FINE RARE SHARPS MODEL 1874 NO. 1 CREEDMOOR DELUXE SINGLE SHOT TARGET RIFLE.

FINE RARE SHARPS MODEL 1874 NO. 1 CREEDMOOR DELUXE SINGLE SHOT TARGET RIFLE. SN 15224. Cal. 45 2-4/10 (45-100 Sharps straight). Rare & beautiful rifle with 34″ oct to rnd bbl with rare original Sharps windgage spirit level front sight, no provision for a rear sight and rare early vernier tang sight with 6″ staff in its heel mount. Top tang is also configured for a mount which is not present. Trigger is checkered. Top flat of bbl is marked with the “Old Reliable” panel and the Bridgeport address. Mounted with highly figured, extra finish wood with checkered schnable tip forearm and pistol grip stock with checkered Sharps steel buttplate. Grip cap is checkered to match. Accompanied by a Sharps records letter which identifies this rifle as a Model 1874, No. 1 Creedmoor rifle, invoiced at the Hartford factory on Sept. 29, 1875 to William Read & Sons, Gun Dealers of Boston, Mass. The only other feature listed was spirit level sight at an extra cost of $5.00. According to the letter William Read & Sons evidently sold the rifle to someone named H.P. Blake of Boston who returned the rifle on April 19, 1876 and a new bbl was installed after which it was returned to Mr. Blake on April 28, 1876. Mr. Blake returned the rifle a second time on Aug. 17, 1877 for another new bbl, the one we find installed today. It was returned to Mr. Blake in Walpole, Mass. Mr. Blake was a long range shooting enthusiast in Boston and was associated with the firm of Haskell & , Adams, Grocers of 219 State St., Boston. According to Sharps Firearms, Sellers, only 134 No. 1 Model 1874 Creedmoor rifles were produced in the period March 1874 to Dec. 1875. They were in caliber 44-90 2-5/8 Bottleneck and with 32″ oct bbls and had to weigh less than 10 lbs. CONDITION: Very fine. Bbl retains 97-98% strong orig factory blue with a few scattered minor spots of surface discoloration. Receiver, lockplate & hammer retain most of their orig factory case colors, strong & bright on left side, somewhat faded over the top, right side and on lockplate & hammer. Top & bottom tangs are a gray patina. Lever appears to retain case colors in sheltered areas under a coating of old dried oil. Tang sight is a brown patina. Stock has an old crack through the wrist which could easily be remedied by a professional , otherwise wood is sound with a few very minor nicks & scratches with the forearm retaining most of its orig finish with strong sharp checkering and the buttstock most of an old professionally restored finish, probably at the time of the orig repair. Mechanics are crisp, bright shiny bore. 4-41967 JR (15,000-25,000)

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
	2516	$0.00	FINE RARE SHARPS MODEL 1874 NO. 1 CREEDMOOR DELUXE SINGLE SHOT TARGET RIFLE. SN 15224. Cal. 45 2-4/10 (45-100 Sharps straight). Rare & beautiful rifle with 34″ oct to rnd bbl with rare original Sharps windgage spirit level front sight, no provision for a rear sight and rare early vernier tang sight with 6″ staff in its heel mount. Top tang is also configured for a mount which is not present. Trigger is checkered. Top flat of bbl is marked with the “Old Reliable” panel and the Bridgeport address. Mounted with highly figured, extra finish wood with checkered schnable tip forearm and pistol grip stock with checkered Sharps steel buttplate. Grip cap is checkered to match. Accompanied by a Sharps records letter which identifies this rifle as a Model 1874, No. 1 Creedmoor rifle, invoiced at the Hartford factory on Sept. 29, 1875 to William Read & Sons, Gun Dealers of Boston, Mass. The only other feature listed was spirit level sight at an extra cost of $5.00. According to the letter William Read & Sons evidently sold the rifle to someone named H.P. Blake of Boston who returned the rifle on April 19, 1876 and a new bbl was installed after which it was returned to Mr. Blake on April 28, 1876. Mr. Blake returned the rifle a second time on Aug. 17, 1877 for another new bbl, the one we find installed today. It was returned to Mr. Blake in Walpole, Mass. Mr. Blake was a long range shooting enthusiast in Boston and was associated with the firm of Haskell & , Adams, Grocers of 219 State St., Boston. According to Sharps Firearms, Sellers, only 134 No. 1 Model 1874 Creedmoor rifles were produced in the period March 1874 to Dec. 1875. They were in caliber 44-90 2-5/8 Bottleneck and with 32″ oct bbls and had to weigh less than 10 lbs. CONDITION: Very fine. Bbl retains 97-98% strong orig factory blue with a few scattered minor spots of surface discoloration. Receiver, lockplate & hammer retain most of their orig factory case colors, strong & bright on left side, somewhat faded over the top, right side and on lockplate & hammer. Top & bottom tangs are a gray patina. Lever appears to retain case colors in sheltered areas under a coating of old dried oil. Tang sight is a brown patina. Stock has an old crack through the wrist which could easily be remedied by a professional , otherwise wood is sound with a few very minor nicks & scratches with the forearm retaining most of its orig finish with strong sharp checkering and the buttstock most of an old professionally restored finish, probably at the time of the orig repair. Mechanics are crisp, bright shiny bore. 4-41967 JR (15,000-25,000) 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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