RARE SHARPS MID-RANGE #1 SINGLE SHOT TARGET RIFLE.

SN 158362. Cal. 40-50. Sharps Bottleneck. Rare target rifle with medium weight 28″ oct bbl and equally rare 31-5/8″ Malcolm scope in target mounts in the front & rear dovetails. Top flat of the bbl has the “Old Reliable” and “Bridgeport” markings forward of the rear seat. Caliber marking is stamped over the chamber area and cartridge length “1-11/16″ on right side flat. Single trigger is checkered and top tang has a matching numbered vernier sight base with screw, missing the staff. All accessible parts are matching numbered including receiver, lockplate, trigger plate, buttstock, buttplate, bbl & forearm which has last four digits of matching number in pencil. Mounted with very highly figured, shell grain American walnut with checkered schnable tip Sharps forearm & pistol grip stock with checkered grip cap & coarse checkered Sharps steel buttplate. Left side of the stock is inlaid with an empty, rectangular, enscalloped silver plate. In a previous sale at Julias this rifle was accompanied by a Sharps factory records letter which identified this rifle as a mid-range rifle, invoiced at the Bridgeport Factory on Sept 3, 1877 to W.W. Skiddy, President of the Stamford, CT Rifle Club. It is described as being Cal. 40, 1-11/16″ with 28” bbl, style not specified and neither is the trigger or sights, weight 9-3/4 lbs. Dr. Richard J. Labowski, current owner of the Sharps records states that since there is no price entered in the order book, he speculates that it was given to the Stamford Rifle Club as a shooting contest prize. He also states that supporting this theory is the fact that an inscription plate is noted as being installed on the buttstock. According to Sharps Firearms, Sellers there were only 66 of these rare rifles produced at Bridgeport Jan. 1876 through Nov. 1879. Standard bbl length was 30″ oct with all other features as found on this rifle standard except the bbl sights which are missing. In the remarks section, Mr. Sellers states that “20 were made with 28″ barrels”. That number apparently was extracted from the total production of both Hartford & Bridgeport rifles which came to a total of 102 rifles. CONDITION: Very fine to extremely fine, all matching. Bbl retains virtually all of its bright blue finish. Receiver, lock plate, hammer & trigger plate retain strong, bright orig case colors. Wood is sound with a few light nicks & scratches and retains virtually all of its finish with sharp checkering. Mechanics are crisp. Brilliant, shiny bore. Scope retains about all of its bright orig blue with the eye piece showing about all of its black oxidized silver finish. Crosshairs & optics are fine. 50234-1 (15,000-20,000) – Lot 2061

Auction: Firearms - March 2016

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
	2061	$0.00	RARE SHARPS MID-RANGE #1 SINGLE SHOT TARGET RIFLE. SN 158362. Cal. 40-50. Sharps Bottleneck. Rare target rifle with medium weight 28″ oct bbl and equally rare 31-5/8″ Malcolm scope in target mounts in the front & rear dovetails. Top flat of the bbl has the “Old Reliable” and “Bridgeport” markings forward of the rear seat. Caliber marking is stamped over the chamber area and cartridge length “1-11/16″ on right side flat. Single trigger is checkered and top tang has a matching numbered vernier sight base with screw, missing the staff. All accessible parts are matching numbered including receiver, lockplate, trigger plate, buttstock, buttplate, bbl & forearm which has last four digits of matching number in pencil. Mounted with very highly figured, shell grain American walnut with checkered schnable tip Sharps forearm & pistol grip stock with checkered grip cap & coarse checkered Sharps steel buttplate. Left side of the stock is inlaid with an empty, rectangular, enscalloped silver plate. In a previous sale at Julias this rifle was accompanied by a Sharps factory records letter which identified this rifle as a mid-range rifle, invoiced at the Bridgeport Factory on Sept 3, 1877 to W.W. Skiddy, President of the Stamford, CT Rifle Club. It is described as being Cal. 40, 1-11/16″ with 28” bbl, style not specified and neither is the trigger or sights, weight 9-3/4 lbs. Dr. Richard J. Labowski, current owner of the Sharps records states that since there is no price entered in the order book, he speculates that it was given to the Stamford Rifle Club as a shooting contest prize. He also states that supporting this theory is the fact that an inscription plate is noted as being installed on the buttstock. According to Sharps Firearms, Sellers there were only 66 of these rare rifles produced at Bridgeport Jan. 1876 through Nov. 1879. Standard bbl length was 30″ oct with all other features as found on this rifle standard except the bbl sights which are missing. In the remarks section, Mr. Sellers states that “20 were made with 28″ barrels”. That number apparently was extracted from the total production of both Hartford & Bridgeport rifles which came to a total of 102 rifles. CONDITION: Very fine to extremely fine, all matching. Bbl retains virtually all of its bright blue finish. Receiver, lock plate, hammer & trigger plate retain strong, bright orig case colors. Wood is sound with a few light nicks & scratches and retains virtually all of its finish with sharp checkering. Mechanics are crisp. Brilliant, shiny bore. Scope retains about all of its bright orig blue with the eye piece showing about all of its black oxidized silver finish. Crosshairs & optics are fine. 50234-1 (15,000-20,000) – Lot 2061 Auction: Firearms - March 2016 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 SHARPS MID-RANGE #1 SINGLE SHOT TARGET RIFLE.