4089 SHARPS 1853 SLANT BREECH FACTORY ENGRAVED SPORTING

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[?]Live Online Auction Starts In 2024 Nov 03 @ 10:00 (UTC-4 : AST/EDT)
Category Firearms & Military
Auction Currency USD
Start Price 500.00 USD
Estimated at 1,000.00 - 1,500.00 USD
RIFLE. Cal. 40 (original cal. was 52). S# 13651. Bbl. 26", octagon. Blade front sight with semi-buckhorn rear sight. Single-shot, lever-operated action with double-set triggers. Lockplate is fitted with the primer feed mechanism. Top tang has an 1848 patent date. Action and breech end of bbl. have "extra fine" vine-type foliate scroll hand engraving. Pewter-tipped forearm and straight grip walnut stock with steel buttplate. Stock has a replacement brass plate fastened by brass nails in place of the original patchbox. Right side of the stock also has three copper-plated large head brass tacks. Left side of the stock has four large head copper-plated tacks around a larger 1" diameter circular brass ornament. Total of 2,970 model 1853 sporting rifles were mfg. July 8th, 1854, to December 1859. UNATTACHED ACCESSORIES: Sharps letter from Dr. Richard J. Labowskie detailing the following information, "Dear Sam: / Sharps rifle serial #13651 has been located in the original records of the Sharps Rifle Manufacturing Company, predecessor to the Sharps Rifle Company. It is listed in their Order Book as a Model 1853 Octagon Rifle and was invoiced at the Hartford factory on December 28, 1855. / The rifle was described in the record as being 90 Bore, or about .52 caliber. It was also noted to be Extra Fine Engraved. Extra Fine was the highest category of engraving to be designated by the Sharps Rifle Manufacturing Company. Those Octagon Rifles so termed are seen in the collector market with full coverage of engraving on the receiver, usually including animal scenes, barrel engraving at both the breech and the muzzle, and engraved trigger guard, patch box and buttplate. / Regrettably, the recipients of Model 1853 production are not known. This information, along with data on prices, ammunition and accessories, must have been kept in a separate Journal or Day Book which has not survived. / Trusting this limited information to be of value, I remain, / Yours very truly, / Richard J. Labowskie, MD". CONDITION: bbl. shows general deep pitting with a brown corroded appearance in most areas, having spots of less pitted areas near the breech end. Action has cleaned gray appearance showing pitting. Heavily worn forearm has chips and dents with added wood and epoxy repairs along the bbl. Stock is heavily worn with deep dents and gouges having chips and repair cracks around the action. Functioning lock and double set triggers. Bore is generally bright, retaining sound rifling. (01-25775/DS). ANTIQUE. $1,000-1,500.