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Very Rare Documented Sharps Model 1874 No. 1 Creedmoor Rifle

Currency:USD Category:Antiques / Firearms & Armory Start Price:3,000.00 USD Estimated At:8,500.00 - 14,000.00 USD
Very Rare Documented Sharps Model 1874 No. 1 Creedmoor Rifle
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Very rare Sharps Model 1874 Creedmoor Rifle made only in Hartford, Connecticut, between March 1874 and December 1875, with a total production of only 151. Sharps made the Model 1874 Creedmoor specifically for NRA competition, which gets it's name from the target range on Long Island, New York. The NRA rules for the Creedmoor matches required the rifles to weigh no more than ten pounds and have a single trigger. The rifle has a 34" full octagon barrel chambered for the Sharps 44-90, 2 5/8" necked cartridge. The barrel is fitted with a windgauge front sight with spirit level. A Long Range Vernier rear sight is mounted on the receiver tang. The left side of the sight is graduated from "0-7" and the elevation bar is fitted with a peep cup. The heel of the stock is fitted with a base for the Vernier sight. The rifle has a single trigger with checkered face. The highly figured varnished walnut stock has the checkered pistol grip found on the No. 1 Model 1874 Creedmoor Rifles. The walnut Schnabel forearm has checkered panels. The underside of the barrel beneath the forearm is stamped "2". The table on page 225 of "SHARPS FIREARMS" by Frank Sellers shows that (134) No. 1, (12) No. 2, 3 No. (3) and (2) No. 4 Model 1874 Creedmoor Rifles were manufactured by Sharps at Hartford. The top of the blued barrel is roll-stamped with the one-line legend: "SHARPS RIFLE CO HARTFORD CONN." introduced late in 1874 and "CALIBRE 44". The left side of the receiver is roll-stamped: "SHARPS RIFLE CO / PAT APL 6 1869" in two lines. The serial number, "155008" is stamped on the underside of the barrel beneath the forearm. The left side of the Vernier sight base is stamped with the partial serial number "55008". The inside of the forearm is stamped with the serial number "154971". The rifle comes with a photocopy of the original Sharps ledger which shows serial number 155008 as being a Creedmoor, shipped in August, 1875 to an individual in Port Henry, New York.
BBL: 34 inch octagon
Stock: walnut checkered
Gauge: 44-90 bottleneck
Finish: blue/casehardened
Grips:
Serial Number: 155008
Condition: Fine as partially refinished. The barrel has nearly all of the refinished blue finish with some minor edge wear. The barrel markings are crisp. The case colors on the receiver contact points and lever have faded to a silver-gray patina. There is some age discoloration on the left side of the receiver and lock plate. Protected areas of the receiver and hammer retain strong case colors. The buttplate has a silver patina with scattered age spotting. The stock and forearm are both in very fine condition and retain most of the original varnish. The checkering on the pistol grip and forearm shows some handling wear. This is a solid example of a very rare Sharps Hartford Model 1874 Creedmoor Rifle.