RARE FACTORY ENGRAVED MODEL 1853 SHARPS SPORTING RIFLE.

RARE FACTORY ENGRAVED MODEL 1853 SHARPS SPORTING RIFLE. Cal. 36. SN 10963. Beautiful slant breech sporting rifle with 26” medium weight oct bbl with German silver Rocky Mountain front sight & Sharps ladder rear sight with first type Sharps light adjustable tang sight with sgl screw. It has usual markings on top flat of bbl, top tang & lockplate. Receiver, lever, lockplate & hammer are unusually blued, but appear to be orig as there is absolutely no evidence of buffing or polishing. Engraving is still sharp with some raised areas along the cuts. It has full coverage extra fine engraving over receiver, lockplate, and hammer, face of lever, top & bottom tangs & buttplate tang. Left side of receiver, on raised area has a nicely detailed vignette of a mountain goat. Engraving extends about 1-3/4” up over chamber area on top three flats. There is a narrow border at muzzle. It has dbl set triggers. Mounted with very nicely figured, uncheckered, straight grain, American walnut with standard Sharps forearm with pewter nosecap & straight stock with semi-crescent brass buttplate & a fancy brass patchbox engraved to match. There is a large replaced chip at toe. This is one of only 2,970 sporting rifles made in period July 1854-Dec. 1859. Accompanied by a Sharps Rifle Co. letter describing this rifle as an octagon sporting rifle invoiced at Hartford Factory May 3, 1855. It is described as being 90 bore (about 36 caliber) and was specifically noted as being “brass mounted” and “extra fine engraved”. There are no other details given. Although Dr. Labowskie did report in his letter that in 1857 this rifle would have cost $85.00. He continues that “I have examined this rifle personally and find it to be an outstanding example of a highly engraved Model 1853 Sporting Rifle, with full receiver, hammer, lever, trigger plate and patchbox coverage, along with partial barrel and buttplate coverage. The blued receiver is unusual, but I judge it to be factory-original due to the sharpness of the engraving, which shows no evidence of cleaning or buffing. There is a small repair to the toe of the buttstock, neatly done”. CONDITION: Very fine. Bbl retains most of its orig finish, slightly thinned & turning plum in some areas, with scattered fine surface pitting with heavier pitting on bottom three flats. Receiver, lever, lockplate & hammer retain a beautiful, smooth, even plum patina. Brass buttplate & patchbox retain a medium mustard patina. Buttstock, with its repaired toe, has a fine crack with a missing chip by top tang, otherwise wood is sound with light to moderate handling & use marks with a couple of small gouges on left side and a couple of others on wrist with the forearm having a few scattered light dings & gouges. Both are sound and retain most of their orig varnish. Mechanics are fine, bright shiny bore with some pitting in grooves. 4-60722 (20,000-30,000)

Auction: Firearms - Fall 2006

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
	1265	$24,725.00	RARE FACTORY ENGRAVED MODEL 1853 SHARPS SPORTING RIFLE. Cal. 36. SN 10963. Beautiful slant breech sporting rifle with 26” medium weight oct bbl with German silver Rocky Mountain front sight & Sharps ladder rear sight with first type Sharps light adjustable tang sight with sgl screw. It has usual markings on top flat of bbl, top tang & lockplate. Receiver, lever, lockplate & hammer are unusually blued, but appear to be orig as there is absolutely no evidence of buffing or polishing. Engraving is still sharp with some raised areas along the cuts. It has full coverage extra fine engraving over receiver, lockplate, and hammer, face of lever, top & bottom tangs & buttplate tang. Left side of receiver, on raised area has a nicely detailed vignette of a mountain goat. Engraving extends about 1-3/4” up over chamber area on top three flats. There is a narrow border at muzzle. It has dbl set triggers. Mounted with very nicely figured, uncheckered, straight grain, American walnut with standard Sharps forearm with pewter nosecap & straight stock with semi-crescent brass buttplate & a fancy brass patchbox engraved to match. There is a large replaced chip at toe. This is one of only 2,970 sporting rifles made in period July 1854-Dec. 1859. Accompanied by a Sharps Rifle Co. letter describing this rifle as an octagon sporting rifle invoiced at Hartford Factory May 3, 1855. It is described as being 90 bore (about 36 caliber) and was specifically noted as being “brass mounted” and “extra fine engraved”. There are no other details given. Although Dr. Labowskie did report in his letter that in 1857 this rifle would have cost $85.00. He continues that “I have examined this rifle personally and find it to be an outstanding example of a highly engraved Model 1853 Sporting Rifle, with full receiver, hammer, lever, trigger plate and patchbox coverage, along with partial barrel and buttplate coverage. The blued receiver is unusual, but I judge it to be factory-original due to the sharpness of the engraving, which shows no evidence of cleaning or buffing. There is a small repair to the toe of the buttstock, neatly done”. CONDITION: Very fine. Bbl retains most of its orig finish, slightly thinned & turning plum in some areas, with scattered fine surface pitting with heavier pitting on bottom three flats. Receiver, lever, lockplate & hammer retain a beautiful, smooth, even plum patina. Brass buttplate & patchbox retain a medium mustard patina. Buttstock, with its repaired toe, has a fine crack with a missing chip by top tang, otherwise wood is sound with light to moderate handling & use marks with a couple of small gouges on left side and a couple of others on wrist with the forearm having a few scattered light dings & gouges. Both are sound and retain most of their orig varnish. Mechanics are fine, bright shiny bore with some pitting in grooves. 4-60722 (20,000-30,000) Auction: Firearms - Fall 2006 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;}