RARE MODEL 1874 SHARPS HEAVY BUFFALO RIFLE DOCUMENTED TO KANSAS BUFFALO HUNTER.

SN C53688. Cal. Appears to be 44-77 or 44-90 Sharps. Wonderful 14 lb. Sharps Model 1874 Sporting rifle with 30″ heavy oct bbl, 1-1/8″ across the flats. It has Sharps German silver front sight and Lawrence Patent ladder rear sight with a Sharps windage adjustable sporting rear sight that has a 3-3/4″ staff. Staff is slightly bent. Top flat of the bbl has a faint Hartford address forward of the rear sight and has “CALIBRE 44” over the chamber area. On the rebated rnd section of the bbl is stamped a small “20”. Receiver has standard patent markings on the left side and it is fitted with Sharps dbl set triggers. Mounted with nicely figured, uncheckered American walnut with rnd Sharps, pewter tip forearm and straight stock that has Sharps carbine style buttplate. No attempt was made to disassemble the rifle to check for matching parts so as not to disturb the wonderful orig patina although the forearm was removed and the SN was obtained from the bottom flat of the bbl and inside the forearm. Accompanied by a Sharps records letter, over the signature of Dr. Richard J. Labowskie, wherein he identifies this rifle as a Model 1874 Sporting rifle, invoiced at the Hartford factory on July 25, 1872 to “R.W. Snyder”. It is described as being 44 caliber, case length not specified, with 30″ oct bbl, dbl triggers, globe & peep sights and oil finished stocks. Weight was listed as 14 lbs. Dr. Labowskie further states that R.W. Snyder was a buffalo hunter and bought 8 octagon rifles and two Army rifles between Oct. 1871 and June 1873. He speculates that Mr. Snyder must have been buying rifles for other hunters. Dr. Labowskie also mentions letters from Mr. Snyder dated 1875 at Lodgepole and Sidney, Nebraska which indicate he had gone into the freighting business. Mr. Snyder is mentioned in the book, History of Montana 1739-1885: A History of Its Discovery and Settlement, Leeson. It shows that he was born in 1847 in Kentucky and in 1865 moved to Kansas (presumably where he was hunting buffalo). In 1871 the book shows that he traveled to Cheyenne and then to the Black Hills until March 1882 and was employed in mining and freighting. Another book, As I Remember: Stories of Eastern Montana’s Pioneers, Volume I, Kauffman, tells that after the buffalo were gone Mr. Snyder, in partnership, opened a meat market in Deadwood, Dakota Territory, and was also ranching south of Glendive, Montana. Other records show that in March 1882 Mr. Snyder owned the Glendive Meat Market in Montana Territory. That information was also accompanied by a statement that Mr. Snyder was known as a buffalo hunter. Another website shows that the Sharps Rifle Co. had letters of testimony from 1871-1874 regarding Sharps rifles. One from R.W. Snyder, Buffalo, Kansas, dated June 29, 1872 states “My gun has given entire satisfaction, and the rifling in the barrel does not appear to be worn any, although she has been fired about five or six thousand times, and has killed about three thousand buffalo.” Unfortunately the specific rifle is not mentioned. There is little doubt that this rifle is an authentic Kansas buffalo rifle and probably continued hunting after Mr. Snyder moved to Montana. CONDITION: Good. No orig finish remains, being an overall crusty dark brown patina. Forearm has a small crack by the bbl channel at the receiver on the left side, otherwise wood is sound with light nicks & scratches and a dark hand worn patina. Lever spring is broken with the pieces still present, otherwise mechanics are fine; triggers are functional; strong dark bore that may clean a lot better. 4-49257 JR158 (30,000-40,000)

Click here to view the factory letter. – Lot 2235

Auction: Firearms - Spring 2014

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
	2235	$0.00	RARE MODEL 1874 SHARPS HEAVY BUFFALO RIFLE DOCUMENTED TO KANSAS BUFFALO HUNTER. SN C53688. Cal. Appears to be 44-77 or 44-90 Sharps. Wonderful 14 lb. Sharps Model 1874 Sporting rifle with 30″ heavy oct bbl, 1-1/8″ across the flats. It has Sharps German silver front sight and Lawrence Patent ladder rear sight with a Sharps windage adjustable sporting rear sight that has a 3-3/4″ staff. Staff is slightly bent. Top flat of the bbl has a faint Hartford address forward of the rear sight and has “CALIBRE 44” over the chamber area. On the rebated rnd section of the bbl is stamped a small “20”. Receiver has standard patent markings on the left side and it is fitted with Sharps dbl set triggers. Mounted with nicely figured, uncheckered American walnut with rnd Sharps, pewter tip forearm and straight stock that has Sharps carbine style buttplate. No attempt was made to disassemble the rifle to check for matching parts so as not to disturb the wonderful orig patina although the forearm was removed and the SN was obtained from the bottom flat of the bbl and inside the forearm. Accompanied by a Sharps records letter, over the signature of Dr. Richard J. Labowskie, wherein he identifies this rifle as a Model 1874 Sporting rifle, invoiced at the Hartford factory on July 25, 1872 to “R.W. Snyder”. It is described as being 44 caliber, case length not specified, with 30″ oct bbl, dbl triggers, globe & peep sights and oil finished stocks. Weight was listed as 14 lbs. Dr. Labowskie further states that R.W. Snyder was a buffalo hunter and bought 8 octagon rifles and two Army rifles between Oct. 1871 and June 1873. He speculates that Mr. Snyder must have been buying rifles for other hunters. Dr. Labowskie also mentions letters from Mr. Snyder dated 1875 at Lodgepole and Sidney, Nebraska which indicate he had gone into the freighting business. Mr. Snyder is mentioned in the book, History of Montana 1739-1885: A History of Its Discovery and Settlement, Leeson. It shows that he was born in 1847 in Kentucky and in 1865 moved to Kansas (presumably where he was hunting buffalo). In 1871 the book shows that he traveled to Cheyenne and then to the Black Hills until March 1882 and was employed in mining and freighting. Another book, As I Remember: Stories of Eastern Montana’s Pioneers, Volume I, Kauffman, tells that after the buffalo were gone Mr. Snyder, in partnership, opened a meat market in Deadwood, Dakota Territory, and was also ranching south of Glendive, Montana. Other records show that in March 1882 Mr. Snyder owned the Glendive Meat Market in Montana Territory. That information was also accompanied by a statement that Mr. Snyder was known as a buffalo hunter. Another website shows that the Sharps Rifle Co. had letters of testimony from 1871-1874 regarding Sharps rifles. One from R.W. Snyder, Buffalo, Kansas, dated June 29, 1872 states “My gun has given entire satisfaction, and the rifling in the barrel does not appear to be worn any, although she has been fired about five or six thousand times, and has killed about three thousand buffalo.” Unfortunately the specific rifle is not mentioned. There is little doubt that this rifle is an authentic Kansas buffalo rifle and probably continued hunting after Mr. Snyder moved to Montana. CONDITION: Good. No orig finish remains, being an overall crusty dark brown patina. Forearm has a small crack by the bbl channel at the receiver on the left side, otherwise wood is sound with light nicks & scratches and a dark hand worn patina. Lever spring is broken with the pieces still present, otherwise mechanics are fine; triggers are functional; strong dark bore that may clean a lot better. 4-49257 JR158 (30,000-40,000) Click here to view the factory letter. – Lot 2235 Auction: Firearms - Spring 2014 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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RARE MODEL 1874 SHARPS HEAVY BUFFALO RIFLE DOCUMENTED TO KANSAS BUFFALO HUNTER.