Rare, factory cased Sharps Model 1851 Sporting Rifle manufactured in 1852-1853. The nickel silver-plate on the case lid is inscribed: "Pierre Chouteau Jr./ St. Louis, 1853". Pierre Chouteau was born in 1789 in St. Louis; his grandfather, Pierre Laclede Liquest, was one of the city founders. In the early 1800s Chouteau entered the fur trade and was subsequently hired by John Jacob Astor as the St. Louis manager of the famous American Fur Trading Company. Pierre Chouteau eventually took over and reorganized the American Fur Trading Company which he operated until 1864. In addition to the fur trade, Chouteau and his son Charles transported gold seekers and freight to Montana and Idaho gold camps during the 1860s. Documents with the rifle state that a note originally found in the rifle case indicated that Pierre Chouteau brought the rifle up the Missouri River to Fort Benton, Montana, in the 1850s. The rifle has a 21", .43 caliber (90 bore), round barrel. The barrel is fitted with a globe front sight and "squirrel ear" rear sight. A folding, long range sight is mounted on the receiver tang. The casehardened receiver is fitted with a Maynard tape primer. The barrel band, patch box and buttplate are brass. The walnut stock and forearm have a high polish varnish finish. The top of the barrel is roll-stamped: "ROBBINS &/LAWRENCE" in two lines between the barrel band and the rear sight. The upper receiver tang is roll-stamped: "C.SHARPS/PATENT/1848" in three lines followed by the serial number "1747". The tape primer door is stamped: "EDWARD MAYNARD/PATENTEE/1845" in three lines. The mahogany case has brass reinforced corners and is inlaid with an inscribed plate. The French fitted interior is lined with dark green felt and has eleven compartments. Two of the compartments have separate lids. The case contains: (1) wooden cleaning rod with brass tip and jag, (2) steel screwdriver with ebony handle, (3) 250 cap tin of Ely No.1 Percussion Caps, (4) steel bullet mold for conical bullets, (5) nickel-plated "Fox" capper, (6) 10-roll tin of Maynard tape primers and (7) nickel-plated oiler for Krag rifle.

Very fine. The rifle retains 85% of the original blue finish. The barrel has 75% of the dull blue finish found on later production Model 1851 Sharps Rifles. The receiver has 80% of the original blued finish. There is light to moderate flash pitting on the percussion nipple and top of the breechblock. The barrel and receiver markings are sharp. The brass furniture has not been polished and has a mellow age patina. The stock and forearm retain most of the heavy, high-polish, varnish finish and are in very fine condition with exception of a repair at the toe and scattered minor handling marks. The case exterior is in very good overall condition with a few minor scratches and scattered handling marks. The interior lining is in fine condition. The felt lining is slightly faded and dusty; wear is limited to one or two minor tears in the fabric and some scattered and very minor stains. A small hole is present in the bottom. The cleaning rod and bullet mold appear to be original to the casing; the other accessories are period but probably did not come with the case. The old description of "The St. Louis Rifle" that accompanies the casing states that only ten Sharps Model 1851 Rifles were cased and only three examples had been identified at the time the article was written. This is a historic and rare factory cased Sharps Model 1851 Rifle owned by one of the most important figures in the Rocky Mountain fur trade.