Under 7,000 Sharps Model 1878 Military rifles produced in the late 1870s and early 1880s. This rifle has the military style blade/stud front and Buffington rear sights. Just behind the rear sight on the barrel it is marked "Old Reliable" followed by the one-line Bridgeport address. The left side of the receiver has the three-line Borchardt patent and Bridgeport address marking. The serial number is marked in front of the trigger. "W" and "J" is marked on either side of the trigger. The nearly full length musket style forearm has a circled "B" stamp on the bottom near the frame. It is fitted with a straight grip stock with checkered steel buttplate as found on the Officers variant and a circled "LB" monogram on the left side.

Very good. The rifle retains 40% plus of the faded blue finish which has faded to a brown patina. The lever and breech block have faint case colors. There are some areas of light spotting and slight pitting. The refinished wood is good as modified in the repaired wrist area and has some scrapes and dings along with a crack at the toe. The action is fine, and the markings are clear.