SHARPS MODEL 1877 SPORTING RIFLE.

SHARPS MODEL 1877 SPORTING RIFLE. SN D39. Cal. 40 2-1/2″ (40-70 Sharps straight). Fine light-weight sporting rifle with 28″ oct bbl, German silver Rocky Mountain front sight, and Lawrence patent ladder rear sight. Top flat of the bbl has the trademark “Old Reliable” with the Sharps Rifle Bridgeport address forward of the rear sight and is stamped “J.P. LOWER DENVER COL.” behind the rear sight. Serial number was observed on the top tang and bottom flat of the bbl under the forearm. It is mounted with nicely figured, American walnut with checkered, semi-schable tipped rnd forearm and uncheckered straight stock with Sharps checkered steel butt plate accompanied by a Sharps Rifle Co. letter from Dr. Dick Labowskie, which states that there is no shipping document in the order books. However, he has other records of correspondence from the Lower Co. which indicate that in late 1879 or early 1880 Mr. Lower purchased a variety of rifles from Sharps including “left-over model 1874 rifles”. This was a shipment of 75 rifles now referred to as the “Model 1877 Lower Sporting & Business Rifles. Dr. Labowskie states that the appearance of the matching serial number on bottom of bbl is unusual in that most of these “77’s” have mixed numbers and are usually well used and/or abused. They, having been true western guns and cheap usually, saw very hard frontier use. Dr. Labowskie states in his letter that this rifle is in 40-70 Bottleneck caliber but in fact it is in 40-70 Sharps Straight caliber. PROVENANCE: Dr. John P. May Collection. CONDITION: Very fine for its type. Bbl retains 88-90% orig blue turning plum with edge wear & some thinning over forearm area. Receiver, lockplate & hammer are silver, faded case colors. Wood is sound with nicks & dings and retains most of an old restored finish. Mechanics are fine, very bright shiny bore. 4-35490 JR496 (10,000-14,000)

Auction: Firearms - Fall 2008

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
	1559	$6,325.00	SHARPS MODEL 1877 SPORTING RIFLE. SN D39. Cal. 40 2-1/2″ (40-70 Sharps straight). Fine light-weight sporting rifle with 28″ oct bbl, German silver Rocky Mountain front sight, and Lawrence patent ladder rear sight. Top flat of the bbl has the trademark “Old Reliable” with the Sharps Rifle Bridgeport address forward of the rear sight and is stamped “J.P. LOWER DENVER COL.” behind the rear sight. Serial number was observed on the top tang and bottom flat of the bbl under the forearm. It is mounted with nicely figured, American walnut with checkered, semi-schable tipped rnd forearm and uncheckered straight stock with Sharps checkered steel butt plate accompanied by a Sharps Rifle Co. letter from Dr. Dick Labowskie, which states that there is no shipping document in the order books. However, he has other records of correspondence from the Lower Co. which indicate that in late 1879 or early 1880 Mr. Lower purchased a variety of rifles from Sharps including “left-over model 1874 rifles”. This was a shipment of 75 rifles now referred to as the “Model 1877 Lower Sporting & Business Rifles. Dr. Labowskie states that the appearance of the matching serial number on bottom of bbl is unusual in that most of these “77’s” have mixed numbers and are usually well used and/or abused. They, having been true western guns and cheap usually, saw very hard frontier use. Dr. Labowskie states in his letter that this rifle is in 40-70 Bottleneck caliber but in fact it is in 40-70 Sharps Straight caliber. PROVENANCE: Dr. John P. May Collection. CONDITION: Very fine for its type. Bbl retains 88-90% orig blue turning plum with edge wear & some thinning over forearm area. Receiver, lockplate & hammer are silver, faded case colors. Wood is sound with nicks & dings and retains most of an old restored finish. Mechanics are fine, very bright shiny bore. 4-35490 JR496 (10,000-14,000) Auction: Firearms - Fall 2008 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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