Per Frank Sellers in "Sharps Firearms," only 215 No. 1 and 31 No. 2 Model 1878 Mid-Range rifles were manufactured in October 31, 1877 , to October 1880. Seller described the double set trigger mechanism on the Model 1878 as "perhaps the only unsuccessful invention Hugo Borchardt ever made" and indicates it was not used on any of the rifles until 1879. The company itself wrote to William Burkhard of St. Paul, Minnesota, when he complained explaining the model was "intended originally for a military arm only, & when we did apply it to Sporting arms, there came from the West a demand for double triggers & we made the best fix we could. We don't believe in double triggers anyhow & don't recommend them to anybody, knowing as we do that no finer shooting can be done with a double than with single trigger. That the D.T. is on our 1878 gun is no fault of ours. We had to put it there to 'satisfy the people.'" The barrel has a windgauge globe front sight, Lawrence patent notch and ladder rear sight, "Old Reliable" and the one-line Bridgeport address, "CAL 40 1 7/8" on the left at the breech, and the "L/L/L" marking on the bottom at the breech. The frame has the hard rubber panels and a mid-range Vernier peep sight fitted in the integral base on the upper tang. The deluxe walnut pistol grip stock and Schnabel tip forearm are checkered. The buttstock has a hard rubber grip cap and hard rubber shotgun buttplate. The forearm, bottom of the barrel, and bottom of the action under the trigger have the matching serial number.

Fine with 75% plus original blue finish, mix of original case colors and dark gray and brown patina on the frame and lever, some light surface oxidation, and general minor overall wear. The side panels have attractive aged coloration. The revarnished wood is also fine and has some mild scrapes in dings, mostly crisp checkering with some minor wear, stunning figure, repaired chip at the buttplate and corresponding hairline cracks in the wood, and some light dings and scratches. The lever retention allows it to drop freely, although the action and set trigger mechanism are otherwise fine.