The factory letter indicates this rifle was invoiced on July 22, 1878, to J.G. Dow, cashier of Bozeman, Montana Territory. It notes this was part of a large order with 35 Carbines, 50 .45 caliber Business Rifles, 50 .40 caliber Business Rifles, and 60 Sporting Rifles to be shipped from Sharps' agent Edwin S. Harris in New York. Dow was purchasing rifles on behalf of Walter Cooper's shop after Cooper ran up his debts with Sharps and others. The rifle is listed only as a Model 1874 Business Rifle in .45 caliber. The rifle has a Rocky Mountain front sight with a replaced blade, the Old Reliable marking and Bridgeport address on top of the barrel ahead of the Lawrence patent notch and ladder rear sight, "CAL 45" on top at the breech, "BUSINESS 45" on top at the breech, "2 1/10" on the right at the breech, matching serial numbers on the barrel and upper tang, double set triggers, smooth stock and forearm, and an added screw above the mainspring and reshaping of the tumbler which together cause the lock to rebound to half-cock. The latter period modification keeps the hammer automatically off the firing pin. Perhaps its owner in the 1880s had an accident with the hammer down on a live round that he didn't want to repeat. Provenance: The John Fox Collection

Very good as "frontier issued" and modified with a mix of an old reblued finish and gray and brown patina, mild overall wear, patches of mild oxidation, and the usual minor scratches and dings. The refinished wood is also very good and has some scattered dings and scratches and a thin crack at the tail of the lock. Mechanically fine. A solid and interesting Sharps Model 1874 Business Rifle from the Montana frontier.