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Winning Bid US $5714 First bid $3500 Quantity 1 # of bids 5 Time left Auction has ended   Started 2023-08-01 00:00:00 Ended 2024-05-31 17:01:00

Sharps Rifle Co., Meacham Conversion, Caliber: 45-110 or 45 2 7/8''. SN 36388. Antique. Lever Action Single Shot Rifle, RARE 30'' HEAVY Octagon barrel. This rifle started its life as a Sharps 1863 Percussion Carbine, sold to the government for use during the Civial War. It is likely it was later converted by the U.S. Government to a 50-70 cartridge in 1868. These 1868 converted rifles were later surplused, which allowed this rifle to ultimately be reconfigured & converted to the fantastic sporting rifle we have today. The Sharps Company closed its doors in 1880 after struggling for many years. Upon shuting down, there was a void left to fill the demand for quality side hammer Sharps conversions. The most significant company to step forward to fill that void was E.C. Meacham Arms Co. in St. Lewis. Some collectors argue that Meacham secured remaining original Sharps parts, including the original Sharps' roll stamps, to aid in completing these quality conversions. Others say Meacham simply reproduced & manufactured their own part. The truth is likely somewhere in between, as Meacham conversions are today encountered with both original surplused Sharps' parts & of course Meacham manufactured parts. Meacham became known for their quality conversions to the degree that they were in high demand in their day & are recognized today as desirable collectibles in the history of Sharps. In the case of this rifle, Meacham utilized a caliber seldom found in their conversions, that being this rare .45 2 7/8'' caliber heavy barrel. This is a round that was easily capable of taking down a buffalo & many a buffalo were killed using Sharps rifles. Buffalo hunters often used heavy barrels due to their need to fire hundreds of rounds while harvesting from the large herds. Heavier barrels do not heat up as quickly, thereby being less prone to losing a degree of accuracy. This was important, as the professional hunters often brought down fifty to a hundred animals in a day of shooting. This rare rifle's configuration might indicates it was marketed to someone that valued these heavy barrel benefits. A Meacham catalog from 1883 marketed a 13 to 14 lb rifle (this one weighs in at 13.22 lbs), with a 30'' barrel such as this, for $24. This rifle was collected from western Kansas, where it likely served the the original purchaser as a reliable frontier rifle. This rifle is marked on top barrel flat: ''OLD RELIABLE'', ''SHARPS RIFLE CO. BRIDGEPORT CONN'', ''CALIBER 45 ''. The ''H'' in the Sharps is partially missing, which is observed in other Meacham rifles, due to their continued use of a defective roll die. There is a small ''2 7/8'' stamped on the right side barrel flat near the receiver, indicting cartridge length. The left side of receiver is marked: ''SHARPS PAT SEPT 12th 1848'' & ''C. SHARPS' PAT. OCT. 5th 1852.'' on the right. Meacham removed the saddle ring bar from straight grip American walnut carbine stock & nicely inlaid wood to fill the void. They then finely checkered the wrist as part of the conversion into this sporting rifle. The rifle also carries the original Meacham flat 3 sided forend. The original stock, checkering & forend are excellent, retaining much of the original finish. There are several minor contusions, scrapes & small gouges consistent with well cared for, but an authentic frontier life. The metal finish on the barrel has toned to a thin chocolate brown patina. The case-hardened receiver has faint remains of case-colors. The rifle carries a Sharps factory flip-up, slide aperture adjusting tang sight. The barrel carries a copy of the Lawrence patented combo full buckhorn/ ladder sight Sharps utilized in their conversion & a Rocky Mountain long blade front sight. The bore is very good, with some areas of roughness amongst strong rifling. This bore is well above average for Sharps rifles of this era. The stock carries an upper tang crescent steel buttplate. Set triggers. The matching SN is found on the receiver under the tang sight, as well as on the bottom barrel flat under the forend & on the inside of the forend. This is a fantastic & rare antique, heavy barrel, Sharps conversion rifle.* Antique, No FFL Req - Value: 7000 to 12000

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Price

Sharps Rifle Co., Meacham Conversion, Caliber: 45-110 or 45 2 7/... Item # 4089 This auction is over. No new bids can be placed. Price: US $5714

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