This is an attractive and highly desirable, rare, example of a Sharps Borchardt Model 1878 Express rifle chambered for the .45-110 Sharps cartridge. The Sharps Rifle Co. manufactured a total of only 31 Borchardt Model 1878 Express rifles between January 15th, 1879-May 1880, distinguished by their matted top flat on the octagonal barrel, only offered in the 45 2 7/8 cartridge, and hand selected wood with a checkered pistol grip and forearm. Most of these saw heavy use on the Western frontier for buffalo hunting. The rifle has a matching number blued 30-inch heavy octagon barrel that is marked on top with "OLD RELIABLE" in script followed by "SHARPS RIFLE CO. BRIDGEPORT. CONN." ahead of the rear sight, and "CAL.45 2 7/8" (.45-110 Sharps) on the left of the breech. The left of the receiver is roll-stamped "BORCHARDT PATENT/SHARPS RIFLE CO. BRIDGEPORT CONN./U.S.A." in three lines. The matching serial number is marked on the bottom of the receiver, barrel underneath the forearm, and on the rear flat of the forearm. The receiver, breech block and lever have a casehardened finish. The deluxe fancy walnut forearm and pistol grip buttstock are checkered and have an oiled finish, with a checkered shotgun style buttplate. The barrel is fitted with a dovetail mounted beaded blade front sight and two-position flip rear sight with 100 and 200 yard notches, and an adjustable peep sight (absent peep insert) is mounted on top of the frame.