ONE OF A KIND SHARPS MODEL 1875 CENTENNIAL EXHIBITION LONG RANGE SINGLE SHOT TARGET RIFLE.

ONE OF A KIND SHARPS MODEL 1875 CENTENNIAL EXHIBITION LONG RANGE SINGLE SHOT TARGET RIFLE. SN NSN. Cal. 45-2.4″ (45-100) Sharps Straight. This fabulous, one of a kind, Sharps rifle was patented by Sharps firearms designer, Nelson King on May 23, 1876. It is a totally different concept in an attempt to produce a lightweight, accurate long range target rifle. This is the only rifle of its type ever built although there were apparently military models produced of which two are known with both having been rebuilt. This rifle is described as having a 34″ tapered medium weight rnd bbl with Rigby flat over chamber area and has the “OLD RELIABLE” marking and Bridgeport address. Mounted with a spirit level windgage globe front sight, no rear seat and a long range vernier tang sight with 5″ staff mounted on a unique, orig base curved to fit the top tang. Receiver is most unusual with flat sides that have an internal mechanism with right side mounted external hammer. It has a Sharps type breech block with a unique right hand extraction system and an equally unique system built in that originally was designed to facilitate bringing the hammer to full cock with closing of the lever. This mechanism could be enabled or disabled by switching a checkered lever behind the hammer, unfortunately this feature, sometime in the distant past, was disabled. The left side of receiver is engraved “LONG RANGE” and the right side is engraved “Patentd April 5th 1869 / Patents Applied For”. Receiver is lightly engraved with foliate arabesque patterns and very fine border patterns and has a wide checkered trigger. Lever is short with a wide checkered flange on right side of tang. Mounted with exceptional, highly figured, marblecake, honey & chocolate circassian walnut with long checkered schnable tip forearm and full pistol grip stock with checkered cap and smooth steel buttplate. Heel of the stock is inletted & mounted with a tang sight base. No disassembly was effected to check for additional markings or numbers. This rifle is pictured on pp. 245-247 in the book Sharps Firearms, Sellers, and is covered in great detail with credit to the William S. Peace Collection. Mr. Sellers writes that by the 1874-1875 period the serious target shooting public had become dissatisfied with the Model 1874 Creedmoor rifles and were clamoring for a better rifle. Nelson King and probably a variety of other firearms designers produced the Model 1875 found here which was apparently the only one of its type ever made. This rifle and a military model rifle were exhibited at the Philadelphia Centennial Exposition which opened in April 1876. There may have been another sample military rifle of this type used by a European representative for demonstrations. Mr. Sellers writes that the military rifle was awarded a prize medal at the world’s fair, however there is documentation and a number of certificates accompanying this rifle which indicate that the medal was for a “Breech loading Hunting Rifle”. This certificate is dated Oct. 5, 1876 over the signature of the Director General of the International Exhibition of 1876 and accompanies this rifle along with the orig Centennial Commission medal. Also accompanying is an orig cover letter to the Sharps Rifle co. dated Dec. 23, 1876 which tells Sharps that they will be notified when the “diploma and medal are ready for delivery”. Also accompanying is the orig notice from the Director General of the United States Centennial Commission dated May 23, 1877 to the Sharps Rifle Co. notifying them that the Certificate of Award and medal have been forwarded via Adams Express Co. on that date. Additionally accompanying is an orig Sharps Rifle Co. franked envelope with a red/purple “OLD RELIABLE / (trademark)” Inc. stamp and the hand written notation “Exhibition Papers”. Also accompanying is an orig note dated March 13, ’76 which states “two rifles for Centennial Exhibition” and lists a sporting rifle and a long range rifle by SNs over the signature “Overbaugh” (Charles E. Overbaugh, the company’s Chief Traveling Salesman and exhibition shooter during 1876-77). Also accompanying is an orig receipt on Thomson & Son Sporting Goods bill head dated March 31, 1876 to Sharps Rifle Co. for “1 Centennial Creedmoor Rifle Case” in the amount of $10.50. Consignor notes that it was likely a hard leather trunk case. Also accompanying is an orig receipt from the Adams Express Co. to the Sharps R Co. dated May 12, 1876 for four boxes “To Philad” for a total of $25.25, which consignor notes that these boxes likely contain the guns for the Centennial Exposition. Also accompanying are copies of photographs of the inside of the Exposition Hall which shows the United States Firearms section with another showing the outside of the Sharps Rifle Co. booth. Another photograph depicts five Sharps Model 1874 rifles that were apparently displayed at the exposition. Immediately after the close of the Exposition this rifle was sold to preeminent long range target shooter Col. John Bodine who apparently used it fairly extensively. In a letter dated Feb. 26, 1877 from Col. Bodine to the Sharps Rifle Co. he advises them that he has received the Centennial rifle and rates it very superior. On May 15, 1877 he returned it to the factory and had it re-barreled to its current configuration. At some point during this time the self-cocking mechanism was disabled. It seems likely that Col. Bodine used this rifle in competition along with his Model 1878 Sharps Borchardt long range rifle purchased in 1878. Also