#4836 Sharps “Old Model 1874” Heavy Octagon Sporter, 30”x1-1/4”x 45/110
Guns International #: 100383602 Seller's Inventory #: #4836
Category: Sharps Rifles - Antique - Antique Rifles - Cartridge
Seller's Information
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Seller: Tom Burness
Member Since: 3/3/07
First Name: Tom
Last Name: Burness
State: California
Zip: 95604-9151
Country: United States
Phone: (530) 889-9454
Number of Active Listings: 35
Seller: Private Seller
Return Policy: 3 day inspection and return policy on used guns.
3 days
Payment Types Accepted: Cashiers cheque, money orders, Layaway
Description:
#4836 Sharps “Old Model 1874” Heavy Octagon Sporter, 30”x1-1/4”x 45/110 (2-7/8ths inch case), DSTs, “Old Reliable” Bridgeport address and patchbox stock. Sharps post-Civil War conversion of a Model 1859 military rifle to a sporting gun in the mid-1870s, and fitted with double-set triggers and a heavy barrel (usually being used for commercial Buffalo hunting). Barrel and frame numbers are mismatched, but close in number, and they are equal in condition look to have been together most of the 130+ long years of it’s life. Still, it must be considered a mismatched gun and I have taken this into consideration when pricing it. The heavy 1-1/4 inch wide barrel retains dense blue under the forestock and thin watery blue mixing with patina on the exposed area. Due to this heavy weight I think this would be considered to be a “Fourteen Pounder” or more. The frame, hammer, and lockplate are a silvery-grey color with no pitting; patchbox and buttplate have liberal case colors remaining. Excellent wood, standard sights with Lawrence patented military style rear sight and VG markings. Now for the bad stuff. The previous owner, now deceased, was a champion black powder shooter in the 1980s and an enthusiast who shot ONLY 45/70 caliber in his rifles. This being a 45/110 length case, the “jump” in the chamber before the rifling was determined by him to be unacceptable to be shot competitively, so he had the bore relined and chambered for the shorter 2-1/10" length 45/70 casing. Consequently, it will NOT accept a 45/110 casing at this point and should (in MY opinion) simply have the chamber reamed out to the correct 45/110 length. The original caliber markings were NOT changed. The bore is about 9 on a scale of 10, the action needs the tiny set screw replaced as it was removed to be used ONLY as a set trigger target gun and so will not hold full-cock unless the set trigger is “set” before cocking the hammer. Also, like a huge amount of Sharps rifles and carbines, this one also has the often-seen crack through the upper tang at the forward stock screw hole. It does NOT compromise the strength of the gun, and many, MANY Sharps’ seem to suffer from this same flaw …but it must be mentioned in the description of condition. Overall, this is a really Fine old buffalo killer, and while there is no provenance or documentation verifying its usage as a Bullalo gun, this is the exact type gun (heavy barrel and large long range caliber) that frequented the great buffalo hunts in the late 1870s. About Fine as described. $4795
SOLD
Antique: Yes