RARE SHARPS MODEL 1878 BORCHARDT EXPRESS RIFLE.

RARE SHARPS MODEL 1878 BORCHARDT EXPRESS RIFLE. SN 18144. Cal. 45 2-7/8″ (45-100/120). Fine & rare rifle with 26″ medium weight oct bbl, German silver Rocky Mountain front sight and Sharps 2-position express rear sight marked “100” and “200”. Top flat of bbl is matted in a fine diamond pattern with only the “OLD RELIABLE” inscription visible. Company name & address were obliterated when the matting was rolled on. Receiver has been cleaned. Mounted with very highly figured slab-sawed American walnut with checkered schnable tip forearm and pistol grip stock with hard rubber grip cap and Sharps embossed hard rubber buttplate. Bottom of stock has a Sharps sling eye with a corresponding sling eye dovetailed into the bottom flat of the bbl. According to the book Sharps Firearms, Sellers, there were only 31 of these rifles produced in the period Jan. 1879 to May 1880. Page 282 of the referenced publication has a picture of a sister express rifle, SN 18143, which is virtually identical to this rifle. CONDITION: Very good, no disassembly was effected to check for matching numbers. Bbl retains 95-97% strong orig blue with fine surface spotting & etching; receiver retains a dark plummy/brown patina with the right side mostly cleaned to bright metal; left side is partially cleaned; lever retains smoky case colors being mostly a dark patina; wood is sound with light nicks & scratches and retains most of its orig factory varnish. Mechanics are crisp, very bright shiny bore. 4-45130 JR357 (5,000-8,000)

Auction: Firearms - Spring 2012

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
	2307	$6,900.00	RARE SHARPS MODEL 1878 BORCHARDT EXPRESS RIFLE. SN 18144. Cal. 45 2-7/8″ (45-100/120). Fine & rare rifle with 26″ medium weight oct bbl, German silver Rocky Mountain front sight and Sharps 2-position express rear sight marked “100” and “200”. Top flat of bbl is matted in a fine diamond pattern with only the “OLD RELIABLE” inscription visible. Company name & address were obliterated when the matting was rolled on. Receiver has been cleaned. Mounted with very highly figured slab-sawed American walnut with checkered schnable tip forearm and pistol grip stock with hard rubber grip cap and Sharps embossed hard rubber buttplate. Bottom of stock has a Sharps sling eye with a corresponding sling eye dovetailed into the bottom flat of the bbl. According to the book Sharps Firearms, Sellers, there were only 31 of these rifles produced in the period Jan. 1879 to May 1880. Page 282 of the referenced publication has a picture of a sister express rifle, SN 18143, which is virtually identical to this rifle. CONDITION: Very good, no disassembly was effected to check for matching numbers. Bbl retains 95-97% strong orig blue with fine surface spotting & etching; receiver retains a dark plummy/brown patina with the right side mostly cleaned to bright metal; left side is partially cleaned; lever retains smoky case colors being mostly a dark patina; wood is sound with light nicks & scratches and retains most of its orig factory varnish. Mechanics are crisp, very bright shiny bore. 4-45130 JR357 (5,000-8,000) Auction: Firearms - Spring 2012 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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