Revised: 10/4/2014

Regarding the I.T.: It had previously been accepted in many collector circles that the I.T. designated Indian Territory. However, in the case of this Sharps and as a result of current scholarly findings, it has been determined that this I.T. stands for Idaho Territory. We have just ordered an updated factory letter from the Sharps historian Dr. Labowskie. This letter will include the updated knowledge concerning the I.T. and it will be sent to the buyer free of charge when we obtain it.

RARE GENUINE SHARPS SPORTING RIFLE BUFFALO GUN SHIPPED TO INDIAN TERRITORY.

SN C52969. Cal. 44 (appears to be 44-90 Sharps Bottleneck). Fine buffalo rifle with 30″ med weight oct bbl, Sharps front sight with bone insert blade, Lawrence patent Sharps ladder rear sight and an early Sharps windage adjustable tang sight with 3-1/2″ staff. Top flat of bbl has the Hartford address and the cal is marked diagonally across the top flat at the chamber end. Mounted with uncheckered, straight grain American walnut with rnd sporting Sharps forearm that has pewter tip and straight stock with semi-crescent Sharps steel buttplate. Trigger plate has double set triggers. Accompanied by a Sharps records letter which identifies this rifle as having been shipped to “F. Campbell of Planeville, Boise County, Indian Territory, Feb. 26, 1874”. Records indicate it was a Model 1874 sporting rifle with 30″ oct bbl in cal 44 with double set triggers, globe & peep sights with oil finished stocks. Actual cartridge size and weight are not listed. Boise County, Indian Territory, which usually is considered to be the state of Oklahoma, apparently is no longer known by that name. There is however a Boise City, Oklahoma in Cimarron County out in the western panhandle just above the Texas panhandle. Given the proximity to Texas and the date of shipment it is practically a dead certainty that this was a Texas buffalo hunt rifle. Very likely once the Texas herds were decimated, the hunter and his rifle would have moved to the northern plains to shoot the northern herd which lasted into the 1880s. This rifle was discovered in Montana. Documented true buffalo rifles shipped to the immediate area where the shoots took place are a great rarity. The Buffalo Hunter’s Name Index on the internet lists a “Hank” Campbell as a buffalo hunter in Texas in 1877. Another account shows that in Feb. 1877 Hank Campbell led 45 buffalo hunters to attack an Indian camp in Thompson canyon (now known as Yellow Horse Canyon in present day Lubbock, TX). It may simply be a coincidence that “F.” Campbell was just north of the Texas panhandle in 1874 and “Hank” Campbell shows up three years later as a buffalo hunter in Texas. Weight 12 lbs 3 oz. CONDITION: Good plus, all matching including bbl, lockplate, trigger plate, buttstock, buttplate & forearm. Bbl retains about 70-80% dull blue turning plum; receiver and other metal parts are a silver/brown patina with fine pitting on the buttplate; forearm shows heavy saddle bow wear with a crack by the lower screw escutcheon, otherwise wood is sound with a heavy hand worn patina. Mechanics are fine; strong bright bore with scattered pitting. 4-47915 JR129 (30,000-50,000) – Lot 2182

Click here to view provenance

Auction: Firearms - Fall 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
	2182	$28,750.00	Revised: 10/4/2014 Regarding the I.T.: It had previously been accepted in many collector circles that the I.T. designated Indian Territory. However, in the case of this Sharps and as a result of current scholarly findings, it has been determined that this I.T. stands for Idaho Territory. We have just ordered an updated factory letter from the Sharps historian Dr. Labowskie. This letter will include the updated knowledge concerning the I.T. and it will be sent to the buyer free of charge when we obtain it. RARE GENUINE SHARPS SPORTING RIFLE BUFFALO GUN SHIPPED TO INDIAN TERRITORY. SN C52969. Cal. 44 (appears to be 44-90 Sharps Bottleneck). Fine buffalo rifle with 30″ med weight oct bbl, Sharps front sight with bone insert blade, Lawrence patent Sharps ladder rear sight and an early Sharps windage adjustable tang sight with 3-1/2″ staff. Top flat of bbl has the Hartford address and the cal is marked diagonally across the top flat at the chamber end. Mounted with uncheckered, straight grain American walnut with rnd sporting Sharps forearm that has pewter tip and straight stock with semi-crescent Sharps steel buttplate. Trigger plate has double set triggers. Accompanied by a Sharps records letter which identifies this rifle as having been shipped to “F. Campbell of Planeville, Boise County, Indian Territory, Feb. 26, 1874”. Records indicate it was a Model 1874 sporting rifle with 30″ oct bbl in cal 44 with double set triggers, globe & peep sights with oil finished stocks. Actual cartridge size and weight are not listed. Boise County, Indian Territory, which usually is considered to be the state of Oklahoma, apparently is no longer known by that name. There is however a Boise City, Oklahoma in Cimarron County out in the western panhandle just above the Texas panhandle. Given the proximity to Texas and the date of shipment it is practically a dead certainty that this was a Texas buffalo hunt rifle. Very likely once the Texas herds were decimated, the hunter and his rifle would have moved to the northern plains to shoot the northern herd which lasted into the 1880s. This rifle was discovered in Montana. Documented true buffalo rifles shipped to the immediate area where the shoots took place are a great rarity. The Buffalo Hunter’s Name Index on the internet lists a “Hank” Campbell as a buffalo hunter in Texas in 1877. Another account shows that in Feb. 1877 Hank Campbell led 45 buffalo hunters to attack an Indian camp in Thompson canyon (now known as Yellow Horse Canyon in present day Lubbock, TX). It may simply be a coincidence that “F.” Campbell was just north of the Texas panhandle in 1874 and “Hank” Campbell shows up three years later as a buffalo hunter in Texas. Weight 12 lbs 3 oz. CONDITION: Good plus, all matching including bbl, lockplate, trigger plate, buttstock, buttplate & forearm. Bbl retains about 70-80% dull blue turning plum; receiver and other metal parts are a silver/brown patina with fine pitting on the buttplate; forearm shows heavy saddle bow wear with a crack by the lower screw escutcheon, otherwise wood is sound with a heavy hand worn patina. Mechanics are fine; strong bright bore with scattered pitting. 4-47915 JR129 (30,000-50,000) – Lot 2182 Click here to view provenance Auction: Firearms - Fall 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 GENUINE SHARPS SPORTING RIFLE BUFFALO GUN SHIPPED TO INDIAN TERRITORY.