accompanying is another letter from Col. Bodine to Sharps dated May 15, 1877 ordering the changes as noted. It is apparent from the foregoing that this rifle received great acclaim and acceptance from the shooting public and probably should have gone into production. However, their factory was apparently swamped with orders for Model 1874 sporting rifles and they were tooling up for the production of the Model 1878. In the interim they did produce what was to become known as the Model 1877 for a very short period of time. In addition to which it was during this time frame that a dispute arose between Nelson King and the company and he was fired which probably caused the company to look unfavorably on a rifle of his design. Additionally accompanying is a very large hardbound volume of 320 pages of FRANK LESLIE’S HISTORICAL REGISTER OF THE UNITED STATES CENTENNIAL EXPOSITION 1876 published in 1877 with numerous illustrations and two orig albumen photographs. Also accompanying is the 340 page SOUVENIR OF THE CENTENNIAL published by Curtis in 1877 which, along with numerous illustrations, also contains a small piece of the famed and beloved Connecticut Charter Oak on p. 209. This tree figured prominently in the founding of Connecticut and when it fell in 1856 it was judged to be 800-1,000 years old. Pages 88 & 90 of this publication contain a brief description of the Sharps Rifle Company exhibit at the Exposition with the illustration of a Model 1877 Creedmoor rifle on p. 90. And finally accompanying is the display card used at numerous gun shows and gun organization meetings during the display of this rifle. This rifle has won Best Individual Weapon Award at the Maryland Arms Collectors Baltimore Show, the Pennsylvania Antique Arms Collectors Sunnybrook Show and at a meeting of the American Society of Arms Collectors. This rifle and all of its accompanying orig documentation is suitable for the most advanced collector and would make an outstanding display at a major museum where it could be viewed and admired by the highest numbers of the visiting public. PROVENANCE: International Exhibition of 1876; Col. John Bodine; Richard Sweet; William S. Peace Collection; Dr. Robert L. Moore Collection; Dr. Richard J. Labowskie Collection. CONDITION: Very fine. Bbl retains about all of its smooth orig blue turned a little plum; receiver, hammer & lever retain faded case colors, stronger in sheltered areas, mostly turned silver; stock has a hairline through the wrist at the rear tang screw and a small repaired chip on the forearm and overall retains most of an outstanding professionally restored finish. Mechanics are fine, self-cocking mechanism disabled as noted; brilliant shiny bore. 4-44917 JR328 (150,000-250,000)

Auction: Firearms - Spring 2012

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
	2299	$201,250.00	ONE OF A KIND SHARPS MODEL 1875 CENTENNIAL EXHIBITION LONG RANGE SINGLE SHOT TARGET RIFLE. SN NSN. Cal. 45-2.4″ (45-100) Sharps Straight. This fabulous, one of a kind, Sharps rifle was patented by Sharps firearms designer, Nelson King on May 23, 1876. It is a totally different concept in an attempt to produce a lightweight, accurate long range target rifle. This is the only rifle of its type ever built although there were apparently military models produced of which two are known with both having been rebuilt. This rifle is described as having a 34″ tapered medium weight rnd bbl with Rigby flat over chamber area and has the “OLD RELIABLE” marking and Bridgeport address. Mounted with a spirit level windgage globe front sight, no rear seat and a long range vernier tang sight with 5″ staff mounted on a unique, orig base curved to fit the top tang. Receiver is most unusual with flat sides that have an internal mechanism with right side mounted external hammer. It has a Sharps type breech block with a unique right hand extraction system and an equally unique system built in that originally was designed to facilitate bringing the hammer to full cock with closing of the lever. This mechanism could be enabled or disabled by switching a checkered lever behind the hammer, unfortunately this feature, sometime in the distant past, was disabled. The left side of receiver is engraved “LONG RANGE” and the right side is engraved “Patentd April 5th 1869 / Patents Applied For”. Receiver is lightly engraved with foliate arabesque patterns and very fine border patterns and has a wide checkered trigger. Lever is short with a wide checkered flange on right side of tang. Mounted with exceptional, highly figured, marblecake, honey & chocolate circassian walnut with long checkered schnable tip forearm and full pistol grip stock with checkered cap and smooth steel buttplate. Heel of the stock is inletted & mounted with a tang sight base. No disassembly was effected to check for additional markings or numbers. This rifle is pictured on pp. 245-247 in the book Sharps Firearms, Sellers, and is covered in great detail with credit to the William S. Peace Collection. Mr. Sellers writes that by the 1874-1875 period the serious target shooting public had become dissatisfied with the Model 1874 Creedmoor rifles and were clamoring for a better rifle. Nelson King and probably a variety of other firearms designers produced the Model 1875 found here which was apparently the only one of its type ever made. This rifle and a military model rifle were exhibited at the Philadelphia Centennial Exposition which opened in April 1876. There may have been another sample military rifle of this type used by a European representative for demonstrations. Mr. Sellers writes that the military rifle