Page 71 - 89-FLIPBOOK1

LOT 79
Very Fine and Scarce Sharps Borchardt Model 1878 Sporting Rifle - Serial no.
6633, 40 Sharps cal., 26 inch round bbl., blue finish, walnut stock. This rifle, serial number 6633, is consecutively serial numbered to lot (LOT 1093), serial number 6632, also in this auction. This is an attractive and desirable example of a Sharps Borchardt Model 1878 sporting rifle
chambered for the .40 Sharps bottlenecked cartridge. The Sharps Rifle Co. manufactured a total of 750 Model 1878 sporting rifles with round barrels betw October 1877-October 1881. Most of these saw heavy use on the Western frontier for buffalo hunting. The rifle has a blued 26-inch round barrel that is marked on
Estimate: 5,000 - 8,000
een
top with “OLD RELIABLE” in
script followed by “SHARPS RIFLE CO. BRIDGEPORT, CONN.” ahead of the rear sight, “CALIBRE 40” on top of the breech, and “1 1/16” on the right of the breech (should be 1 11/16, factory error). The left of the
receiver is roll-stamped “BORCHARDT PATENT./SHARPS RIFLE CO. BRIDGEPORT, CONN./U.S.A.” in three lines. The matching serial number is marked on the bottom of the receiver, barrel underneath the forearm and
inside the forearm channel. The receiver, breech block and lever have a casehardened finish. The walnut buttstock and forearm are uncheckered and have an oiled finish, with a checkered shotgun style buttplate. The barrel is
fitted with a dovetail mounted blade front sight and folding ladder rear sight.
CONDITION: Very fine, retains 80% plus original blue finish and strong patterns of original case colors visible in protected areas with mostly smooth gray patina on the exposed casehardened surfaces, and sharp markings and edges in the metal overall. The wood is also very fine with some scattered dents and scratches, a small area of crazing on the left of the wrist, and defined edges overall. Mechanically excellent.
LOT 80
Desirable C. Sharps & Co. Single Shot Percussion Pistol Rifle with Mule Ear Cartridge - Serial no.
218, 38 cal., 28 inch round bbl., blue/casehardened finish, walnut stock. Only approximately 550 of these
standard model pistol rifles were manufactured by C. Sharps & Co. of Philadelphia circa 1857-1860. These use the
same action as the Sharps breech loading single shot pistol. The falling block action is designed for the “mule ear” cartridge
and is fitted with a pellet priming device. “C.SHARPS & Co PHILADa PA” stamped on the left of the frame and serial
number “218” on the upper tang, breech block, lever and inside the forend channel. Dovetail mounted German silver blade
front sight and folding rear sight. Mounted with a smooth walnut forearm with iron tip and pistol grip stock with iron grip cap, patch
box and buttplate. Little is actually known about these pistol rifles, but they are very hard to find, especially in decent condition. Several were
modified to pistols, and many others were undoubtedly destroyed. Includes one reloadable .38 Sharps “mule ear” cartridge.
CONDITION: Very good as turned to a smooth brown patina on the iron surfaces, with defined markings on the frame. The wood is also very good with numerous scattered mild scratches and dents, a small chipped section on the right rear of the forend, a crack at the bottom rear of the forend and defined edges. Mechanically fine.
Provenance: The Wayne Connor Collection.
Estimate: 3,500 - 5,500
LOT 81
Scarce Sharps Model 1853 Slant Breech Percussion Sporting Rifle
- Serial no. 20945, 52 cal., 26 inch round bbl., blue/casehardened finish, walnut stock. Early Sharps rifles like this factory sporting rifle helped establish breech loading firearms
in the U.S. and led to Sharps rifles and carbines being among the most significant firearms
of the Civil War era and the settlement of the West after the war. Approximately 2,970 Model 1853 Sporting Rifles
were manufactured between 1854-1859 in a variety of configurations. In “Sharps Firearms,” Frank Sellers lists 455 sporting
rifles chambered in “32 bore” (.52 caliber) with round barrels and plain finish. This group would have included a variety of barrel
lengths and other features. This rifle features a dovetail blade front sight, Lawrence patent folding ladder rear sight, pewter forearm cap and
iron patch box on the right side of the buttstock. Matching serial number “20945” visible on top of the receiver, underside of the barrel (next to a crossed out number), rear flat of the forend, underside of the patchbox door, and underside of the buttplate. The stock and forend are straight grain
American walnut with a pewter forend tip, brass patch box, and buttplate.
CONDITION: Very good, retains 50% of the original blue finish on the barrel with moderate brown freckling, and gray/brown patina on most of the casehardened
surfaces with strong traces of vivid case colors visible in protected areas most notable on the lock underneath the hammer, and sharp markings and edges in the metal overall. The wood is fine as lightly sanded and re-oiled, with some scattered scratches and dings, a small chip at the right rear edge of the forend and a small chip above the lock. Mechanically excellent.
Estimate: 3,000 - 4,500
69