted for the bottom
mounted wooden cleaning rod, and a straight walnut stock with a nickel
plated brass crescent buttplate. Serial number “156478” is visible on top of
the receiver tang.
CONDITION: Very fine as period Freund improved/customized, retains
85% of the original viewable blue finish on the barrel with a few scattered
patches of light surface spotting, vivid patterns of case colors visible
in the protected areas with smooth gray patina on the balance, and a
sharp inscription on the receiver. Wood is very fine, with some scattered
scratches and dents, a nick visible on the top front of the comb, and
defined edges. The leather barrel/forearm cover is fine. Mechanically
excellent. This exceptional Freund improved .45 2 7/8 Sharps Model 1874
sporting rifle, with provenance, would add volume to any western arms
collection!
Provenance: The Family of Montgomery C. Meigs; Property of a
Gentleman.
Estimate: 18,000 - 27,500
AS PICTURED AND DESCRIBED IN
FREUND & BRO. PIONEER GUNMAKERS
TO THE WEST BY BALENTINE
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