Like many in the American firearms industry in the 18th and 19th centuries, the Freund brothers Frank W. and George were German immigrants. They had various temporary shop locations as they followed the Union Pacific westward and established more permanent shops in Denver, Colorado, and Cheyenne, Wyoming, where they regularly modified firearms, particularly Sharps rifles, to fit their customer's needs. They sold rifles to the likes of generals Philip Sheridan and George Cook and Theodore Roosevelt. In addition to mechanical alterations and creating new configurations, the Freunds also designed new sights. This early Model 1874 rifle from the Hartford factory has an F.W. Freund 1877 patented beaded blade front sight, Freund improved Lawrence patent rear sight with improved notches, and adjustable tang mounted peep sight with a large disk with multiple peep holes. The barrel has the Sharps Hartford address ahead of the rear sight, "FREUND & BRO." at an angle and "CALIBRE 40" on top at the breech, and "L" inverted on the right at the breech. The bottom of the barrel is marked "S155765," and the inside of the forend has "155765." The full serial number is on the upper tang under the peep sight base. The rifle is also equipped with adjustable double set triggers. The factory letter indicates the rifle was invoiced on October 14, 1871, to J.J. Smith of Diamond City, Montana Territory, as a sporting rifle with a 28 inch octagon barrel, double set triggers, globe front sight, peep sight, and oil finished wood in .44 2-1/4 inch for $45, and the barrel serial number is listed as invoiced on November 23, 1875, to J.P. Lower of Denver, Colorado Territory, as a sporting rifle with a 28 inch octagon barrel, double set triggers, open sights, and oil finished wood in .40 caliber for $42. Both the barrel and rifle were in the West prior to the famous Battle of Little Bighorn when the region was still contested and conflicts with Native Americans as well as other settlers and outlaws remained part of life. Sharps rifles were preferred by many in the West because they could reliably take game and be used in defense at longer ranges.

Fine with 50% original blue finish on the barrel, mostly brown patina on the balance, some minor oxidation, areas of dried oil, and mild overall wear. The wood is fair and has cracking and chipping at the forend tip and butt, section absent along the right of the forend, and mild dings and scratches. Mechanically fine. A very solid Sharps rifle upgraded by some of the West's most historically significant and accomplished gunmakers and displaying honest wear from use on the frontier during the Indian Wars and buffalo hunting era.