EXTREMELY RARE EXHIBITION QUALITY SHARPS MODEL 1853 SPORTING RIFLE WITH EXTRA-FINE ENGRAVING.

EXTREMELY RARE EXHIBITION QUALITY SHARPS MODEL 1853 SPORTING RIFLE WITH EXTRA-FINE ENGRAVING. SN 11271. Cal. 52. Extremely rare Model 1853, according to the chart on p. 49 of Sharps Rifles, Sellers, there is only one such rifle manufactured in this caliber known. This rifle has 26″ heavy oct bbl with wide platinum & gold band at the muzzle and wide gold band at the chamber end. Mounted with a Sharps German silver front sight blade and Sharps ladder rear sight missing its slide. Receiver, lockplate, hammer, lever, bottom tang & buttplate tang are wonderfully engraved with what would be considered full coverage, extra-fine, foliate arabesque patterns without animal scenes. The muzzle of the bbl and over the chamber area have matching pattern engraving. Hammer nose is engraved in a dolphin pattern and even has engraving patterns on the left side of the hammer nose. Mounted with exhibition quality, flame grain American walnut with full checkered forearm having an iron forend cap with diamond shaped iron screw escutcheons engraved to match. Buttstock has a straight grip with rare shallow cheekpiece and a smooth steel shotgun buttplate with stepped long top tang also engraved to match. Bottom of the bbl, inside bbl channel of the forearm, lockplate, lower tang, breech block and buttstock are all matching numbered. A SN could not be located on the receiver which, in this instance, is inconsequential. Bbl was originally browned and the receiver and attached parts color case hardened. This is possibly an exhibition piece from the 1856 Paris Expo. According to the above referenced publication, only 2,970 Model 1853 Sporting rifles were produced in the period 1854-1859 and, to reiterate, this is the only one listed with oct bbl and extra-fine engraved. CONDITION: Fine, all matching as noted above. Bbl retains traces of orig brown finish under the forearm with all the exposed areas a smooth even dark brown patina with a few minor nicks, dings & scratches and some fine pitting on the bottom three flats. Receiver and attached parts are a cleaned gray metal patina. Wood is sound with the forearm showing heavy wear and dark oil stain. Buttstock shows moderate wear with handling & use nicks & scratches in the varnish and retains most of its varnish finish with a hand worn patina and usual nicks & dings. Mechanics are fine, strong dark bore. 4-37561 JR100 (20,000-30,000)

Auction: Firearms - Fall 2009

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
	2537	$0.00	EXTREMELY RARE EXHIBITION QUALITY SHARPS MODEL 1853 SPORTING RIFLE WITH EXTRA-FINE ENGRAVING. SN 11271. Cal. 52. Extremely rare Model 1853, according to the chart on p. 49 of Sharps Rifles, Sellers, there is only one such rifle manufactured in this caliber known. This rifle has 26″ heavy oct bbl with wide platinum & gold band at the muzzle and wide gold band at the chamber end. Mounted with a Sharps German silver front sight blade and Sharps ladder rear sight missing its slide. Receiver, lockplate, hammer, lever, bottom tang & buttplate tang are wonderfully engraved with what would be considered full coverage, extra-fine, foliate arabesque patterns without animal scenes. The muzzle of the bbl and over the chamber area have matching pattern engraving. Hammer nose is engraved in a dolphin pattern and even has engraving patterns on the left side of the hammer nose. Mounted with exhibition quality, flame grain American walnut with full checkered forearm having an iron forend cap with diamond shaped iron screw escutcheons engraved to match. Buttstock has a straight grip with rare shallow cheekpiece and a smooth steel shotgun buttplate with stepped long top tang also engraved to match. Bottom of the bbl, inside bbl channel of the forearm, lockplate, lower tang, breech block and buttstock are all matching numbered. A SN could not be located on the receiver which, in this instance, is inconsequential. Bbl was originally browned and the receiver and attached parts color case hardened. This is possibly an exhibition piece from the 1856 Paris Expo. According to the above referenced publication, only 2,970 Model 1853 Sporting rifles were produced in the period 1854-1859 and, to reiterate, this is the only one listed with oct bbl and extra-fine engraved. CONDITION: Fine, all matching as noted above. Bbl retains traces of orig brown finish under the forearm with all the exposed areas a smooth even dark brown patina with a few minor nicks, dings & scratches and some fine pitting on the bottom three flats. Receiver and attached parts are a cleaned gray metal patina. Wood is sound with the forearm showing heavy wear and dark oil stain. Buttstock shows moderate wear with handling & use nicks & scratches in the varnish and retains most of its varnish finish with a hand worn patina and usual nicks & dings. Mechanics are fine, strong dark bore. 4-37561 JR100 (20,000-30,000) Auction: Firearms - Fall 2009 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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