Sharps Model 1874 Mid-Range Rifle was manufactured between January 1876 and November 1879. The No.1 rifle features a blued, 28-inch octagon barrel, case-hardened receiver and nickel-plated sporting buttplate with checkered walnut forearm and pistol grip stock. The stock and forearm have a varnish finish. Only twenty Model 1874 Mid-Range rifles were made with 28-inch barrels. The barrel is fitted with a dove-tail mounted front sight with nickel-silver blade and R.S. Lawrence patent folding rear sight. A Vernier rear sight is mounted on the receiver tang. The rifle has a single trigger with checkered face. The top barrel flat is roll-stamped with the legend: "SHARPS RIFLE CO. HARTFORD CONN." in a single line ahead of the rear sight. "CALIBRE 44" is stamped on the top barrel flat between the rear sight and receiver. The left side of the receiver is roll-stamped: "SHARPS RIFLE CO./PAT APR 6 1869" in two lines. The serial number "155951" is stamped on the left side of the Vernier sight base and the underside of the barrel beneath the forearm. The serial number is written in pencil on the inside of the forearm. All of the visible serial numbers match. The Model 1874 Mid-Range Rifle was intended for use at the Creedmoor range and NRA rules governed weight and required a single trigger. Only 36 Hartford Model 1874 No 1 Mid-Range Rifles were manufactured. The accompanying copy of the Sharps ledger shows this rifle as a Mid Range #1 (Md #1), 44/28 caliber and having been shipped to a J. W. England at the N.Y. Sun office on Sept. 6, 1876

Fine. The rifle retains 70% of the faded, thin original blue finish on the barrel with some thinning and light edge wear. The casehardened finish on the contact points of the right side of the receiver, hammer and lever show handling wear and have aged to a dark gray patina. The balance of the casehardened finish retains the original case colors and is 30% intact. The brass nickel-plated sporting buttplate has some flaking but retains about 80% of the original finish. The barrel markings are crisp. The stock and forearm are in excellent overall condition. The checkering on the forearm and pistol grip is sharp. Nearly all of the original varnish finish remains intact; wear is limited to several very minor handling marks. This is a fine example of a Sharps Hartford Model No.1 Mid-Range Rifle with special order 28-inch octagon barrel.