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LOT 59
Exceptional and Very Scarce Providence Tool Co. Peabody-Martini
Creedmoor Long Range Target Rifle in .44-100 - Serial no. 104, 44-100 cal., 32
1/4 inch part octagon bbl., blue/casehardened finish, walnut stock. A limited amount
of these .44-100 Peabody-Martini Creedmoor long
range target rifles were manufactured in the mid-
1870s to 1880s by the Providence Tool Co. of Rhode
Island for long range target shooting at the nearby
Creedmoor Rifle Range on Long Island. Less than
1,000 Peabody-Martini sporting rifles, in at least six different
configurations, were manufactured in total by the Providence Tool Co.
This Creedmoor rifle has a windage adjustable globe front sight and a tang
mounted vernier peep rear sight. Top of the barrel marked “MANUFACTURED
BY THE PROVIDENCE TOOL CO. PROVIDENCE R.I. U.S.A.” with the top of the
breech area marked “44 CAL/100 GRS.” Right side of the frame engraved “Peabody
& Martini Patents” in ornate Gothic script with scroll accents, and “Creedmoor” in the
same lettering with coordinating scrolls on the left side. “W.J. WOLCOTT” marked on the cocking indicator. Matching serial number “104” located on the bottom
of the frame, barrel, rear surface of the forearm, rear surface of the buttstock and interior of the buttplate. Checkered walnut forearm
and stock with bordered checkering at the wrist.
CONDITION: Exceptionally fine, retains 85% plus original blue finish on the barrel with a few scattered light handling marks, 85% plus vivid original case colors with some
fading concentrated on the trigger guard, lever and buttplate, some scattered patches of minor freckling/pitting
on the balance, and crisp engraving. Wood is fine with defined edges, numerous scattered dings and scratches,
and some nicks visible in the otherwise crisp checkering. Mechanically excellent.
Estimate: 5,500 - 8,500
LOT 58
Exceptional Sharps Bridgeport Model 1874 Long Range No. 3 Target Rifle in .45 2 4/10 with Factory
Letter - Serial no. 156183, 45x2-4/10” cal., 34 inch part octagon bbl., blue/casehardened finish, walnut stock.
According to “Sharps Firearms” by Frank Sellers, Sharps only manufactured approximately 75 of these No. 3
Long Range rifles between November 1875 to October 1879. These rifles were specifically manufactured for
competition shooting, which had become extremely popular in North America and Europe in the late 19th
century, but were also highly regarded as long range hunting rifles. This Sharps
Model 1874 Long Range rifle has an accompanying factory
letter that lists it by serial number as originally invoiced from the
Sharps Bridgeport factory on March 19, 1878 to Sharps employee
Wallace B. Gunn, and was then, in turn, sent to H.P. King of New
Britain, Connecticut. It is listed as a “Model 1874 Long-Range
rifle No. 3” in .45 caliber using the 2 4/10 inch case, with a 34
inch barrel, weight not noted, and a list price of $75.00. This
example is chambered for the desirable .45 2 4/10 Sharps caliber, also referred to by some sources as .45-90
Sharps, with a dovetail mounted adjustable windgauge globe front sight and an adjustable ladder peep
rear sight mounted on the upper tang, with another provision for the peep sight to also mount on top of
the buttstock. The top barrel flat is marked with the bordered “Old Reliable” ahead of the Sharps Bridgeport
address, with “2 4/10” upside down 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 serial number “156183” is marked on the upper tang beneath the tang sight with a few
of the numbers properly factory offset around the tang sight provisions, with matching “156183” on the bottom of the barrel. It is mounted with a
checkered walnut forearm and straight grip stock with a checkered wrist and flat checkered steel buttplate.
CONDITION: Exceptionally fine, retains 80% plus faded original blue finish with some areas of thinning on the barrel, 60% plus vivid original case colors strongest on the
sides of the frame with areas turned to smooth brown patina on the balance, some scattered light surface freckling, and sharp markings and edges in the metal. Wood is very fine
with distinct edges, a few light nicks and handling marks, and crisp checkering. Mechanically excellent. This exceptional Sharps Model 1874 Long Range No. 3 rifle would make a
fine addition to any antique American arms collection.
Estimate: 7,500 - 12,000
Collector’s Fact
According to "Sharps Firearms"
by Sellers, approximately 75
Sharps Bridgeport Model 1874
Long Range No. 3 Target Rifles
were produced.