Description:
Here is a Sharps which could probably tell a tale or two. It is a standard factory conversion of the venerable .52 caliber 1863 Carbine made about 1865 (serial #C.32002), to an Old Model 1874 rifle.
These conversions were done in 1879 and 1880. This gun is one of the early conversions, using standard Sharps barrels, forearms, plain carbine butt stocks and plate sections of the sling bar finished off flat on the left side. This is one of only 1000 rifles which used entirely standard parts. About 3000 later conversions used somewhat cruder parts, and were sold by various dealers including Boker, J. P. Moore & Sons, Joseph Frazier and E.C. Meacham, after the Sharps Company was no longer in business. (Sharps Firearms, Frank Sellers, 1982)
The barrel caliber designation is '.45-2 1/10"'. That is Sharps' designation for .45-70 or .45-70 Government. It is also the same as the .45-75 Sharps (straight) cartridge. The bullet diameter used was .457" or .458".
Probably used as a typical buffalo gun, with heavy octagon barrel and double set triggers, to hunt buffalo on the northern plains, the rifle ended up in Montana. It passed eventually to Dr. R. L. Anderson in the mid-20th century. He had a trading post near Portland, Oregon. The Winchester Museum at the Buffalo Bill Historical Center in Cody, Wyoming, acquired the gun from Anderson in 1969. The gun was traded to a Colorado Collector in 1984, with some other guns, in exchange for a collection of Annie Oakley’s beer steins and her pillow cover, and valued then at $10,000. (Documented, Paul Fees, Curator, Buffalo Bill Museum)
The current owner acquired this Sharps in 1985 at the Colorado Gun Collectors Show in Denver.
The rifle itself is as pictured. It has a 30” octagon barrel marked “Old Reliable” and standard factory stocks and sights. The gun has virtually no original finish and the butt stock has been mended at the toe a long time ago. The bore is generally good, with shallow pitting and strong rifling. The gun is pitted in some spots and has some longitudinal wire brush marks on barrel flats. It is in great mechanical condition and solid. For the places it’s been and the time it took to get where it is now, it’s in pretty good shape.
The left flat of the barrel has an intriguing ding in it. It could be the mark left by a glancing blow with a ball peen hammer, or it could be the mark left by a pistol ball ricochet. One can only wonder ……
We will consider trades for some guns, U.S. silver and gold coins at spot value, and can take VISA and MasterCard for an additional 4%.
Condition:
Used - See Item Description
Caliber:
.45-70 Government
Item #:
956086757
Stock No.:
JPSHARPS
Location:
CO
Trades Accepted: We will consider trades & U.S. gold/silver coins.
Shipping Notes: Priority, insured.
Prices are generally firm, but some trades are excepted for partial payment. Cashier's Checks are the preferred method of payment (over $1000.00) , USPS Money Orders (under $1000.00). No PayPal. Foreign sales are possible with proper customs brokerage, payment (usually credit card) and shipping arrangements. We will ship to California (which is almost a foreign country!) Layaway is possible for items priced over $2000, with payments including 1/3 down, 1/3 at 30 days and final payment with shipping at 60 days. Shipping is generally USPS Priority, insured. Shipping amounts quoted may be changed to the exact cost if requested, and overseas shipping will be charged on specific individual item shipping cost.
With two partners, I own Pawnee Sportsmens Center LLC, near Fort Collins, Colorado. We have rifle/pistol ranges, 1000-yard range, 3-gun, cowboy action shooting, trap and skeet, and upland game bird hunting. I primarily deal in Lever Action Winchesters and Colt Single Action Army revolvers. We have some Colt and Winchester parts, and I manufacture the Columbia Precision Tang Peep Sight for lever guns and some single shots. If you Google Columbia Precision, you can get to my direct email
