This is a very fine example of a rare Sharps-Borchardt Model 1878 Long Range Rifle as manufactured circa 1877 to 1880 and is one of only 230 Model 1878 Long Range Rifles manufactured by Sharps Rifle Co., Bridgeport, Connecticut. The barrel is equipped with a front sight of windgauge and spirit level type and having interchangeable aperture. The top of the barrel is script marked "Old Reliable" inside a banner followed by "SHARPS RIFLE CO. BRIDGEPORT, CONN." The casehardened receiver has walnut panels instead of the more commonly seen standard hard rubber panels. Early Model 1878s had walnut panels but after a year of prdouction hard rubber panels became standard with the option of wood panels at an extra cost. The rife is equipped with a long range Vernier tang sight which has a 5 inch long staff stamped with a November 1877 patent date. The rifle has the standard single trigger with fine knurling on the face. Stamped ahead of the trigger is the Borchardt December 1876 patent date above the serial number. The rifle has a blue barrel and casehardened receiver and lever which was standard finish on Model 1878 Long Range Rifles after July 1878. Mounted with a nicely figured pistol grip stock with checkering on the grip area and forearm. The forearm has an ebony tip and the buttstock has a checkered hard rubber shotgun style buttplate. The top of the buttstock has a mount for a heel position Vernier sight and the curl grip has a contrasting wood insert. The Sharps-Borchardt Model 1878 single shot rifle is considered by Sharps authorities to be the ultimate development of the 19th Century, U.S. single shot rifle action. Although the Model 1878 Long Range Rifle was made in very limited numbers, it was used in competition by long range target shooters for over 20 years with the last recorded use in a National Rifle Association Match in 1900.

Extremely fine. The barrel retains 95% thinning original blue finish with some areas faded to a plum patina. The lever and receiver retain traces of original case colors blended with a silver gray. The wood is excellent with some minor handling marks with overall crisp checkering. Mechanically excellent.