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LOT 1080
Fine Sharps-Borchardt Model 1878 Mid-Range No. 1 Rifle with Desirable Hard Rubber Side Panels and Scarce Borchardt Patent Double Set Trigger - Serial no. 17101, 40 1 7/8” cal., 30 inch round bbl., blue/casehardened finish, fancy checkered walnut stock. Per Frank Sellers in “Sharps Firearms,” only 215 No. 1 and 31 No. 2 Model
1878 Mid-Range rifles were manufactured in October
31, 1877 , to October 1880. Seller described the double set trigger
mechanism on the Model 1878 as “perhaps the only unsuccessful invention
Hugo Borchardt ever made” and indicates it was not used on any of the rifles until 1879. The company itself wrote to William Burkhard of St. Paul, Minnesota,
when he complained explaining the model was “intended originally for a military arm only, & when we did apply it to Sporting arms, there came from the West a demand for double
triggers & we made the best fix we could. We don’t believe in double triggers anyhow & don’t recommend them to anybody, knowing as we do that no finer shooting can be done with a double than with single trigger. That the D.T. is on our 1878 gun is no fault of ours. We had to put it there to ‘satisfy the people.’” The barrel has a windgauge globe front sight,
Lawrence patent notch and ladder rear sight, “Old Reliable” and the one-line Bridgeport address, “CAL 40 1 7/8” on the left at the breech, and the “L/L/L” marking on the bottom at the breech. The frame has the hard rubber panels and a mid-range Vernier peep sight fitted in the integral base on the upper tang. The deluxe walnut pistol grip stock and Schnabel tip forearm are checkered. The buttstock has a hard rubber grip cap and hard rubber shotgun buttplate. The forearm, bottom of the barrel, and bottom of the action under the trigger have the matching serial number. CONDITION: Fine with 75% plus original blue finish, mix of original case colors and dark gray and brown patina on the frame and lever, some light surface oxidation, and general minor overall wear. The side panels have attractive aged coloration. The revarnished wood is also fine and has some mild scrapes in dings, mostly crisp checkering with some minor wear, stunning figure, repaired chip at the buttplate and corresponding hairline cracks in the wood, and some light dings and scratches. The lever retention allows it to drop freely, although the action and set trigger mechanism are otherwise fine. Estimate: 6,500 - 11,000
LOT 1081
Remington Hepburn No. 3 Sporting Model Single Shot Rifle with Scope - Serial no. I-8543, 25-20 SS cal., 30 inch octagon bbl., blue/casehardened finish, walnut stock. This lever activated falling block single shot target rifle was designed by Lewis Hepburn and was manufactured from 1883 to 1907 with approximately 10,000 in total production. The top flat on the replacement barrel is marked “REMINGTON ARMS CO. ILION. N.Y.” ahead of the rear sight. The Beach style combination front sight has been modified, and there is a filler block in the rear sight slot. The barrel is fitted with a scope marked X-8 with elevation and windage adjustable rear mount. The upper tang has been drilled for a peep sight. The lower left side of the receiver is marked “HEPBURNS PAT./OCT 7TH 1879”, and the serial number is marked on the lower tang. The bottom barrel flat under the forearm is marked with the serial number, and “25.20” is marked on the bottom flat both under and ahead of the forearm. The forearm is also numbered with the serial number and has been lined with felt on the inside. Blue barrel, niter blue breechblock, hammer and trigger, casehardened remaining metal parts, and special order double set triggers. Mounted with a smooth forearm with an ebony forend insert, and checkered round knob pistol grip stock with iron crescent steel style buttplate. CONDITION: Very fine with 75% original blue finish remaining on the barrel, which shows a few areas that have been cleaned and a few minor scratches. The action retains 50% original case colors with a smooth silver gray on the balance. The trigger guard retains 30% original case colors with a smooth dove gray patina on the balance. The buttplate shows 60% plus original case colors with some scratches on the heel and toe. The set trigger doesn’t set and needs cleaning, but, otherwise, the action functions properly. The wood is also very good with scattered minor blemishes, with crisp checkering. The scope is fair, and the optics are a bit cloudy. Estimate: 3,500 - 5,500
LOT 1082 Remington Hepburn No. 3 Sporting Model Single Shot Rifle - Serial no. 5147, 38-40 cal., 30 inch part octagon bbl., blue/ casehardened finish, walnut stock. This lever activated falling block single shot target rifle was designed by Lewis Hepburn and was manufactured from 1883 to 1907 with approximately 10,000 in total production. The top barrel flat is marked “E. REMINGTON & SONS. ILION. N.Y.” ahead of the rear sight. Brass blade front and adjustable buckhorn rear sporting sights. The lower left side of the receiver is marked “HEPBURNS PAT./OCT 7TH 1879”, and the serial number is marked on the lower tang. The barrel under the forearm is marked with the matching serial number and “2262”. The barrel is marked “38” on the bottom, forward of the forend. The barrel is chambered for the 38-40 Remington Hepburn cartridge. Blue barrel, breechblock, hammer and trigger, casehardened remaining metal parts and mounted with a smooth forearm with an iron forend insert and checkered round knob pistol grip stock with iron early style sporting rifle buttplate. CONDITION: Fine. The barrel retains 40% original blue finish with a smooth brown patina on the balance. The receiver retains 50% original case colors with some very minor pitting and areas of smooth gray patina. The wood is very fine with most of the oil finish, a few scattered minor dents and dings, with crisp checkering. The markings are clear. The action is excellent. Estimate: 2,750 - 4,250