SCARCE SHARPS EMPLOYEE CUSTOM TARGET RIFLE.

SCARCE SHARPS EMPLOYEE CUSTOM TARGET RIFLE. Cal. 45-70 or 45-90. SN 161308. Very fine target rifle with 30” oct bbl that has the “Old Reliable” mark and the company name & Bridgeport address on top flat. It has a replacement globe front sight and Sharps ladder rear sight with reproduction vernier tang sight with 5” staff. It has checkered, very nicely figured, flame grain, center crotch cut, American walnut with schnable tip forearm & pistol grip stock with checkered grip cap & coarse checkered Sharps steel buttplate. The wrist is checkered in #2 style with a separately checkered wrist and a separate diamond on each side by top tang. There is a replaced long sliver by the right side of top tang that is virtually invisible until the stock is removed. It has a 2” x 1” silver oval in left side of buttstock. There is a Creedmore sight base at the heel. This rifle appears to have begun life as a sporting rifle with bbl weight of 5 lbs. 10 oz., as marked on bottom flat under forearm, which is different from a long range or Creedmore rifle. There is a variety of serial numbers inside the piece with the buttstock having three different serial numbers, including this one. It appears that it was upgraded to its present configuration using new factory parts. Tang sight is unnumbered, with only a small “A” in a shield on the underneath side. Accompanied by a Sharps Rifle Co. letter stating that this rifle is listed in order book No. 5 as a Model 1874 Sporting Rifle and invoiced at Bridgeport Factory on June 16, 1877 to Sharps employee, George F. Hull. Rifle is 45 caliber with 30” oct bbl, sgl trigger, open sights & oil finished stocks. Weight listed at 9 lbs. 14 oz. Mr. Hull was a machinist & millwright who conducted his own business in Bridgeport, CT. He was hired in 1875 and remained a Sharps employee until the factory closed in late 1880. Dr. Labowskie further states that Mr. Hull “is known to have purchased several rifles while working for Sharps or perhaps took them in lieu of pay.” He also states that those Hull rifles known to collectors today are modified with respect to high quality stock work, with deluxe wood & other features. He states that he has personally examined this rifle and finds that it would qualify as a custom mid-range target rifle and that the tang sight is a modern reproduction and front sight is a replacement. Also accompanied by copies of two letters from Mr. Hull to Nelson King, the supervisor at Sharps, soliciting employment. Additionally accompanying is a copy of a 1986 letter from Dr. R.L. Moore, basically stating the same information as previously noted. CONDITION: Very fine. Bbl retains about 95-96% blue, turning plum, with strong blue in very sheltered areas. There are a number of small nicks and a few scattered spots of light pitting. Receiver & lockplate retain case colors in sheltered areas, being mostly a gray patina. Forearm has a crack at left rear edge and buttstock, repairs as previously noted. Otherwise wood is sound and retains most of a professionally restored finish. Mechanics are crisp, strong bright bore with some orange peel roughness just in front of chamber. 4-60719 JR416 (12,500-17,500)

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
	1266	$11,500.00	SCARCE SHARPS EMPLOYEE CUSTOM TARGET RIFLE. Cal. 45-70 or 45-90. SN 161308. Very fine target rifle with 30” oct bbl that has the “Old Reliable” mark and the company name & Bridgeport address on top flat. It has a replacement globe front sight and Sharps ladder rear sight with reproduction vernier tang sight with 5” staff. It has checkered, very nicely figured, flame grain, center crotch cut, American walnut with schnable tip forearm & pistol grip stock with checkered grip cap & coarse checkered Sharps steel buttplate. The wrist is checkered in #2 style with a separately checkered wrist and a separate diamond on each side by top tang. There is a replaced long sliver by the right side of top tang that is virtually invisible until the stock is removed. It has a 2” x 1” silver oval in left side of buttstock. There is a Creedmore sight base at the heel. This rifle appears to have begun life as a sporting rifle with bbl weight of 5 lbs. 10 oz., as marked on bottom flat under forearm, which is different from a long range or Creedmore rifle. There is a variety of serial numbers inside the piece with the buttstock having three different serial numbers, including this one. It appears that it was upgraded to its present configuration using new factory parts. Tang sight is unnumbered, with only a small “A” in a shield on the underneath side. Accompanied by a Sharps Rifle Co. letter stating that this rifle is listed in order book No. 5 as a Model 1874 Sporting Rifle and invoiced at Bridgeport Factory on June 16, 1877 to Sharps employee, George F. Hull. Rifle is 45 caliber with 30” oct bbl, sgl trigger, open sights & oil finished stocks. Weight listed at 9 lbs. 14 oz. Mr. Hull was a machinist & millwright who conducted his own business in Bridgeport, CT. He was hired in 1875 and remained a Sharps employee until the factory closed in late 1880. Dr. Labowskie further states that Mr. Hull “is known to have purchased several rifles while working for Sharps or perhaps took them in lieu of pay.” He also states that those Hull rifles known to collectors today are modified with respect to high quality stock work, with deluxe wood & other features. He states that he has personally examined this rifle and finds that it would qualify as a custom mid-range target rifle and that the tang sight is a modern reproduction and front sight is a replacement. Also accompanied by copies of two letters from Mr. Hull to Nelson King, the supervisor at Sharps, soliciting employment. Additionally accompanying is a copy of a 1986 letter from Dr. R.L. Moore, basically stating the same information as previously noted. CONDITION: Very fine. Bbl retains about 95-96% blue, turning plum, with strong blue in very sheltered areas. There are a number of small nicks and a few scattered spots of light pitting. Receiver & lockplate retain case colors in sheltered areas, being mostly a gray patina. Forearm has a crack at left rear edge and buttstock, repairs as previously noted. Otherwise wood is sound and retains most of a professionally restored finish. Mechanics are crisp, strong bright bore with some orange peel roughness just in front of chamber. 4-60719 JR416 (12,500-17,500) 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.

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