EXTREMELY RARE EXTRA HEAVY SHARPS MODEL 1874 SPORTING RIFLE.

EXTREMELY RARE EXTRA HEAVY SHARPS MODEL 1874 SPORTING RIFLE. SN 158635. Cal. 40 2-1/2 (40-70 Sharps Straight). Extraordinary Sharps rifle, one of the heaviest ever made with 34″ oct bbl that is 1-1/2″ across the flats at the muzzle. Left side flat, at the chamber end is marked with the caliber and case length which is somewhat unusual as the caliber was usually marked on the top flat and case length on right side flat. Top flat has the “OLD RELIABLE” marking and Bridgeport address. Top flat is mounted with a 33″ scope with 1/2″ tube, the front 7″ of which is a brass extension without optics. Scope is unmarked and the bases are in the front & rear sight dovetails. The Lawrence Patent Sharps rear sight screw is also present. Left side of receiver has the usual Sharps name & patent number. No other markings are present on the receiver or lockplate. It has standard Sharps lever and is fitted with functioning dbl set triggers. SN was observed on top of receiver behind the loading slot, on bottom flat of bbl under forearm and last four digits of SN inside bbl channel of forearm. Face of buttstock, under the metal has the last four digits “1817” which number is also inside toe of buttplate. Lockplate is unnumbered with only a small “D” on inside. Trigger plate has the last four digits “9722”. Accompanied by a Sharps records letter over the signature of Dr. Richard Labowskie, owner of the Sharps records, wherein he identifies this rifle as appearing in Order Book #7 as a Model 1874 Sporting Rifle invoiced at Bridgeport on March 24, 1879 to James Dodds of Dayton, Ohio. Rifle is described as being 40 caliber, 2-1/2″, and having 34″ oct bbl ordered by Dodds to weight 22 lbs. with dbl triggers, open sights and oil finished stocks. The order was entered Jan. 25, 1879 but not shipped until two months later indicating the special effort required of Sharps to accommodate such an unusual special order. Dr. Labowskie states “This rifle is the heaviest octagon barrel Model 1874 Sharps rifle ever made.” Shipped along with the rifle were 100 empty shells .40- 2-1/2, 1250 bullets, .40/330, 250 bullets .40/370 and one wad cutter. He also shows that James Dodds’ letterhead states that he dealt in English and American breech loading guns, fine tools for mechanics, carvers & jewelers and that he engaged in model making and repairing. The letter also states that Dodds purchased at least two extra heavy Sharps Model 1874 Sporting Rifles directly from the factory. This rifle is pictured on p. 224 of Sharps Firearms, Sellers, and identified by SN as weighing 25 lbs. Mr. Sellers states “This gun was originally shipped on Sept. 30, 1876 as a mid-range No. 1 rifle but was returned to the factory and reshipped on March 24, 1879 as it appears today to James Dodds of Dayton, Ohio.” He credits the rifle to the R.F. Knowles Collection. The photograph in the book shows this rifle with a Lawrence Patent rear sight, the front sight is not visible. PROVENANCE: James Dodds; R.F. Knowles Collection; David Crocker Collection; Bobby W. Smith Collection. CONDITION: Very fine. Bbl retains about 90% strong orig factory blue with an area of thin blue/light patina just forward of the forearm, probably from a bench rest. Scope is altogether unmarked and retains about 90% blue/brown patina with a few minor scratches. Optics are fine. Receiver retains strong case colors in sheltered areas, especially on the left side. Top of receiver and top tang have faded case colors. Lockplate & hammer retain 60-70% case colors, stronger in sheltered areas. Bottom tang retains most of its orig case colors, faded toward the rear end. Lever is mostly a silver/brown patina. Wood is sound with a few light nicks & scratches and appears to have been cleaned and possibly rubbed with steel wool. Mechanics are crisp, brilliant shiny bore. 4-36682 JR177 (35,000-50,000)

