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LOT 3061
Documented Colorado Shipped Sharps Model 1874 Business Rifle in .40-70 with
Factory Letter - Serial no. 160491, 40-70 cal., 28 inch round bbl., blue/casehardened finish, walnut
stock. The factory letter indicates this rifle was shipped on 1 June 1878 to the Sharps dealer, Charles
Stockbridge of Colorado Springs, Colorado. These rifles were heavily favored by western hunters and settlers
alike for their power, reliability, and accuracy. The rifle is listed as a Business Rifle in .40 caliber using a 2 1/4 inch
case, with open sights and oil finished stocks. The rifle has a replacement Beach style combination front sight, the Old Reliable marking and
Bridgeport address on top of the barrel ahead of the Lawrence patent notch and ladder rear sight, “CALIBRE 40” on top at the breech, “BUSINESS 40” on
the left at the breech, “2 1/4” on the right at the breech, matching serial numbers on the barrel and upper tang, and a smooth stock and forearm. CONDITION: Very good, retains half of the dull refinished blue on the barrel thinned to a slight plum patina and mostly grey patina on the balance with a few scattered patches of light pitting under the finish. The refinished wood is also
very good with some scattered dings and scratches. Mechanically excellent. These rifles were generally hard working frontier hunting guns and are rarely found in presentable condition!
Estimate: 4,500 - 7,000
LOT 3062
Desirable Sharps Model 1874 Business Rifle in .40-70 - Serial no. 159578, 40-70 cal., 28 inch round bbl., blue/casehardened finish,
walnut stock. These Sharps Model 1874 Business Rifles were incredibly popular in the American west, especially among professional hunters in
the bison industry, who valued them for their power and accuracy. Those same traits however, along with their inherent reliability, endeared them to
settlers, lawmen, Native Americans, outlaws, and gold prospectors as well. Though they couldn’t provide the extended fire power of the contemporary
Winchester repeaters, their simplicity and trusted design kept them a popular and “Old Reliable” option well into the repeating era. The top of the barrel on this example has the Old
Reliable marking followed by the Bridgeport address, both in front of the rear sight. The breech is marked “CALIBRE 40” on top, “BUSINESS .40” on the left, and “2 1/4” on the right. Matching
numbers are on the bottom of the barrel and top rear of the receiver. It is fitted with a copper blade front sight, Lawrence patent folding ladder rear sight, and double set triggers. It is mounted with
a smooth forearm marked with three punch dots on the bottom near the receiver and straight grip stock.
CONDITION: Very good, retains traces of the original blue finish and case colors in sheltered areas with the balance mostly a well-maintained bright grey patina, typical of a western hunting rifle that was worked hard but cared for. The wood is also very good with mild wear in handling areas from repeated use and the scattered minor handling marks of a frontier rifle. Mechanically excellent.
Estimate: 3,500 - 5,500
LOT 3063
Colt Bisley Model Frontier Six Shooter Single Action Army Revolver - Serial no. 302498, 44-40 WCF cal., 4 3/4 inch round bbl., blue/casehardened finish, hard rubber grips. Manufactured in 1907 with the Bisley Model and Colt Frontier Six Shooter markings on the left side of the barrel, the two-line address on top, two-line patent dates and circled Rampant Colt on the left of the frame, and matching numbers on the frame, trigger guard, back strap, and grips. It has standard features including checkered hard rubber grips with Rampant Colts at the tops. Revolvers such as this one would have been trusted by those from all walks of life as a last line of protection in an era when much of the American west was still very much untamed. CONDITION: Very good, retains strong traces of the original blue and casehardened finishes in sheltered areas with the balance mostly a smooth grey patina speckled with brown. It certainly has the look of a working gun that was trusted for many years. The very good replacement grips show a mild even wear that only come from years of use. Mechanically excellent. A Single Action Army with the “been there, done that” look! Estimate: 1,600 - 2,500
LOT 3064
Desirable New Mexico Marked Tooled Leather Colt Single Action Army Holster by Henry Nordhaus - Henry Nordhaus moved his business from San Antonio, Texas to Deming, New Mexico in 1887, where he perfected this style of holster. It is a tooled, single loop, “jockstrap” style holster of brown leather stamped with maker’s mark and “44” on the front and tooling consisting of “X” border patterns. The single loop is secured by rivets with a thinner strap around the bottom. CONDITION: Fine, showing some mild wear and minor flaking on the front and some moderate rubbing on the back of the belt loop with mostly well-defined markings. A rare holster type from a desirable maker!
Estimate: 1,600 - 2,500 47