Documented Sharps Model 1874 Mid-Range No. 2 Rifle 1877 .45-110 Government Single Shot Rifle
Our Assessment:Sharps rifles are a series of large-bore, single-shot, falling-block, breech-loading rifles, beginning with a design by Christian Sharps in 1848 and ceasing production in 1881. The rifle was available in a variety of calibers, and it was one of the few designs to be successfully adapted to metallic cartridge use. The Sharps rifles became icons of the American Old West with their appearances in many Western-genre films and books.This particular rifle is a Sharps Model 1874 Mid-range No. 2 Rifle in .45-110 caliber. This rifle comes with paperwork including a factory letter. According to that letter, this rifle was sold to Leslie Combs Bruce in 1877. Bruce was an avid Creedmoor Range shooter and a member of the American Team in the International Match of 1877. He was also the business manager of Turf, Field, & Farm, a periodical of the time. An original copy of said periodical is included, as well as an original edition of Harper's Weekly in which a bust of each of the American and British team members in the International Rifle Match of 1877 are depicted. The bust of L.C. Bruce can be seen depicted on the bottom row center of pages 744-745. The barrel on this rifle has been replaced with a period barrel, possibly by Bruce himself. This rifle is the ultimate find for a Sharps rifle collector and clearly has a rich history!
Make:Sharps
Model:1874 Mid-Range No. 2
Serial Number:157801
Year of Manufacture:1877
Caliber:.45-110 (.45 2 6/10")
Action Type:Falling Block Single Shot Rifle
Barrel Length:32", Half-Round, Half-Octagonal
Sights / Optics:The front sight is a globe-style sight with spirit level and aperture post insert. The rear sight is a folding ladder-style R.S. Lawrence sight with a "V"-notch while down and a "V"-notched slider on the ladder. The top tang is drilled and tapped with a folding Vernier tang sight installed, adjustable for elevation.
Stock Configuration & Condition:The stocks are two-piece checkered walnut with schnabel forend, straight grip, straight comb and nickel-plated brass crescent buttplate. The stocks have some scattered wear marks, oil staining around the receiver and in the grooves of the checkering, dings at the front of the comb, and a tiny thin crack on the right side of the wrist at the back edge of the lockplate and another on the left at the rear of the receiver. The checkering shows light wear with a few small compression marks. The wood to metal fit is very good. The LOP measures 13 1/4" from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The plate has some flaking at the points of the crescent with some other scattered small marks. The stocks rate in about Fine overall condition as ANTIQUE.
Type of Finish:Blue & Case Color
Finish Originality:The finish is Original to the parts. The barrel has been replaced.
Bore Condition:The bore is mostly bright with sharp rifling. There is some minor erosion in the bore and there is a spot of pitting in the top of the bore a few inches from the muzzle. In this writer's opinion, the bore rates about 8 out of 10.
Overall Condition:This rifle retains about 80% of its metal finish. The finish is thinning at some edges. The barrel has a few light marks. The receiver, lockplate and hammer are forming a patina, there is some frosting on the lever. The screw heads range from sharp to lightly tool marked with strong slots. The markings are clear. Overall, this rifle rates in about Fine condition as ANTIQUE.
Mechanics:The action functions correctly. We did not fire this rifle. As with all used firearms, a more thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance requirements.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories:This rifle comes with a factory records letter, indicating that the rifle originally sold to Leslie Combs Bruce in 1877, an original copy of Turf, Filed & Farm, a periodical managed by Bruce and an original edition of Harper's Weekly with Bruce visible in a bust of the 1877 International Rifle Match.
CA LEGALITY: CA Classified ANTIQUE: YES
RIFLE