The top barrel flat has the boxed "Old Reliable" followed by "SHARPS RIFLE CO. BRIDGEPORT, CONN." and the left flat at the breech is marked "CAL. 40 2 5/8". Frank Sellers states on page 339 of Sharps Firearms that "This cartridge was introduced in May 1873 and immediately found popularity with western hunters." The rifle has a blade front sight and a folding ladder rear sight with a buckhorn sight. The left side of the receiver is marked with the Sharps patent date. Equipped with double set triggers. Checkered pistol grip stock with pewter forend tip and checkered flat buttplate. Fitted with a wooden brass tipped cleaning rod underneath the barrel with two ferrules to support it.

Very good. The barrel retains traces of faded original blue finish in the protected areas with the balance a mottled brown-gray patina.. The action retains some areas of silvered out original case colors with flashes of case colors in the protected areas. The very good wood has a repaired stock with some minor handling marks and a couple minor gouges, with well worn checkering. Mechanically fine.