Manufactured c. 1878-1881, subsequently period converted to shotgun configuration. Barrel gauges at .50 caliber (32 gauge), fitted with a blade front sight, rear sight absent. In an included 1981 dated handwritten letter noted Sharps historian and author Frank Sellers stated that the gun was likely the work of retailer Francis Bannerman, one time largest dealer in military surplus known for making foragers. Sellers noted, "[The retailer] did good work on other conversions so I don't know why they couldn't on this [Borchardt]."

Good overall as displaying character associated with a working gun of the frontier, traces of darkened original case colors remain on the receiver. Mechanically functions.