RARE FACTORY ENGRAVED SHARPS MODEL 1853 SPORTING RIFLE.

RARE FACTORY ENGRAVED SHARPS MODEL 1853 SPORTING RIFLE. SN 9440. Cal. 44. Orig brown bbl with color case hardened frame & appended metal with 25-3/4″ medium weight oct bbl, German silver Sharps dovetail front sight and leaf ladder rear sight missing its slide. Top flat of bbl has the 3-line Hartford address. Mounted with highly figured, uncheckered American walnut with standard 2-screw Sharps rnd forearm with small pewter tip. Right side of buttstock has a 2-pc patch box and just above the patch box is scratched in the varnish “HARTFORD CONN”. Receiver, lever, hammer, top & bottom tangs, buttplate & patch box and about 1-3/4″ over the top three flats are beautifully Gustave Young engraved in fine intertwined foliate arabesque patterns with full coverage on receiver, lockplate & patch box with matching engraving on hammer shank & top edge of hammer. According to the book Sharps Firearms, Sellers, the engraving on this rifle would be considered fine or extra fine. According to the chart on p. 49 of the referenced publication only 53 caliber 60 bore (44) had oct bblwith fine engraving and only 38 had extra fine engraving, of the total of 129 fine or extra fine engraved Model 1853 sporting rifles. SN was observed in the usual place on top tang, on all metal parts, rear face of the forend and front face of buttstock. Top tang has the SN marked twice, apparently to be visible when the tang sight is installed. Most of the internal serial numbers are accompanied by a small “E”, apparently indicating extra polish for engraving. When the rifle was disassembled to check for matching numbers it was noted that the tip of the sear is broken and when the lockplate is mounted the sear cannot drop far enough to allow it to engage the half cock or full cock notches. This is a simple repair for a competent gunsmith. It was also noted that the set trigger spring is broken which prevents the set trigger from functioning. The broken piece accompanies the rifle. Top tang is drilled & tapped for an orig sgl screw tang sight, which is missing. The consignor (an octogenarian) states that this gun was retrieved from the Saranac Lake, NY home of his grandfather, wealthy 19th century industrialist Robert Habersham Coleman of Cornwall Iron Furnace fame along with a wonderful relief engraved Winchester Model 1873 rifle. This gun has remained in Family hands since its manufacture. PROVENANCE: Robert H. Coleman Family CONDITION: Fine to very fine, all matching as noted. Bbl retains about 90% thinning orig brown with a few spots of light surface rust which may clean better. Receiver retains case colors in sheltered areas with the balance having turned dark. Engraving is crisp. Lockplate also retains case colors in sheltered areas, and with all of the other appended metal, retains a dark patina. Wood is sound with light handling & use marks and a small scrape on buttstock and overall retains most of its orig varnish. With the sear & set trigger springs, as noted above, mechanics need attention but with these minor repairs will have crisp function. Bright shiny bore. 4-41889 JR183 (8,000-12,000)

Auction: Firearms - Spring 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
	2513	$19,550.00	RARE FACTORY ENGRAVED SHARPS MODEL 1853 SPORTING RIFLE. SN 9440. Cal. 44. Orig brown bbl with color case hardened frame & appended metal with 25-3/4″ medium weight oct bbl, German silver Sharps dovetail front sight and leaf ladder rear sight missing its slide. Top flat of bbl has the 3-line Hartford address. Mounted with highly figured, uncheckered American walnut with standard 2-screw Sharps rnd forearm with small pewter tip. Right side of buttstock has a 2-pc patch box and just above the patch box is scratched in the varnish “HARTFORD CONN”. Receiver, lever, hammer, top & bottom tangs, buttplate & patch box and about 1-3/4″ over the top three flats are beautifully Gustave Young engraved in fine intertwined foliate arabesque patterns with full coverage on receiver, lockplate & patch box with matching engraving on hammer shank & top edge of hammer. According to the book Sharps Firearms, Sellers, the engraving on this rifle would be considered fine or extra fine. According to the chart on p. 49 of the referenced publication only 53 caliber 60 bore (44) had oct bblwith fine engraving and only 38 had extra fine engraving, of the total of 129 fine or extra fine engraved Model 1853 sporting rifles. SN was observed in the usual place on top tang, on all metal parts, rear face of the forend and front face of buttstock. Top tang has the SN marked twice, apparently to be visible when the tang sight is installed. Most of the internal serial numbers are accompanied by a small “E”, apparently indicating extra polish for engraving. When the rifle was disassembled to check for matching numbers it was noted that the tip of the sear is broken and when the lockplate is mounted the sear cannot drop far enough to allow it to engage the half cock or full cock notches. This is a simple repair for a competent gunsmith. It was also noted that the set trigger spring is broken which prevents the set trigger from functioning. The broken piece accompanies the rifle. Top tang is drilled & tapped for an orig sgl screw tang sight, which is missing. The consignor (an octogenarian) states that this gun was retrieved from the Saranac Lake, NY home of his grandfather, wealthy 19th century industrialist Robert Habersham Coleman of Cornwall Iron Furnace fame along with a wonderful relief engraved Winchester Model 1873 rifle. This gun has remained in Family hands since its manufacture. PROVENANCE: Robert H. Coleman Family CONDITION: Fine to very fine, all matching as noted. Bbl retains about 90% thinning orig brown with a few spots of light surface rust which may clean better. Receiver retains case colors in sheltered areas with the balance having turned dark. Engraving is crisp. Lockplate also retains case colors in sheltered areas, and with all of the other appended metal, retains a dark patina. Wood is sound with light handling & use marks and a small scrape on buttstock and overall retains most of its orig varnish. With the sear & set trigger springs, as noted above, mechanics need attention but with these minor repairs will have crisp function. Bright shiny bore. 4-41889 JR183 (8,000-12,000) Auction: Firearms - Spring 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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