These Short Range target rifles are very rare. Only 153 are estimated to have been manufactured per Frank Sellers in "Sharps Firearms" on page 275. The included factory letter confirms this rifle was originally sold to Schuyler, Hartley & Graham of New York City, Sharps' largest dealer, and invoiced on May 28, 1879, as a "Short Range Rifle Standard" for $29.55. It has a combination blade and globe front sight, "Old Reliable" without a box and the Bridgeport address ahead of the notch and folding ladder rear sight, "CAL 40 1 7/8" on the left side near the breech, checkered Schnabel forearm, Sharps address and Borchardt patent marking on the left side of the action, short range peep sight with integral base on the upper tang, checkered pistol grip stock with curled grip tip, and a checkered hard rubber buttplate embossed with the Sharps Rifle Co. monogram. The bottom of the barrel has "1:7:2:3.3" ahead of "17075" and "LLL" in front of the lug and "17244" and "L" between the lug and the front of the receiver. The matching serial number "17244" is also marked on the tail of the forearm and bottom of the action. The butt under the buttplate has "JAMES GRANT/VANWERT OH/SEPT/1941" marked in pencil.

Fine with 70% plus of the lightly thinning original blue finish on the barrel, some faint case colors and otherwise mottled gray and silver-gray patina on the action, some spots of light oxidation and pitting, and minor marks and scratches. The buttstock is very good with a split in the right side of the wrist, indents from the rear sight on the wrist and comb, a spliced arrow design and a hole on top of the butt where it appears to have had a peep sight mount in the past, crisp checkering, and minor dings and scratches. The forearm is fine with mostly crisp checkering, some mild handling wear, and some light scratches and small dents. Mechanically excellent.