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  • Auction Catalog #4093
  • Lot #3042
Lot #3041
Lot #3043

Lot 3042: Sharps Model 1878 Borchardt Short Range Single Shot Rifle

Scarce Documented Sharps Model 1878 Borchardt Short Range Single Shot Rifle with Factory Letter

Auction Location: Bedford, TX

Auction Date: December 8, 2024

Lot 3042: Sharps Model 1878 Borchardt Short Range Single Shot Rifle

Scarce Documented Sharps Model 1878 Borchardt Short Range Single Shot Rifle with Factory Letter

Auction Location: Bedford, TX

Auction Date: December 8, 2024

Estimated Price: $2,250 - $3,500
Price Realized:
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Scarce Documented Sharps Model 1878 Borchardt Short Range Single Shot Rifle with Factory Letter

Manufacturer: Sharps Rifle Manufacturing Company
Model: 1878 Borchardt
Type: Rifle
Gauge: 40 1 7/8"
Barrel: 26 inch round
Finish: blue/casehardened
Grip:
Stock: walnut
Item Views: 1691
Item Interest: Active
Serial Number:
Catalog Page: 32
Class: Antique
Bore Condition: The bore is partially bright with some light spotting/pitting and distinct rifling.
Description:

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 on 8 December 1879 to John P. Moore's Sons, a large gun dealer/distributor in New York. The letter indicates that the rifle was shipped with five other short range models, as well as three mid-range models. The left side of the frame 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 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 German silver blade front sight, folding ladder rear sight, and a Vernier peep sight mounted on the upper tang in an integral base. It is mounted with a checkered, Schnabel tip forearm and a checkered pistol grip stock with a checkered, hard rubber shotgun buttplate. "JAB" ("B" is backwards) is faintly stamped on the bottom of the grip.

Rating Definition:

Very good, retains 40% of the thinned original blue finish and faint patterns of the original case colors with small patches of light pitting scattered throughout. The refinished wood is also very good with a few small patches of filler in the wrist, a few minor chips, some scattered minor handling marks, and crisp recut checkering. Mechanically excellent.



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