Model 1878 Sharps-Borchardt Sporting Rifle with round barrel chambered for the 2 1/10 inch, .45 caliber, cartridge. The rifle has a blued 30-inch heavy barrel. The matching serial number is present underneath the forearm. The receiver and lever have a casehardened finish. The walnut stock and forearm are un-checkered and have an oiled finish. The stock has a checkered, shotgun style, buttplate. The barrel is fitted with a dovetail mounted Rocky Mountain style front sight with nickel silver blade and a R.S. Lawrence patent folding leaf rear sight. The top of the barrel is stamped: "OLD RELIABLE" is script followed by "SHARPS RIFLE CO. BRIDGEPORT. CONN." ahead of the rear sight and "J.P. LOWER/DENVER COL." between the rear sight and the receiver. The left side of the receiver is roll-stamped: "SHARPS RIFLE CO. BRIDGEPORT CONN./U.S.A." in two lines above "18813" and "PAT. DEC. 1876". The left side of the stock is stamped with an encircled "LB" monogram near the buttplate. The Sharps Rifle Co. manufactured a total of 750 Model 1878 Sporting Rifles with round barrels between October 1877 and October 1881. Model 1878 rifles with J.P. Lower markings are scarce and very desirable. The rifle is complete with a letter of authentication from Sharps Rifle expert Frank Sellers.

Very fine. There is 70% blue finish present on the barrel with some thinning on the left side. The barrel markings are crisp. The receiver and lever retain nearly 40% of the dove-gray, casehardened finish, There are several shallow dents in the left side of the receiver just below the Sharps markings. The case colors on the buttplate have silvered but retain most of the original casehardened finish. The stock is in excellent condition with minor handling wear. The forearm is refinished. This is an excellent example of a scarce Model 1878 Sharps-Borchardt Sporting Rifle with desirable J.P. Lower sales markings.