The Model 1874 is one of the truly iconic firearms of the Old West and was built in a variety of configurations from the early 1870s and into 1880 for hunting everything from deer to buffalo, target shooting at short range to over 1,000 yards, and for general use on the frontier. This example was manufactured around 1876-1877 and is one of only 3,881 octagon barrel sporting rifles manufactured at Bridgeport. It features a blade front sight, buckhorn and folding ladder rear sight, the Bridgeport address and "Old Reliable" markings ahead of the rear sight, "CAL 45" on top at the breech, double set triggers, standard patent marking on the left, and a smooth forend and straight wrist stock with checkered steel shotgun buttplate. "AJAX" is marked in a dot pattern on the left side of the buttstock.

Good with mottled gray and brown patina, patches of mild pitting, and general overall moderate wear. The wood is fair with chips absent along the edges, fairly heavy handling wear consistent with significant use, and some minor hairline cracks including in the butt on the left. Mechanically fine. This is a solid Sharps that certainly has the look of a frontier used rifle.