Lot 33

Freund & Bro. Sharps Model 1874 Single Shot Rifle with Case

Previous image preload Next image preload

Freund & Bro. Sharps Model 1874 Single Shot Rifle with Case

Estimate: $20,000 - $30,000

Starting Bid: $18,000

(0 Bids)

by Rock Island Auction Company
June 27, 2026 5:00 PM CDT
Live Auction
3600 Harwood Road
Bedford, TX, US 76021

Exceptional Freund & Bro. Sharps Model 1874 Single Shot Sporting Rifle with Case and Factory Letters The Sharps was the long range rifle of choice for men seeking adventure in the American West in the 19th century thanks to its well-earned reputation for long range accuracy and firepower. The early "slant breech" Sharps breech loading percussion rifles were famously used by abolitionists during Bleeding Kansas in the antebellum era and were also taken east during John Brown's raid on Harpers Ferry. During the Civil War, the improved "straight breech" Sharps saw widespread use and gained particular notoriety thanks to their use by the Berdan Sharpshooters. After the war, adventurers heading west sought out Sharps rifles for both hunting and defense. For example, multiple of Othniel Marsh's students participating in Yale College's expeditions in the early 1870s chose Sharps for their rifles as they sought out fossils along the Platte and further west on the Great Plains and into the Rocky Mountains. The Model 1874 rifles were especially popular with the buffalo hunters of the 1870s and early 1880s. The long range accuracy and power of the Sharps was particularly suited for hunting bison, but they also continued to prove lethal in combat even at long range. In 1874, buffalo hunter and scout Billy Dixon famously took a successful 1,000-1,500+ yard shot during the Second Battle of Adobe Walls. This astoundingly high condition Sharps Model 1874 Sporting Rifle is marked "FREUND & BRO." Frank W. and George Freund were German gunsmiths who setup temporary gun shops along the route of the Union Pacific Railroad as it worked its way west in the 1860s, including in North Platte, Nebraska, in 1867. Their Cheyenne, Wyoming, and Denver, Colorado, shops were more permanent and remained in operation 1867-1886 and 1870-1875 respectively. Given this rifle shipped in 1876, it would have gone to their "Wyoming Armory" in Cheyenne. In addition to retailing and repairing various firearms, Freund & Bro. specialized in Sharps rifles and also developed improvements which proved popular. The rifle is equipped with a globe front sight, notch and folding ladder rear sight, and tang mounted peep sight. The barrel is marked with the boxed "Old Reliable" marking ahead of the Bridgeport barrel address along with "FREUND & BRO" and "CALIBRE 44" on top of the breech, "+" on the left flat towards the breech, and "77/70" marked inverted on the right. The .44 2 1/4 Sharps cartridge could be loaded with different combinations of bullets and powder charges. The original powder charge was 70 grains of black powder but by 1876 it was commonly loaded with 75 or 77 grains of powder leading to the 44-77 moniker for the cartridge. The serial number is marked inline with the bore on the underside of the barrel along with "7 7/16", the matching partial serial number "8558" is marked inside the forend, and the matching full serial number is marked perpendicular to the bore on the upper tang. "SHARPS RIFLE CO/PAT APR 6 1869" is marked on the left side of the frame. The rifle is equipped with double set triggers, a Schnabel forearm, and a straight wrist stock with a checkered steel buttplate. The rifle is accompanied by a full-length rustic wood case with a cartridge block filled with cartridges and a variety of reloading equipment including a .44 caliber Sharps bullet mold. The included factory letters list this rifle as shipped on December 28, 1876, to Sharps Agent E. S. Harris in New York City as a Model 1874 Sporting Rifle in .44 caliber with a 30 inch octagonal barrel, doublet set triggers, open sights, and weight of 11 lbs. 14 oz. for $42. The second letter also specifies: "Although not noted in the records the price would indicate that it would have a globe front sight and a peep sight. Many of the guns consigned to E. S. Harris were shipped all over the United States. The rifle is also featured in the include copy of 'The Sharps Collector Report Volume 29 Number 2" in the article "The North Platte Sharps" by John Dutcher with the serial number accidentally listed as 158552. but this rifle, its serial number, and one of the letters clearly shown. In the article, Mr. Dutcher indicates this was one of his favorite single shot rifles and that he purchased the rifle in the 1970s from Al Zalud of North Platte, Nebraska, and that Mr. Zalud had purchased it from a local ranch along with a Winchester and a Colt open top revolver. Mr. Dutcher subsequently sold it via auction to Larry Barrett and then later purchased it back at auction following Barrett's death. Additional documentation confirming the rifle's provenance is also included.

Manufacturer: Sharps Rifle Manufacturing Company

Model: 1874-Rifle

BBL: 30 inch octagon

Stock: walnut

Gauge: 44-77

Finish: blue/casehardened

Serial Number158558

Class: Antique

  • Provenance: A North Platte Ranch; The Al Zalud Collection; The John Dutcher Collection; The Larry Barrett Collection; The John Dutcher Collection
  • Condition: Exceptionally fine with 85% plus original blue finish on the barrel with minor fading and edge wear, 75% plus original case colors on the lock and frame, mottled gray patina on the balance, silver-gray patina the buttplate, some flaking of the black finish on the peep sight base, and distinct markings. The wood is very fine and has minor cracks, light scratches and dings, slight chips, and fairly minor overall wear. Mechanically excellent. The case and accessories are very good with moderate, mostly exterior wear, including some cracks in the wood and tears on the case lining. Overall, a very high condition western Sharps "Buffalo" rifle from the famous Wyoming Freund & Bro. Armory.

Accepted Forms of Payment:

American Express, Discover, MasterCard, Money Order / Cashiers Check, Personal Check, Visa, Wire Transfer

Shipping

Rock Island Auction will contact you shortly after the auction has completed. We will arrange for shipping and or pickup.

Rock Island Auction Company

You agree to pay a buyer's premium of 30% and any applicable taxes and shipping.

View full terms and conditions

Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $199 $10
$200 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 $199,999 $10,000
$200,000 + $25,000