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SCARCE SHARPS NO. 1 LONG RANGE SINGLE SHOT TARGET RIFLE.

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military Start Price:4,500.00 USD Estimated At:9,000.00 - 12,000.00 USD
SCARCE SHARPS NO. 1 LONG RANGE SINGLE SHOT TARGET RIFLE.
SN 156516. Cal. 45, possibly 45-75 Sharps or 45-100 Sharps. Fine target rifle with 32" oct bbl that has spirit level windgage globe front sight and no provision for a rear seat. Top flat of the bbl is marked "FRANK WESSON WORCESTER MASS. / LONG RANGE RIFLE (PAT'D ----)". Top tang is mounted with a long range sight base matching numbered to this rifle which contains a 5" C. Sharps reproduction 5" vernier staff. Mounted with very highly figured American walnut with Sharps style checkered schnable tip forearm and checkered pistol grip with checkered grip cap and coarse checkered Sharps steel buttplate. Stock has a factory heel mount with an orig extra long-range base. Buttstock has an oval piece of paper marked "R.D. NO. 4 / SCHENEVUS, NEW YORK" attached to the left side. All of the appended metal including trigger plate, lockplate and buttplate, along with the buttstock are matching numbered "5516" instead of the last four digits of the SN which is "6516", apparently an assembler's mistake. Accompanied by a Sharps records letter which identifies this rifle as a Long Range No. 1, invoiced at Bridgeport on April 8, 1876 to William Read & Sons, Boston, Mass. The price was $125.00 less discounts and was included with two other rifles. Letter also states that the rifle was for H.P. Blake of Walpole, Mass. Apparently Mr. Blake had extensive correspondence with Sharps and he eventually returned the rifle for "stock work" and then a new bbl with lighter rifling, and finally for an extra long-range vernier staff. According to Sharps Firearms, Sellers, there were 70 No. 1 long-range rifles produced at Bridgeport in the period Nov. 1875 to Oct. 1879 and according to the referenced publication they all had 34" oct bbls. According to a well-known & respected Sharps collector it is possible that Sharps may have installed the bbl as it is found today. CONDITION: Very fine, all matching except bbl & forearm as noted. Bbl retains about 95% strong orig blue with sharp edge wear and some minor spots of light rust and some pinprick pitting; receiver, lockplate & hammer retain faded case colors in sheltered areas with the balance turned silver; lever has turned silver. Wood is sound with a few light nicks & scratches and the buttplate retaining most of its orig varnish; forearm has a couple of chips in the schnable tip and shows moderate wear on the checkering and retains about 75% orig varnish. Mechanics are crisp, bright shiny bore. 4-48193 JR355