was awarded a prize medal at the world’s fair, however there is documentation and a number of certificates accompanying this rifle which indicate that the medal was for a “Breech loading Hunting Rifle”. This certificate is dated Oct. 5, 1876 over the signature of the Director General of the International Exhibition of 1876 and accompanies this rifle along with the orig Centennial Commission medal. Also accompanying is an orig cover letter to the Sharps Rifle co. dated Dec. 23, 1876 which tells Sharps that they will be notified when the “diploma and medal are ready for delivery”. Also accompanying is the orig notice from the Director General of the United States Centennial Commission dated May 23, 1877 to the Sharps Rifle Co. notifying them that the Certificate of Award and medal have been forwarded via Adams Express Co. on that date. Additionally accompanying is an orig Sharps Rifle Co. franked envelope with a red/purple “OLD RELIABLE / (trademark)” Inc. stamp and the hand written notation “Exhibition Papers”. Also accompanying is an orig note dated March 13, ’76 which states “two rifles for Centennial Exhibition” and lists a sporting rifle and a long range rifle by SNs over the signature “Overbaugh” (Charles E. Overbaugh, the company’s Chief Traveling Salesman and exhibition shooter during 1876-77). Also accompanying is an orig receipt on Thomson & Son Sporting Goods bill head dated March 31, 1876 to Sharps Rifle Co. for “1 Centennial Creedmoor Rifle Case” in the amount of $10.50. Consignor notes that it was likely a hard leather trunk case. Also accompanying is an orig receipt from the Adams Express Co. to the Sharps R Co. dated May 12, 1876 for four boxes “To Philad” for a total of $25.25, which consignor notes that these boxes likely contain the guns for the Centennial Exposition. Also accompanying are copies of photographs of the inside of the Exposition Hall which shows the United States Firearms section with another showing the outside of the Sharps Rifle Co. booth. Another photograph depicts five Sharps Model 1874 rifles that were apparently displayed at the exposition. Immediately after the close of the Exposition this rifle was sold to preeminent long range target shooter Col. John Bodine who apparently used it fairly extensively. In a letter dated Feb. 26, 1877 from Col. Bodine to the Sharps Rifle Co. he advises them that he has received the Centennial rifle and rates it very superior. On May 15, 1877 he returned it to the factory and had it re-barreled to its current configuration. At some point during this time the self-cocking mechanism was disabled. It seems likely that Col. Bodine used this rifle in competition along with his Model 1878 Sharps Borchardt long range rifle purchased in 1878. Also accompanying is another letter from Col. Bodine to Sharps dated May 15, 1877 ordering the changes as noted. It is apparent from the foregoing that this rifle received great acclaim and acceptance from the shooting public and probably should have gone into production. However, their factory was apparently swamped with orders for Model 1874 sporting rifles and they were tooling up for the production of the Model 1878. In the interim they did produce what was to become known as the Model 1877 for a very short period of time. In addition to which it was during this time frame that a dispute arose between Nelson King and the company and he was fired which probably caused the company to look unfavorably on a rifle of his design. Additionally accompanying is a very large hardbound volume of 320 pages of FRANK LESLIE’S HISTORICAL REGISTER OF THE UNITED STATES CENTENNIAL EXPOSITION 1876 published in 1877 with numerous illustrations and two orig albumen photographs. Also accompanying is the 340 page SOUVENIR OF THE CENTENNIAL published by Curtis in 1877 which, along with numerous illustrations, also contains a small piece of the famed and beloved Connecticut Charter Oak on p. 209. This tree figured prominently in the founding of Connecticut and when it fell in 1856 it was judged to be 800-1,000 years old. Pages 88 & 90 of this publication contain a brief description of the Sharps Rifle Company exhibit at the Exposition with the illustration of a Model 1877 Creedmoor rifle on p. 90. And finally accompanying is the display card used at numerous gun shows and gun organization meetings during the display of this rifle. This rifle has won Best Individual Weapon Award at the Maryland Arms Collectors Baltimore Show, the Pennsylvania Antique Arms Collectors Sunnybrook Show and at a meeting of the American Society of Arms Collectors. This rifle and all of its accompanying orig documentation is suitable for the most advanced collector and would make an outstanding display at a major museum where it could be viewed and admired by the highest numbers of the visiting public. PROVENANCE: International Exhibition of 1876; Col. John Bodine; Richard Sweet; William S. Peace Collection; Dr. Robert L. Moore Collection; Dr. Richard J. Labowskie Collection. CONDITION: Very fine. Bbl retains about all of its smooth orig blue turned a little plum; receiver, hammer & lever retain faded case colors, stronger in sheltered areas, mostly turned silver; stock has a hairline through the wrist at the rear tang screw and a small repaired chip on the forearm and overall retains most of an outstanding professionally restored finish. Mechanics are fine, self-cocking mechanism disabled as noted; brilliant shiny bore. 4-44917 JR328 (150,000-250,000) Auction: Firearms - Spring 2012 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.

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