This Sharps Model 1874 sporting rifle has an accompanying factory letter that lists it as invoiced from the Sharps Bridgeport factory on September 24, 1878 to J.G. Dow of Bozeman, Montana Territory, in 45 caliber, shell length not specified, with a 30 inch octagon barrel, double triggers, open sights, and oil-finished stocks. This is the same shipment date and location as the Sharps 1874 sporting rifle in the previous lot. This purchase was likely on the behalf of Bozeman, Montana dealer Walter Cooper, as J.G. Dow was the bank representing him prior to bankruptcy. These Sharps Model 1874 rifles were a highly valued arm on the frontier, not only due to their firepower but also their long range accuracy. These rifles were popular for both protection and hunting and saw widespread use throughout the turbulent American west, commonly referred to as "buffalo rifles" as used by the commercial hunters of the period. According to "Sharps Firearms" by Frank Sellers, Sharps only manufactured approximately 6,400 of these sporting rifles in a variety of configurations between 1871 to 1880. This example features a 30 inch octagon barrel chambered for the desirable .45-70 caliber, with a dovetail mounted Lyman beaded blade front sight and a Lawrence patent notch and ladder rear sight. The upper receiver tang is fitted with a later replacement ladder peep sight. The top barrel flat is marked "Old Reliable" ahead of the Sharps Bridgeport address with "CAL.45" at the breech, with "2 1/10" on the right barrel flat at the breech. The left side of the receiver is marked with the two-line Sharps 1869 patent date, and the matching serial number "160980" is marked on top of the receiver and bottom of the barrel. It is mounted with a smooth walnut forearm and straight grip stock with a flat checkered steel buttplate.

Very good as Montana used and full of unmistakable character typical of a working gun, with strong original blue finish showing in the protected areas of the barrel, notably hidden beneath the forearm, with the exposed surfaces displaying a smooth brown patina, smooth gray patina on the casehardened surfaces showing traces of original case colors in protected areas, scattered natural surface freckling, with defined markings in the metal overall. Wood is good with the desirable type of wear only seen in a western used gun, with a smooth undersized forearm indicative of plenty of time riding in the saddle, a spliced replacement section on the bottom of the buttstock, and numerous scattered frontier scars. Mechanically fine. This "frontier used" Montana shipped Sharps Model 1874 sporting buffalo rifle would display wonderfully in any western or Americana collection!