Page 183 - Auction84-Book3

Collector’s Fact
One of only 215 Sharps-Borchardt 1878 mid-range single shot rifles produced.
LOT 3332
Exceptional Sharps-Borchardt Model 1878 Mid-Range Rifle with Desirable Hard Rubber Panels - Serial no. 17550, 40-70 Sharps cal., 20 inch round heavy bbl., blue/casehardened finish, walnut stock. This is one of only an estimated 215 Mid-Range Sharps-Borchardt rifles that were manufactured from 1877 to 1880. The barrel is marked “Old Reliable” in front of the rear sight along with the Sharps Bridgeport address. The left side of the barrel
at the breech has the caliber marking “CAL. 40 1 7/8” along with the period, possibly factory, added “2 1/2”. These markings indicate that the rifle was likely originally chambered in .40-50 Sharps, before later being upgraded to the more desirable .40-70 Sharps. The barrel is fitted with a globe front sight with wind gauge and spirit level and a folding ladder rear sight graduated 2-8. There is a Vernier peep sight mounted in the integral base on the upper tang. The serial number is marked on the bottom of the action just in front
of the trigger and the bottom of the barrel, which is also marked
“L/L/L” in script. The casehardened frame is fitted with the rare
and desirable, smooth hard rubber panels. It is mounted with a finely
figured, Schnabel tip, multi-point checkered forearm and checkered
pistol grip stock with hard rubber grip cap and checkered, “SRCo” monogrammed, hard rubber, shotgun buttplate.
CONDITION: Exceptionally fine, retains 90% of the original blue finish and 80% plus of the original, slightly muted, case colors with the balance showing mostly a smooth grey patina. The hard pieces show a very attractive lightly aged chocolate color with a few light handling marks. The wood is very fine with some scattered light dings and scratches and retaining almost all of the original varnish. Mechanically excellent.
Provenance: The Milan J. Turk Collection.
Estimate: 9,000 - 14,000
181