Sale 1987
| Cincinnati
| Cincinnati
Estimate$4,000 – $6,000
.45-70. 30" octagonal barrel. SN: 98266. Browned and color casehardened finish, iron furniture, smooth straight-gripped walnut stock with smooth semi-splinter forend without cap. An EC Meecham style conversion of a Civil War era New Model 1863 percussion carbine that was delivered to the US Government in December of 1864. Rifle with modified percussion lock marked "C SHARPS' PATENT/OCT 5th 1852", barrel marked "SHARPS RIFLE CO BRIDGEPORT. CONN." forward of the rear sight and with the boxed "OLD RELIABLE" trademark. Equipped with double-set triggers, folding ladder carbine style rear sight and dovetailed copper blade front sight with steel base. Original carbine buttstock with sling bar plate cutout filled. Rifle is accompanied by a "factory letter" from Dr. Richard Lebowski documenting the original Civil War delivery of carbine #98266 and further discussing the fact that the Meacham company of St. Louis referred to this modified cartridge rifle as "Black Hills Rifles" and offered them for sale into the 1890s.
The Collection of Larry Ness
Good to very good. Barrel retains some thinning brown with some oxidation and grayish mottling in the areas where the finish has worn. Receiver with a dull brownish-gray patina with some hints of blue. Mechanically functional, good bore with strong rifling, scattered pitting and more moderate pitting near the breech. Wood with moderate wear, numerous scuffs and light surface mars as well as bumps and dings. Wood retains some old varnish.
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Tim Carey
Associate Vice President, Head of Department, Arms, Armor and Militaria