Scarce Paneled Sharps Model 1878 Borchardt Long Range Rifle with Factory Letter Only 230 Long Range Borchardt rifles were manufactured. They were based on designs by German immigrant and Sharps superintendent and treasurer Hugo Borchardt. Sharps initially used walnut that matched the stocks for the side panels, but they ordered faux rosewood from the Celluloid Novelty Co. of New York City along with hard rubber "jet" panels in May of 1878. Frank Sellers notes on page 277 of "Sharps Firearms" that the hard rubber panels thereafter became the most common type on the Long Range rifles. A few months after this rifle was manufactured Sharps shifted to using flat pistol grip caps rather than the distinctive curl on this rifle's stock which means this rifle falls within a fairly small window where the rosewood type panels and the curled grip were both in use. The border around the "Old Reliable" marking was also dropped a few months after this rifle was manufactured. The factory letter confirms that this rifle was invoiced as a "Model 1878 Long Range Rifle" in .45 2 4/10 with two peep sight bases when it was invoiced to A.F. Mitchell of Saratoga Springs, New York, on March 13, 1879. It also confirms Mitchell purchased 100 cartridges, 200 .45/530 bullets, and a capping tool. Albert F. Mitchell appears in historical records as the treasurer of the Saratoga Rifle Club in the 1870s and as involved in the Annual Reunion of the Army of the Potomac celebrations in the 1880s. The rifle has a wind gauge globe front sight with spirit level, correction no provision for a rear barrel sight, "Old Reliable" in a box and the Bridgeport barrel address, wedge fitted checkered forearm numbered to the gun with ebony cap and a sling stud, attractive faux rosewood panels on the sides of the action, matching serial number on the right side of the breechblock, main serial number on the bottom of the action between the trigger and the patent marking, peep sights fitted to the integral base on the upper tang and in the heel position, and a pistol grip buttstock with checkered grip, curled grip tip with ebony insert, and a checkered hard rubber buttplate without the factory monogram. Manufacturer: Sharps Rifle Manufacturing Company Model: Long Range Deluxe BBL: 33 7/8 inch round Stock: walnut Gauge: 45-90 Finish: blue/casehardened Grips: Serial Number: 7132 Class: Antique Condition: Fine with 90% restored blue finish on barrel, 40% of the lightly faded original case colors, light spotting, some brown patina forming, and minor marks and scratches. The buttplate has some minor chips at the edges. The wood is very good and has crisp checkering, a minor crack at the heel, and some slight scratches and dings. Mechanically excellent. The Model 1878 Long Range is arguably among the finest American target rifles every manufactured and this example certainly ranks high in desirability among the relatively few extant, especially with this combination of features.

  • Condition: See Description

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by Rock Island Auction Company
April 14, 2018 9:00 AM CDT
7819 42nd Street West
Rock Island, IL, US 61201

Rock Island Auction Company

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Bid Increments
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$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 + $10,000