Page 78 - 4093-BOOK1

LOT 53
Well-Documented Sharps Model
1874 Schuetzen Rifle with H.M. Pope
Hartford Barrel and Factory Letter, Pictured in the Book “H.M. Pope Hartford 1887-1901” - Serial no.
162237, 28 cal., 28 1/8 inch part octagon bbl., blue/casehardened finish, walnut stock. The accompanying factory letter lists this Sharps as a “Model
1874 Sporting Rifle” as invoiced from the Sharps factory on February 13, 1878, to C.F. Gennerich of New York City, originally listed as being shipped in .40-50
caliber with the 1 and 11/16 inch case, a 30 inch octagon barrel, double set triggers, a pistol grip stock, weighing 9 pounds 14 ounces, with additional “special
features” including a cheekpiece, sporting buttplate, globe front sight, and a mid-range Vernier peep tang sight, with a $42 net price for the “identical” rifles in this order. The letter
further states, “Although entered in the Order Book as Sporting Rifles, the rifles with the above-noted features, shipped to Gennerich, are the well-known German Pattern Sharps, or Sharps
Schuetzen Rifle. Gennerich was an officer of the New York Central Schuetzen Corps.” Manufactured between 1877-1878, this is one of a reported 69 Sharps factory made
Model 1874 Schuetzen rifles, also referred to in period Sharps company correspondence as “German Pattern,” “Dutch Mid-Range,” or “Offhand” rifles, as
designed and purchased by Charles E. Overbaugh for the New York Central Schuetzen Corps. All but 3 of these Model 1874 Schuetzen rifles were purchased
by the members of that club, most of them by its president, C.F. Gennerich. 17 of these rifles were reportedly purchased with Schuetzen pattern buttplates.
This exact rifle is pictured and described on page 133 of the book “H.M. Pope Hartford 1887-1901” by Warren Greatbatch. The rifle has a replacement part
octagon heavy barrel marked “H.M. POPE, HARTFORD, CONN.” on top, reportedly chambered in “.28 Pope Special” centerfire according to consignor notes,
with number “3” weight marking visible on bottom ahead of the forearm, “116” above a star and a partly visible “WCF” on bottom of the breech area,
with a replacement dovetail mounted windage adjustable globe front sight with spirit level. Included consignor notes state, “This is the only side hammer
Sharps which shows up on Warren Greatbatch’s list of Pope products, Pope was known to have thought a target accuracy rifle could not be made on the side hammer
action; perhaps this rifle is the reason for that conclusion. The 28-inch barrel appears to have been made from a Winchester blank and was set in the action by Pope utilizing a collar
made from a Sharps barrel ‘stub.’” The consignor further states, “I traded three very valuable guns for this rifle at the Denver Gun Shot in 1992. The person I bought it from stated that
Frank Sellers bought it from an unknown person at an Ohio Gun Collector show a year or two before that.” An original folding ladder Vernier peep sight is mounted on the receiver tang,
marked with matching number “37” on the ladder. The serial number “162237” is marked across the top of the receiver. Factory double set triggers. The
straight grain walnut sporting stock has a raised cheekpiece and pistol grip with a factory nickel plated Schuetzen buttplate, and the right side of the stock
is factory inlaid with a German silver nameplate engraved “Dohm & Eizen”. A Schuetzen rifle wearing the same shaped plaque nameplate, very close in
range with serial number 162230, is pictured and described on page 233 of “Sharps Firearms” by Frank Sellers. Another 1874 Schuetzen rifle previously sold
by Rock Island Auction Company (Auction 65, Lot 1078), serial number 162219, had an accompanying Sharps letter with it that noted that most of these
“German” pattern rifles sold to the New York Central Schuetzen Club were fitted with similar nameplates. Also includes a CD with professional photographs
of this rifle taken by Ron Paxton.
CONDITION: Fine as custom Pope re-barreled, retains 70% faded blue finish on the barrel with some oxidation visible around the muzzle end, 30% original patterns of case colors visible on the
frame and lock with scattered mild surface freckling, and 85% original nickel plating on the buttplate. Wood is very good as re-varnished, with numerous scattered dents, nicks and scratches, a
crack on the bottom on the forearm and some flaking/rub marks at the rear, an empty threaded hole on the bottom where an absent sling swivel may have once resided, with sharp engraving
on the bright nameplate. One absent rear screw in the lower tang, with empty drilled and tapped holes visible on the bottom of the forearm and breech lever. Mechanically fine.
Provenance: The Frank Sellers Collection; Property of a Gentleman.
Estimate: 6,000 - 9,000
LOT 52
Very Fine Sharps-Borchardt Model 1878 Mid-Range Rifle in .40-70 Sharps
with Scarce and Desirable Paneled Action and Box of .40-70 Ammunition - Serial no. 6954, 40-70 Sharps cal.,
30 inch octagon bbl., blue/casehardened finish, walnut stock. This is one of only an estimated 215 No. 1 Mid-Range
Sharps-Borchardt rifles that were manufactured from 1877 to 1880. The accompanying factory letter lists this No. 1 Mid-
Range Sharps rifle by serial number as invoiced at the Sharps Bridgeport factory on May 1, 1878 to Edwin S. Harris,
firearms dealer and Sharps Agent in New York City, originally listed as being shipped in .40 caliber with the 2 1/2 inch
shell, weighing 9 pounds 8 ounces, at a price of $50 net. The factory letter also indicates that three identical No. 1 Mid-Range rifles were also sent to Harris on the same
date. This example has the desirable wood panels on the sides of the casehardened frame, and the barrel is marked “Old Reliable” in front of the rear sight along with
the Sharps Bridgeport address, with the top of the breech marked “CALIBRE 40”, and “2 1/10” marked upside down on the right of the breech, which appears to be
marked as such in factory error. The bottleneck shaped chamber accepts a .40 2 1/4 inch Sharps necked cartridge, which differs from the factory letter listing it for 2 1/2
inch shell although it appears to be its original chambering. The matching serial number “6954” is marked on the bottom of the original barrel. The barrel is fitted with
a German silver blade front sight mounted in a dovetailed base, with a folding ladder notch rear sight. Vernier peep sight mounted in the integral base on the upper
tang. The serial number and patent date are marked on the bottom of the action behind the trigger. It is mounted with a finely figured, Schnabel tip checkered forearm and checkered pistol
grip stock with checkered hard rubber shotgun type buttplate. Includes an opened period Union Metallic Cartridge Company ammunition box containing twenty rounds of .40-70 Sharps necked
(2 1/4 inch) ammunition, a Bridgeport .40-70 priming tool numbered “1185”, a few empty shell casings and a modern metal box.
CONDITION: Very fine, retains 95% original blue finish on the barrel, traces of vivid original case colors visible in protected areas, muted case colors showing on the exposed surfaces of the breech
block and lever, mostly smooth silvery gray patina on the frame with scattered light surface freckling, and sharp markings and edges in the metal overall. Wood is fine, with scattered light dents and
scratches, some light wear to the checkering on the forearm with distinct checkering at the wrist, a small raised cracked section on top of the wrist behind the upper tang, a chip in the front left edge of
the pistol grip, and defined edges. Mechanically fine. Ammunition box is good with mild wear.
Estimate: 6,500 - 9,500
Approximately 215
Sharps-Borchardt Model
1878 Mid Range rifles
were produced.
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