Auction: Firearms - Fall 2011

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
	2254A	$0.00	EXTREMELY RARE EXTRA HEAVY SHARPS MODEL 1874 SPORTING RIFLE. SN 158635. Cal. 40 2-1/2 (40-70 Sharps Straight). Extraordinary Sharps rifle, one of the heaviest ever made with 34″ oct bbl that is 1-1/2″ across the flats at the muzzle. Left side flat, at the chamber end is marked with the caliber and case length which is somewhat unusual as the caliber was usually marked on the top flat and case length on right side flat. Top flat has the “OLD RELIABLE” marking and Bridgeport address. Top flat is mounted with a 33″ scope with 1/2″ tube, the front 7″ of which is a brass extension without optics. Scope is unmarked and the bases are in the front & rear sight dovetails. The Lawrence Patent Sharps rear sight screw is also present. Left side of receiver has the usual Sharps name & patent number. No other markings are present on the receiver or lockplate. It has standard Sharps lever and is fitted with functioning dbl set triggers. SN was observed on top of receiver behind the loading slot, on bottom flat of bbl under forearm and last four digits of SN inside bbl channel of forearm. Face of buttstock, under the metal has the last four digits “1817” which number is also inside toe of buttplate. Lockplate is unnumbered with only a small “D” on inside. Trigger plate has the last four digits “9722”. Accompanied by a Sharps records letter over the signature of Dr. Richard Labowskie, owner of the Sharps records, wherein he identifies this rifle as appearing in Order Book #7 as a Model 1874 Sporting Rifle invoiced at Bridgeport on March 24, 1879 to James Dodds of Dayton, Ohio. Rifle is described as being 40 caliber, 2-1/2″, and having 34″ oct bbl ordered by Dodds to weight 22 lbs. with dbl triggers, open sights and oil finished stocks. The order was entered Jan. 25, 1879 but not shipped until two months later indicating the special effort required of Sharps to accommodate such an unusual special order. Dr. Labowskie states “This rifle is the heaviest octagon barrel Model 1874 Sharps rifle ever made.” Shipped along with the rifle were 100 empty shells .40- 2-1/2, 1250 bullets, .40/330, 250 bullets .40/370 and one wad cutter. He also shows that James Dodds’ letterhead states that he dealt in English and American breech loading guns, fine tools for mechanics, carvers & jewelers and that he engaged in model making and repairing. The letter also states that Dodds purchased at least two extra heavy Sharps Model 1874 Sporting Rifles directly from the factory. This rifle is pictured on p. 224 of Sharps Firearms, Sellers, and identified by SN as weighing 25 lbs. Mr. Sellers states “This gun was originally shipped on Sept. 30, 1876 as a mid-range No. 1 rifle but was returned to the factory and reshipped on March 24, 1879 as it appears today to James Dodds of Dayton, Ohio.” He credits the rifle to the R.F. Knowles Collection. The photograph in the book shows this rifle with a Lawrence Patent rear sight, the front sight is not visible. PROVENANCE: James Dodds; R.F. Knowles Collection; David Crocker Collection; Bobby W. Smith Collection. CONDITION: Very fine. Bbl retains about 90% strong orig factory blue with an area of thin blue/light patina just forward of the forearm, probably from a bench rest. Scope is altogether unmarked and retains about 90% blue/brown patina with a few minor scratches. Optics are fine. Receiver retains strong case colors in sheltered areas, especially on the left side. Top of receiver and top tang have faded case colors. Lockplate & hammer retain 60-70% case colors, stronger in sheltered areas. Bottom tang retains most of its orig case colors, faded toward the rear end. Lever is mostly a silver/brown patina. Wood is sound with a few light nicks & scratches and appears to have been cleaned and possibly rubbed with steel wool. Mechanics are crisp, brilliant shiny bore. 4-36682 JR177 (35,000-50,000) Auction: Firearms - Fall 2011 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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