VERY RARE SHARPS MODEL 1874 GERMAN PATTERN/SCHUTZEN RIFLE.

VERY RARE SHARPS MODEL 1874 GERMAN PATTERN/SCHUTZEN RIFLE. Cal. 40. 1-1/16 (40-50 Bottleneck). SN 162203. There are only 69 of these rare rifles made at Bridgeport, July 1877 to Oct 1878. They were all made with 30” oct bbl & heavy sporting stock with cheek piece and sporting or Schutzen buttplate. They are listed with globe front sight, Lawrence rear sight and a sporting tang base with mid range vernier stem & double set triggers. This information is detailed on page 233 of Sharps Firearms, Sellers. This rifle matches the above description precisely with its shallow, shadow cheek piece & nickeled brass Schutzen buttplate. The top of the bbl has standard “Old Reliable” & Bridgeport markings. Mounted with straight grain, uncheckered American walnut which is unusual in that most of the known German pattern Sharps have checkered wood. The forearm has a threaded palm rest socket above the rear screw & there is another one near the root of the lever. The right side of the butt stock has a 1-3/4” long elliptical silver plate inlaid and screwed into the wood & is engraved “John Zillmann”. Accompanied by a 2-page letter dated April 25, 1965, on Bill Peace Co. letterhead of East Bernard, Texas discussing these rifles. Also accompanying is a photocopy of page 226 of the Bridgeport Production Record for March 13, 1878 which lists this rifle. Virtually the entire production of these rifles, which were designed by Charles E. Overbaugh for the New York Central Schutzen Corps, and all but three were purchased by the club president, C. F. Gennerich for club members. Mr. Overbaugh was the financial underwriter for the purchase. Additionally accompanied by a period chocolate brown, Moroccan leather, soft, full length case with lockable flap & strap. It also has a carrying strap. Flap has a small metal oval engraved “H. Geusgen”. CONDITION: Fine, all matching except the tang sight & the buttplate which are not numbered. The bbl is a smooth, even dark brown patina with some fine, light surface rust. The receiver retains case colors in the most sheltered areas being mostly a brown patina with light rust on the left side. The lockplate retains about 40% faded case colors and the hammer having traces of the case colors with the balance a mottled, silver/brown patina. The tang sight is a dark brown patina. The stock has a repaired crack at the heel otherwise the wood is sound and retains about 85% strong original varnish with some damage on the edge of the cheek piece and oil staining around the buttplate & receiver areas. Mechanics are fine, bright & shiny bore. Case is soft & supple with some dryness & folds and retains about 75% orig finish. 4-31065 JR549 (6,000-10,000)

Auction: Firearms - Spring 2007

Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

Image	Lot	Price	Description
	1134	$12,075.00	VERY RARE SHARPS MODEL 1874 GERMAN PATTERN/SCHUTZEN RIFLE. Cal. 40. 1-1/16 (40-50 Bottleneck). SN 162203. There are only 69 of these rare rifles made at Bridgeport, July 1877 to Oct 1878. They were all made with 30” oct bbl & heavy sporting stock with cheek piece and sporting or Schutzen buttplate. They are listed with globe front sight, Lawrence rear sight and a sporting tang base with mid range vernier stem & double set triggers. This information is detailed on page 233 of Sharps Firearms, Sellers. This rifle matches the above description precisely with its shallow, shadow cheek piece & nickeled brass Schutzen buttplate. The top of the bbl has standard “Old Reliable” & Bridgeport markings. Mounted with straight grain, uncheckered American walnut which is unusual in that most of the known German pattern Sharps have checkered wood. The forearm has a threaded palm rest socket above the rear screw & there is another one near the root of the lever. The right side of the butt stock has a 1-3/4” long elliptical silver plate inlaid and screwed into the wood & is engraved “John Zillmann”. Accompanied by a 2-page letter dated April 25, 1965, on Bill Peace Co. letterhead of East Bernard, Texas discussing these rifles. Also accompanying is a photocopy of page 226 of the Bridgeport Production Record for March 13, 1878 which lists this rifle. Virtually the entire production of these rifles, which were designed by Charles E. Overbaugh for the New York Central Schutzen Corps, and all but three were purchased by the club president, C. F. Gennerich for club members. Mr. Overbaugh was the financial underwriter for the purchase. Additionally accompanied by a period chocolate brown, Moroccan leather, soft, full length case with lockable flap & strap. It also has a carrying strap. Flap has a small metal oval engraved “H. Geusgen”. CONDITION: Fine, all matching except the tang sight & the buttplate which are not numbered. The bbl is a smooth, even dark brown patina with some fine, light surface rust. The receiver retains case colors in the most sheltered areas being mostly a brown patina with light rust on the left side. The lockplate retains about 40% faded case colors and the hammer having traces of the case colors with the balance a mottled, silver/brown patina. The tang sight is a dark brown patina. The stock has a repaired crack at the heel otherwise the wood is sound and retains about 85% strong original varnish with some damage on the edge of the cheek piece and oil staining around the buttplate & receiver areas. Mechanics are fine, bright & shiny bore. Case is soft & supple with some dryness & folds and retains about 75% orig finish. 4-31065 JR549 (6,000-10,000) Auction: Firearms - Spring 2007 Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

.red{fill:#B50938;} .white{fill:#FFFFFF;} .blue{fill:#005596;}