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LOT 1066
Sharps Borchardt Model 1878 Single Shot Rifle in Short Range
Schuetzen Configuration - Serial no. 20837, 40 cal., 26 inch round bbl., blue/casehardened finish,
walnut stock. Manufactured c. 1878-1881, an included letter from collector and Sharps record holder
Robert Moore notes that the serial number for this rifle does not show up in the available records. Fitted
with a spirit-level equipped globe front sight and 800 yard folding ladder rear sight on the “Old Reliable” and “CAL.
40 1 7/8” marked barrel, and an 1877 dated peep sight on an integral mount on the upper tang. The receiver is casehardened, with
the Bridgeport address, serial number and 1876 patent date on the left side. Checkered forearm and pistol grip stock, the former with a carved Schnabel
tip, the latter with a nickel plated Swiss buttplate. Aside from the buttplate, overall configuration is a match for the “Short Range Rifle” Borchardt model, of which
approximately 153 were manufactured (per Flayderman’s Guide, page 206).
CONDITION: Fine, with 70% refinished blue on the barrel, showing areas of brown patina, minor spotting, and wear behind the rear sight dovetail suggestive of a
buckhorn sight. The frame is very fine with 40% mostly muted original case colors, fading slightly on the edges, with minor spotting. The refinished stock is very good, with
minor chips around the tang, grip and comb, and some dents and scuffs overall. Mechanically excellent.
Estimate: 2,750 - 4,250
LOT 1067
Documented New Orleans Shipped Sharps Borchardt
Model 1878 Single Shot Carbine - Serial no. 6931, 45-70 cal., 24 inch round bbl., blue finish, walnut stock.
Per the included letter from Sharps record holder R.L. Moore, this item was part of a group of 50 Model 1878 carbines shipped to General
J.W. Patton of New Orleans, Louisiana on April 25, 1878. Page 71 of “Sharps Firearms, Volume IV” by Marcot, Paxton, and Marron Jr. also lists this serial number as
shipped on a different date of April 20, 1878, as part of a group of 50 sold to Louisiana, shipped in three packing cases, $732 total. The final iteration of the Sharps
breechloading carbine of Civil War and Western Frontier fame, the Borchardt Carbine was made in very limited numbers, estimated at around 384 (per Flayderman’s
Guide, page 205). General J.W. Patton has not been identified; at the time of delivery Isaac W. Patton, a former Confederate Colonel and Adjutant General of Louisiana, was the mayor of the city
of New Orleans, and the rank and first initial may be typos. A veteran of the Siege of Vicksberg and the Battle of Spanish Fort, Patton served as Sheriff before being elected mayor, and was the great
uncle of famed swordsman, tank commander and World War II leader George S. Patton Junior. Blade front and folding ladder rear sights installed
on the “Old Reliable” marked barrel, single barrel band, three line Borchardt patent and Sharps address markings on the left side of the receiver
ahead of the saddle ring, and a smooth straight wrist stock with a checkered buttplate.
CONDITION: Very good, with 30% of the original blue finish, showing areas of brown and gray patina, scattered spotting, and mild wear. The
stock is also very good as revarnished, with hairline cracking around the wrist and buttplate, scuffs and dents. Mechanically excellent.
Estimate: 3,000 - 4,500
LOT 1069
Remington Number One Heavy Barrel Rolling Block Sporting Rifle in Desirable
44-77 Sharps - Serial no. 2333, 44-77 cal., 30 inch octagon bbl., blue/casehardened finish, walnut
stock. Manufactured c.1868-1888. Reverse-installed Rocky Mountain blade front and fixed notch
rear sights on the heavyweight barrel, with “44 CTGES”, “2333” and “S.T.” on the underside. The barrel has a diameter of
about 1 1/4 inches (measured flat to flat) at the frame, tapering to about 1 1/10 inches at the muzzle. The casehardened frame
bears the “REMINGTON’S” address on the upper tang, with niter blue hammer and breechblock and a single set trigger. Smooth forearm
and straight wrist stock with a metal Schnabel tip and smooth buttplate.
CONDITION: Very good, with 30% of the original blue finish, showing areas of mixed brown patina, edge wear, scattered spotting and mild wear. The frame retains
patterns of original case colors in the protected areas, with a silver patina and mild spotting on the remainder. The stock is good, with cracks around the upper tang and a number of
scratches and dents. Mechanically excellent.
Estimate: 2,500 - 4,000
LOT 1068
Very Scarce Remington-Hepburn “B Quality” No. 3 Match Falling
Block Rifle - Serial no. 5619, 32 CF cal., 28 inch part octagon bbl., blue/casehardened finish,
walnut stock. Manufactured c. 1883 to 1887, this is a fine example of one of less than 1,000
Remington-Hepburn No. 3 Match rifles that were manufactured. At the time of their release,
these No. 3 Match rifles as well as the two “Creedmoor” variants offered on the Hepburn action, were
considered top of the line target rifles and were highly valued among competition shooters. These Hepburn rifles
remain highly desirable today by collectors, as well as target shooters who still highly regard the strength and simplicity of this action, as
well as their potential accuracy. The No. 3 Match was produced in two types, the “A Quality” which was more plain, and the “B Quality” like this example, which featured
select grain wood, a large cheekpiece, and checkering on the forearm. The top of the barrel on this example is marked with the one line E. Remington & Sons address while the caliber marking
“32.1 5/8” is marked on the bottom in front of the forearm. The Hepburn patent marking is on the left side of the action in two lines. The matching serial number is marked on the lower tang, the
bottom of the barrel under the forearm, the rear face of the forearm, front face of the buttstock, and inside the buttplate. The barrel is fitted with a German silver blade front sight and there is a
Vernier long-range peep sight mounted on the upper tang. It is mounted with a nicely figured, multi-point checkered forearm with a nickeled Schnabel tip cap and a very finely figured, pistol grip
stock with multi-point checkering, cheekpiece, and a nickeled Swiss buttplate.
CONDITION: Fine, retains 50% plus of the original blue finish on the barrel with some light spotting and a few thinned areas showing a grey patina. 70% plus of the original case colors remain with the
balance a grey patina. The wood is very fine with some scattered light handling marks and crisp checkering. Mechanically excellent. A rare “B Quality” Hepburn No. 3 Match rifle!
Estimate: 2,500 - 3,750
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