The factory letter indicates this rifle was invoiced on September 28, 1872, to Walter Cooper of Bozeman, Montana Territory, as a .50 cf "Army Rifle" with a single trigger, open sights, and oil finished stocks for $20. The large order also had 60 similar rifles and 25 rimfire "Army Rifles." Walter Cooper (1843-1924) was a successful businessman but ran himself into debt with Sharps. He also designed his own sights. Per Gerald Mayberry's research, of the 516 Sharps rifles and carbines shipped by the factory to Montana, 141 were military rifles shipped to Cooper. This rifle has a brass blade front sight in a dovetailed base, "SHARPS RIFLE/MANUFG. CO./HARTFORD, CONN." ahead of the Lawrence patent notch and folding ladder rear sight, "NEW MODEL" behind the rear sight, a tang mounted peep sight, long "musket" forearm with three barrel bands, and a leather sling.