RARE SHARPS SPORTING RIFLE BUFFALO GUN SHIPPED TO LEAVENWORTH KANSAS.

SN C53254. Cal. 50 (appears to be 50-70). Standard sporting rifle with 30″ med weight oct bbl, nickel silver Rocky Mountain front sight and Lawrence patent Sharps ladder rear sight. Top bbl flat is marked with the 2-line Hartford address forward of the rear sight and with cal marking diagonally over the chamber area. Chamber area also has a tiny “30”. Mounted with uncheckered, straight grain American walnut with pewter tip rnd Sharps forearm and straight stock with smooth steel Sharps buttplate. Top tang has the tang sight screw holes plugged. Accompanied by a Sharps factory records letter which identifies this rifle as having been invoiced at the Hartford factory on Nov. 23, 1872 to J.F. Schmelzer of Leavenworth Kansas. It is described as having a 30″ oct bbl, in cal 50, double triggers, globe & peep sights, and oil finished stocks. Letter states that there were three identical rifles shipped to the Schmelzer firm on the same day. The Schmelzer Co. was a supplier to buffalo hunters in Kansas, Nebraska and Texas, so there is little doubt that this rifle would have been on the front line of the buffalo hunts. The 50-70 cartridge was one of the more popular cartridges and was used throughout the entire short time frame of the buffalo hunts. This cartridge was no less popular than the 44-90 Sharps although it did not have the range of the smaller cartridge. Reading several accounts of shooting buffalo disclosed that most shots were taken from 200-600 yards and frequently even longer ranges where the 50 cal was less reliable. Documented true buffalo rifles shipped to the immediate area where the shoots took place are a great rarity. CONDITION: Very good, all matching including bbl, forearm, lockplate, trigger plate, buttstock & buttplate. Bbl retains strong blue under the forearm with the balance a light brown patina; receiver, lockplate, hammer, trigger plate & buttplate are mostly a grey/brown patina. Stock has a hairline around the top tang, otherwise wood is sound showing heavy wear, especially on the forearm and retains most of a very old restored finish. Hammer will not catch in safety notch, otherwise mechanics are fine; strong bore with fine pitting. 4-47913 JR131 (25,000-35,000) – Lot 2184

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
	2184	$24,725.00	RARE SHARPS SPORTING RIFLE BUFFALO GUN SHIPPED TO LEAVENWORTH KANSAS. SN C53254. Cal. 50 (appears to be 50-70). Standard sporting rifle with 30″ med weight oct bbl, nickel silver Rocky Mountain front sight and Lawrence patent Sharps ladder rear sight. Top bbl flat is marked with the 2-line Hartford address forward of the rear sight and with cal marking diagonally over the chamber area. Chamber area also has a tiny “30”. Mounted with uncheckered, straight grain American walnut with pewter tip rnd Sharps forearm and straight stock with smooth steel Sharps buttplate. Top tang has the tang sight screw holes plugged. Accompanied by a Sharps factory records letter which identifies this rifle as having been invoiced at the Hartford factory on Nov. 23, 1872 to J.F. Schmelzer of Leavenworth Kansas. It is described as having a 30″ oct bbl, in cal 50, double triggers, globe & peep sights, and oil finished stocks. Letter states that there were three identical rifles shipped to the Schmelzer firm on the same day. The Schmelzer Co. was a supplier to buffalo hunters in Kansas, Nebraska and Texas, so there is little doubt that this rifle would have been on the front line of the buffalo hunts. The 50-70 cartridge was one of the more popular cartridges and was used throughout the entire short time frame of the buffalo hunts. This cartridge was no less popular than the 44-90 Sharps although it did not have the range of the smaller cartridge. Reading several accounts of shooting buffalo disclosed that most shots were taken from 200-600 yards and frequently even longer ranges where the 50 cal was less reliable. Documented true buffalo rifles shipped to the immediate area where the shoots took place are a great rarity. CONDITION: Very good, all matching including bbl, forearm, lockplate, trigger plate, buttstock & buttplate. Bbl retains strong blue under the forearm with the balance a light brown patina; receiver, lockplate, hammer, trigger plate & buttplate are mostly a grey/brown patina. Stock has a hairline around the top tang, otherwise wood is sound showing heavy wear, especially on the forearm and retains most of a very old restored finish. Hammer will not catch in safety notch, otherwise mechanics are fine; strong bore with fine pitting. 4-47913 JR131 (25,000-35,000) – Lot 2184 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.

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

RARE SHARPS SPORTING RIFLE BUFFALO GUN SHIPPED TO LEAVENWORTH KANSAS.