Exceptional Sharps Model 1874 Buffalo Rifle Together with Associated Wooden Travel Case and Buffalo Hunter's Accessories

Serial no. C52981, .50-70-500 caliber, 30-inch heavy octagonal barrel weighing 12 1/2-lbs. Barrel address reading: Sharps Rifle Manufg. Co./Hartford Conn. Silver blade-type front sight and ladder-type rear sight. Double set-triggers. Blued finish. Case-hardened hammer, breechblock, lever and buttplate. Tang-mounted long range peep sight. Walnut fore-end and buttstock. Pewter fore-end cap. This rifle was pictured on the front cover of the September, 1981 issue of Gun Report magazine [copy included]. It is accompanied by an extensive provenance file and factory letter stating rifle was shipped to a Gideon Burgess on May 29, 1873. File also includes a copy of the original 1873 dated sales invoice. Rifle is contained in associated period oak and walnut travel case together with the following accessories: 1) Pair of buffalo fur gauntlets; 2) original hunter's black leather cartridge belt with 32 cartridge loops and shoulder harness [with 24 loose Sharps cartridges]. 3) Full unopened box of Sharps cartridges with label reading: 10 Metallic/Centre Fire Cartridges,/50/100 Calibre./Put up expressly for Sharp's Improved Rifle./from Shells susceptible of being reloaded many times,/By Sharps' Rifle Manufacturing Co.,/Hartford, Conn. 4) Original period buffalo skinner's knife belt and harness with two skinning knives, one marked: Geo. W. Hamm and the other: Russell/Green River Wo??. 5) Knife steel. 6) Cast iron ladle for melting lead for shot. 7) "Vinegar" horn with belt hook, used when sharpening knives. With carved legend 1846. 8) Two bullet molds, one for ball and one for the .50 caliber bullet. The ball mold marked: "Hall's Rifle". 9) Empty DoPont gunpowder can with illustrated label reading: Indian Rifle Gunpowder. 10) Period spring tension game scale by H. Boker, Germany. 11) Leather-Covered Wood Case for Long Range Sharps Rifle Sights Black leather-covered wood case with blind tooling, including "SHARPS RIFLE CO./BRIDGEPORT CONN." on lid; interior lined with purple satin and velvet. All contained in a custom-crafted oak and walnut case with locking hasps. Size: 49 1/4-inches X 6 3/4-inches X 7 1/4-inches. An exceptional buffalo Sharps with accessories and documented family history from date of purchase to present owner.

Condition: Excellent. Barrel retaining approximately 85-90% fading finish with light wear and patina near muzzle. Hammer, frame and lever retaining approximately 60-70% case-hardening with scattered wear and patina. Wood excellent with a few minor marks present. Mirror-bright bore. Sight case: Fine. Form-fitted lining in bottom needs regluing. Light wear to exterior and minor spots of missing leather cover. Case and accoutrements are good to very good, showing heavy wear and use commensurate with the period. Lock on case is broken.

Note: According to a letter in the accompanying provenance file, this rifle was originally owned by Gideon Burgess of Ft. Wayne, Indiana who later gave it to the previous owner's father Nathaniel Otto Risdon. This father and grandfather team used the rifle in 1874 or 1875 on a horseback buffalo hunting trip in Kansas. The family later settled in Newton, Kansas.

Provenance: Gideon Burgess
Nathaniel Otto Risdon
C.E. Risdon
John O. Beckwith Collection
Helen M. Beckwith
C.W. Slagle

Estimate: $50000 - $70000