3390 COLONEL HENRY A. GILDERSLEEVE'S SHARPS MODEL

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[?]Live Online Auction Starts In 2025 Nov 01 @ 10:00 (UTC-04:00 : AST/EDT)
Category Firearms & Military
Auction Currency USD
Start Price 3,750.00 USD
Estimated at 7,500.00 - 12,500.00 USD
1874 LETTERED SPORTING RIFLE. Cal. 40 (40/70 Bottlenecked). S# C54354. Col. Henry A. Gildersleeve, a founding member of the National Rifle Association, became the most famous marksman of his day in the course of his participation on the victorious American Teams in the International Matches of 1874, 1875, and 1876. He used a Sharps No. 1 Creedmoor Rifle throughout his shooting career. Indeed, the Creedmoor he used in the 1875 Match at Dollymount, Ireland and the 1876 Centennial Match at the Creedmoor Range was purchased in the same order with the Sporting Rifle documented here (his 1874 Match rifle remains unidentified). Gildersleeve's enthusiastic endorsement of Sharps rifles (copy appended) was used by the company in their catalogues and magazine advertising for several years. This single trigger Sporting Rifle, in the hands of a celebrated shooter, could be viewed as a prototype Mid-Range Rifle a full year in advance of the formal introduction of that model.". Bbl. 28" octagon with Hartford address. Gold finished combination front sight, Lawrence patent rear sight and Sharps Model 1851-1863 sporting tang sight. Blue finished bbl. with case colored action. Checkered single trigger. Pewter tipped walnut forearm and straight grip stock of nicely grained walnut with nickel finished brass crescent buttplate. Bottom of forearm has an added semi-circular German silver plate forward of the receiver. Weight: 9lbs. 14.2oz. UNATTACHED ACCESSORIES: Sharps factory letter from Dr. Richard J. Labowskie stating "Sharps rifle serial #C54354 has been located in the original records of the Sharps Rifle Company. It is listed in Order book No. 1 as an Octagon Rifle, later termed the Model 1874 Sporting Rifle, and was invoiced at the Hartford factory of February 22, 1875 to Henry Alger Gildersleeve of New York City. The rifle is further described in the record as being .40 caliber, case length not specified, with a 28 inch full octagonal barrel, single trigger, globe and peep sights, oil-finished stocks and nickel buttplate. The weight was not listed. Likewise, the balance, German silver, half-moon inscription plate, now seen on the was not noted. An error was made in stamping the serial number on the receiver of this rifle, making it C54355 instead of C54354. Single-digit errors and two-digit transpositions are seen infrequently in Sharps production. A copy of the Order Book page is enclosed for clarification, showing that the barrel number was taken to be the serial number for this rifle. CONDITION: bbl. retains 70% lightly faded blue showing edge wear. Action has 70% lightly visible case colors. Lower portion of sideplate has an area of irregular damage. Stocks have lightly worn finish showing scratches and marks with a very small chip below the lockplate and small hairline crack behind the top tang. Sound action and trigger. Bore is generally bright with strong rifling. Possibly a once in a lifetime opportunity to own a factory lettered rifle to famed shooter and NRA founding member, Henry A. Gildersleeve. (01-27579/DS&MLW). ANTIQUE. $7,500-12,500.