3392 SCARCE SHARPS MODEL 1874 "GERMAN PATTERN" SINGLE

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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 3,500.00 USD
Estimated at 7,000.00 - 12,000.00 USD
SHOT SCHUETZEN RIFLE. Cal. 40, 1 11/16" (40-50 Sharps Bottlenecked). S# 162223. Bbl. 30". 1 of only 69 Model 1874 "German Pattern" Schuetzen rifles mfg. by Sharps. Top flat of the heavy octagonal bbl. is marked with a boxed "Old Reliable", followed by "SHARPS RIFLE CO. BRIDGEPORT. CONN." with "CALIBRE 40" marked at the breech. Action with double set triggers exhibits a case color hardened finish, with the bbl. exhibiting a blue finish. Checkered schnabel tip walnut forearm with pistol grip buttstock featuring a shadow line cheekpiece and brass Schuetzen style buttplate. Right side of buttstock is stamped "F.L" and is followed by an inlaid oval German silver escutcheon retained by 2 screws. Globe front sight with ladder rear sight graduated 1-8 and tang mounted Vernier mid-range aperture sight. UNATTACHED ACCESSORIES: Sharps Rifle Company factory letter from Dr. Richard J. Labowskie stating "Sharps rifle serial #162223 has been located in the original records of the Sharps Rifle Company. It is listed in Order Book No. 6 as a Model 1874 Schuetzen Rifle (often called the German Pattern Rifle) and was invoiced at the Bridgeport factory on January 17, 1878 to William Gennerich, Secretary of New York Central Schuetzen Corps, New York City. The rifle is described in the record as being a .40 caliber, using the 50 grain 1 & 11/16 inch shell, with a 30 inch full octagon barrel, globe front sight, mid-range vernier tang sight mount on a sporting sight base, and stocked with a cheek-piece and sporting rifle buttplate. The price was $42 net each for the order of 18 identical Schuetzen Rifles shipped on this date. A large variety of re-loading tools, cartridges, empty shells and bullets were also shipped in this order, which came to a total of including packing cases and cartage, of $1017. A total of 69 Model 1874 Schuetzen Rifles were made, 68 of which were sent to the New York Central Schuetzen Corps between January and May of 1878. Some has minor variations, such as checkering and pronged buttplates. One rifle was sent to Edwin S. Harris, a New York City gun and sporting goods dealer.". CONDITION: action exhibits a mostly gray patina, showing some areas of remaining case coloring and light surface level pitting overall. Bbl. retains large amounts of its original dull blue finish, showing edge wear, thinning to brown patina, and scattered spots of minor surface oxidation. Bore retains a mostly bright appearance, exhibiting consistent spots of dark mild surface oxidation, while retaining strong rifling throughout. Action and double set triggers function appropriately when cycled by hand. Forearm is very good, retaining well defined checkering, showing scattered superficial handling marks. Buttstock shows scattered handling marks, impressions, as well as a few superficial gouges. Buttplate has been cleaned, showing a relatively bright exterior. A seldom encountered example of a Sharps Model 1874 "German Pattern" Schuetzen rifle. (01-27588/MLW). ANTIQUE. $7,000-12,000.