Page 93 - 4095-BOOK1

LOT 79
Rare Documented Overbaugh
Delivered Sharps Model 1877 Long
Range No. 2 Target Rifle - Serial no.
160226, 45-2.6” cal., 32 inch round bbl., blue/
casehardened finish, walnut stock. The factory
ledgers list this rifle on March 1, 1879, as a “LR
#2” and references “delvd by O. E. Overbaugh.” and
notes “all CEO are 74/77 #2” and “all to Homer Fisher,
Mch 1st 1879.” Page 228 of “Sharps Firearms, Volume III” by
Marcot, Paxton, and Marron Jr. also lists this serial number as part of a group of 20 sold to Homer Fisher by
Overbaugh at an earlier date of October 28, 1878, and the same page of the book also states, “During March 1879, a group of
Model 1877 rifles went to Shuyler, Hartley & Graham and Homer Fisher, sns. 160226 to 160240.” Page 240 of the aforementioned
book also lists this serial number and states, “On April 30, 1877, Sharps delivered twenty sets of Model 1877 parts to Charles Overbaugh’s shop, enough
to fabricate 20 Model 1877 Long Range Target Rifles. These were delivered to him at his gun shop at No. 38 John Street, New York City. The Sharps Company
tasked Overbaugh with finishing and assembling these rifles. His contract called for him to keep one rifle and to deliver the remaining 19 finished target rifles
back to Bridgeport. The parts included 20 receivers - O.M. [‘Overbaugh model’ 1877 receivers], and 20 barrels already serial numbered:” and proceeds to list off
the rifle serial numbers including this one, 160226. Sharps only manufactured 46 Model 1877 Long Range No. 1 rifles and 52 No. 2 rifles between January 1877 to
March 1879, and offered the Model 1877 rifle in three grades including the No. 1 priced at $125, No. 2 priced at $100, and No. 3 priced at $75, per page 251 of “Sharps
Firearms” by Frank Sellers. Offered here is one of the foremost rarities in Sharps Firearms manufacturing history and is seldom found. This is a very fine example of a rare
Sharps Model 1877 Long Range Target rifle. This model is extensively documented in chapter 15 of the book “Sharps Firearms” by Frank Sellers. This rifle design was the
brainchild of Charles E. Overbaugh, who at the time was the companies chief traveling salesman and exhibition shooter. Mr. Overbaugh’s motivation for the design of this rifle
was for specific use in Creedmoor rifle matches. The design of this rifle was based around the already existing Model 1874 action “which maintained the 10 pound weight limitation
of Creedmoor rules and also had a longer and heavier barrel which gave increased accuracy at the 1,000 yard range used at Creedmoor.” Creedmoor rifle rules also called for a single trigger and metallic sights. The rifle properly
chambers the .45 2.6” Sharps cartridge, and features a globe front sight (insert piece absent), correctly with no rear sight dovetail on the barrel, a ribbed section at the breech, a folding long range Vernier rear peep sight on the
receiver tang and a tang sight base mounted on the heel of the stock, boxed “Old Reliable” and “SHARPS RIFLE CO. BRIDGEPORT, CONN.” markings on top of the barrel, back action lock, checkered forearm, checkered pistol grip stock
with horn inlay in the curled tip, and checkered hard rubber buttplate. Matching visible serial number “160226” marked on top of the receiver and bottom of the barrel, along with “0226” inside the forearm channel. “C.W. LENNOX”
stamped on the rear surface of the buttstock underneath the buttplate. C.W. Lennox markings have been found on multiple Sharps rifles, as Charles W. Lennox was a Sharps employee working as a stock finisher.
CONDITION: Exceptionally fine, retains 70% original blue finish on the barrel, 75% vivid original case colors on the receiver, lock, and hammer with smooth brown patina and surface freckling on the balance, and distinct markings
and edges in the metal overall. Wood is fine as revarnished, with some minor dents and scratches, and mostly defined checkering. Mechanically excellent. Overbaugh Sharps Model 1877 Long Range Target rifles are very seldom
encountered, and this is an extremely attractive example!
Estimate: 15,000 - 25,000 91