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EXTREMELY RARE SHARPS MODEL 1869 SINGLE SHOT RIFLE.

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military Start Price:5,000.00 USD Estimated At:10,000.00 - 12,500.00 USD
EXTREMELY RARE SHARPS MODEL 1869 SINGLE SHOT RIFLE.
SN C49384. Cal. 44 1-3/4" Berdan. Extremely rare rifle in an unlisted cal. with 28" medium weight oct bbl, Sharps German silver blade front sight and a very unusual open rear sight, missing its elevator. Top flat of bbl, above the rear sight is marked with the Hartford address and over the chamber area is marked "CALIBRE 44 / NEW MODEL 1869" followed by "24". Rifle has dbl set triggers and is mounted with uncheckered, straight grain American walnut with standard Sharps rnd forearm that has a pewter tip and straight stock with smooth steel buttplate. SN is in the usual place on the top tang and is also found on inside of lockplate, trigger plate, bottom of bbl, inside forearm, front face of stock under the metal and inside toe of buttplate. According to the Sharps Firearms book by Sellers, only about 50 sporting rifles of this model were made. Accompanied by a Sharps factory records letter which identifies this rifle as having been invoiced at the Hartford factory on July 5, 1871 to C.C. Kromer of Schoharie, NY. Rifle is listed as being 44 caliber using the 1-3/4" Berdan shell with 28" oct bbl, dbl triggers, globe & peep sights and oil finished stocks. Dr. Lebowskie, in the final paragraph of the letter, states that he has personally examined this rifle and confirms that it is a Model 1869. He states that the term "New Model 1869" never appears in the orig record books to differentiate these guns from rifles having the Model 1874 characteristics. Also accompanying is the obituary of Charles C. Kromer who died in April 1911 apparently in Schoharie, NY. The obituary states that he enlisted in the Army in Aug. 1861 and in Dec. 1862 was made Lieutenant and when he was discharged on July 12, 1865 he was the ranking Captain of Company G, 3rd New York Cavalry. It also states that for several years he was the Editor of the Schoharie Union and instituted the first water system in Schoharie along with building some of Schoharie's ornamental buildings and pioneered the first telephone system in Schoharie, NY. CONDITION: Fine, all matching. Bbl retains 88-90% orig blue turning a little plum with some thin spots by the front sight; receiver retains dark case colors in the most sheltered areas being mostly a dark plum patina; lockplate retains about 50% faded case colors with the balance a dark brown patina; hammer is also a dark patina; buttplate retains faded case colors. Stock has the typical crack behind lockplate that has been repaired with some finish added, otherwise wood is sound with the balance retaining strong orig finish with a handworn patina; forearm has a chip at the receiver with a couple of bruises and retains a hand worn patina that will probably clean better. Mechanics are fine, strong bright bore with good shine and moderate pitting. 4-46123