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Sharps Borchardt, Model 1878 Old Reliable, CAL: 45/70, MFG: late...
Item # 4014
Guns

This lot has ended.
Item Price:
$2020
(excludes shipping)
 
 

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Description
Bid on This Item

Winning Bid US $2020 First bid $1250
Quantity 1 # of bids 8
Time left Auction has ended
 
Started 2023-05-06 00:00:00
Ended 2024-03-01 22:05:02
   

Seller assumes all responsibility for listing this item. You should contact the seller to resolve any questions before bidding. Auction currency is U.S. dollars (US $) unless otherwise noted.
Description

Sharps Borchardt, Model 1878 Old Reliable, CAL: 45/70, MFG: late 1880's, SN:17979, Lever Falling Block Rifle, 32'' Round barrel. This is the fifth & final rifle from the prestigious collection from Captain Selden Allen Day, The Sharps-Borchardt Model 1878 is a single-shot hammerless falling-block action rifle designed by Hugo Borchardt & made by the Sharps Rifle Manufacturing Company. It uses a hammerless striker rather than a hammer & firing pin like the old Sharps Rifle. It was the last of the Sharps single-shot rifles, and the Borchardt did not sell very well. According to company records 22,500 rifles were made in all models & just 10,000 in military from 1877 until the Sharps Rifle Co. closed down in 1881. Not withstanding its lack of commercial success the Sharps-Borchardt is admired for its strength and accuracy: reputed to be one of the strongest if not the strongest rifle action ever built before the latter 20th century. The gun was revolutionary at its time for its use of coil springs as opposed to flat springs. The Military Sharps-Borchardt was made only in .45-70 with 32'' round barrels & was purchased by the militias of the states of Michigan, North Carolina, & Massachusetts. This rifle appears to be one of those military rifles. The rifle carries the full military length walnut stock & forend, with two barrel bands. The stocks are excellent, with very few handling marks, scrapes or contusions to the original finish. There is an 8'' repaired stress crack at the receiver end of the forend which has been glued & a copper saddler's rivet has been added for extra stability. The original metal blue finish on the barrel & receiver rates 90%. The top of the barrel is marked ''Old Reliable'' in script and ''SHARPS RIFLE CO. BRIDGEPORT. CONN.'' behind the rear sight. The left side of the receiver is marked ''SHARPS RIFLE CO. BRIDGEPORT CONN.'' with the serial number 8086 stamped below. Bore is excellent & bright. The rifle carries the original front box sight, but has no rear sight. There are the two open holes in the barrel from the sight removal & two additional holes that were not factory in the barrel near the receiver. Original sling loops. Sliding trigger safety. Original cleaning rod stored in forend & under barrel. Checkered metal buttplate. These guns were popular among long-range shooters & Creedmore Match competitors & it makes sense that S.A. Day would have acquired one of these fine military rifles. Many of these rifles were rechambered for use as small bore varmint rifles. Therefore surviving examples are highly prized by collectors, especially unmodified examples chambered for heavy .45 & .50-caliber Sharps big-game cartridges. This rifle remains in fantastic original condition & is highly collectible, especially as one of the fine rifles owned by Captain Selden Allen Day. Antique, No FFL Req - Value: 2500 to 6500

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Payment Details
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Price

Sharps Borchardt, Model 1878 Old Reliable, CAL: 45/70, MFG: late...
Item # 4014
This auction is over.
No new bids can be placed.
Price: US $2020
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