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LOT 1073
Fine and Very Scarce Sharps New Model 1869 Military Rifle in .45-70 - Serial no. C,49267,
45-70 Government cal., 30 inch round bbl., blue/casehardened finish, walnut
stock. This rifle, serial number C,49267, falls in the serial range
C,48000-C,51000 of the approximately 100 New Model 1869
Military rifles manufactured by Sharps between 1869-1872, and is
chambered in .45-70 Government, a cartridge introduced in 1873, indicating it would
have been assembled at the time of manufacture of the approximately 1,769 Model 1874 Military rifles
between November 1871 to March 1877 typically seen in the C,50000+ serial range with known variations,
per relevant information on pages 210 and 234 of “Sharps Firearms” by Sellers. The included R.L. Moore Jr.
factory records letter, dated January 21, 1992, refers to this rifle as a “NM 1869” and indicates that information was unable to
be located for this serial number, and further states there are “several others close however and this is indeed in the correct range.” (the
letter makes no reference to caliber or features). Features a 30 inch round barrel affixed with three barrel bands, a full length forearm, blade front sight and
Lawrence ladder rear sight. “SHARPS 45-70 GOVt” marked on top of the unnumbered barrel ahead of the rear sight, the lock plate
and left side of the receiver are stamped with Sharps two-line patent markings, and the serial number “C,49267” is stamped on top of the receiver tang.
CONDITION: Fine with a hint of frontier character, retains 70% original blue finish on the barrel with areas thinning to smooth brown patina, 30% plus vivid
original case colors, some charming surface freckling, and defined markings in the metal. Stop screw absent on the rear sight ladder. Wood is very fine, with
tight fitment, a few light handling marks, and distinct edges. Mechanically excellent.
Estimate: 3,500 - 5,500
LOT 1075
Desirable Documented Sharps-Borchardt Model 1878 Short Range Single Shot Rifle with
Factory Letter - Serial no. 17533, 40-50 Sharps Straight cal., 26 inch round bbl., blue/casehardened
finish, walnut stock. Manufactured in 1879, only 153 are estimated to have been manufactured per Frank Sellers
in “Sharps Firearms” on page 275. The included factory letter confirms this “short range” rifle was invoiced at the
Bridgeport factory to John P. Moore’s Sons, a large gun dealer/distributor in New York, on 8 December 1879. Page 229 of “Sharps Firearms,
Volume IV” by Marcot, Paxton, and Marron Jr. also lists this serial number as part of the aforementioned shipment. The left side of the action is marked with the
standard three-line Sharps address and Borchardt patent. The top of the barrel is marked “Old Reliable” without a boxed border and with the Sharps Bridgeport
address, while the caliber marking “CAL 40 1 /78” (.40-45 Rem. or .40-50 Sharps) is on the left. The serial number is marked on the bottom of the frame in front
of the trigger, on the bottom of the barrel along with “L/L/L” in script, and on the rear face of the forearm. It is fitted with a windage adjustable globe front sight,
a folding ladder rear sight, a peep sight mounted on the integral base of the upper tang, and an adjustable trigger. It is mounted with a multi-point checkered,
Schnabel tip forearm and multi-point checkered pistol grip stock with a checkered hard rubber buttplate with the Sharps monogram at the center.
CONDITION: Very good, retains 40% of the faded original blue finish with some light thinning and the muzzle and a few light scratches. Faint traces of the original
case colors remain with the balance a silvery grey patina. The wood is fine with some
scattered minor scratches and dings, restored checkering on the forearm, and a couple
hairline cracks and light chips at the wrist. Mechanically excellent.
Estimate: 2,500 - 3,750
LOT 1074
Scarce Spencer Repeating Sporting Rifle with Leather Scabbard -
Serial no. 314, 56-46 cal., 26 inch round bbl., blue/casehardened finish, walnut stock.
Approximately 1,800 Spencer sporting rifles were reportedly manufactured between c. 1864-
1868, according to page 110 of “Spencer Repeating Firearms” by Roy Marcot. These scarce Spencer
sporting rifles are fess less common than the over 144,000 Spencer rifles and carbines made in total. The rifle is chambered
for the 56-46 Spencer cartridge (.44 rimfire) which was highly effective for small to medium game. George Armstrong Custer and others are
known to have taken Spencer sporting rifles to the West, and they are certainly valuable artifacts. The serial number is off-set to the left of the peep sight base
as was common practice on 1865-1868 production sporting rifles. The top of the receiver is marked “SPENCER REPEATING/RIFLE CO. BOSTON MASS./PAT’D MARCH 6, 1860.” It
is equipped with a blade front sight and a folding ladder rear sight on the barrel, and a factory folding peep sight is mounted on the upper tang with “94” marked on the ladder.
Fitted with a pewter tipped sporting forearm secured by two screws and straight stock with standard steel buttplate. Includes a period leather rifle scabbard stamped “314” on the front.
CONDITION: Very good plus, retains 25% original blue finish on the barrel, with strong patterns of original case colors showing in protected areas of the receiver, smooth brown and gray patina on
the balance with some freckling, and defined markings. Wood is fine, with tight fitment, some scratches and dents, and defined edges. Mechanically excellent. The leather scabbard is very good with
general age related wear.
Estimate: 2,750 - 4,250