Offered here is an excellent and highly desirable special order Sharps Model 1874 Mid-Range No. 1 single shot rifle manufactured at the Bridgeport, Connecticut, factory. Out of the 102 total units manufactured by Sharps, 66 came out of the Bridgeport factory between 1876 and 1879. Mostly of these rifles were chambered in .40 caliber. This rifle is chambered in .44 caliber. The accompanying factory lists this rifle as a Mid-Range No. 1 with a 30 inch barrel in .44 caliber and "broad buttstock." The chambering and stock configuration were both special order features, states the letter. The rifle was shipped on July 10, 1876, to E.S. Harris of New York City, a large Sharps dealer. The barrel is fitted with a globe front sight with spirit level and R.C. Lawrence folding ladder rear sight and has a top flat marked with the Bridgeport address ahead of the rear sight and "CALIBRE 44" at the breech, a right flat stamped "75" at the breech and a bottom flat marked "4 7/16" under the forearm. The folding Vernier sight is factory numbered to the gun and has an eye cup. Factory fitted Vernier sights, such as this one, were serial numbered to the gun. Other features include a checkered single plain trigger, checkered steel shotgun buttplate, barrel factory re-numbered to the gun and forearm numbered to the original barrel number. The left side of the action is marked with the two-line Sharps' 1869 patent date marking. The Schnabel forearm and pistol grip stock feature checkering. The barrel is blue, and the remaining surfaces are casehardened.

Extremely fine. The barrel retains 90% plus original blue finish showing light edge wear. The remaining surfaces retain 50% original case colors. The wood is excellent showing some minor pressure dents and scratches and crisp checkering overall. Mechanically excellent. A highly desirable special order Model 1874 Mid-Range No. 1 rifle in investment grade condition that will make a great addition to any Sharps longarm collection.