Buffalo Bill Cody 1874 Sharps

Buffalo Bill Cody 1874 Sharps. S/N 936, .45x2 7/8 (.45-110) caliber, 30 inch 16 pound barrel, Sharps. Original wood was painted red during period of use, slivers of wood are missing from both sides of the forearm, and a large piece of the stock along the tang is missing, necessitating a reinforcing wrap of heavy rawhide. Double set triggers, original sights. Condition: bore condition not a factor, metal parts are a dark plum/brown color, barrel sight has the elevator/ladder missing, mechanically very good. Includes large museum display board 34" x 58".

Sharps #936 was in the Corder/Evans Trading Post in Pine Ridge, SD for years. It was originally given to Louis Shangreau, a mixed blood Sioux from the Pine Ridge reservation, by William “Buffalo Bill” Cody for services rendered. Shangreau, along with the Corder/Evans Trading Post worked for Cody, procuring Native Americans to work in Cody’s Wild West. Shangreau gave the rifle to a Sioux named Eagle Hawk for caring for Shangreau’ sick son. Eagle Hawk’s son, Joseph, traded it to the Trading Post in 1940 and it stayed in the Trading Post Museum until the entire museum was purchased in 1991. A faded tag from the museum remains with the rifle. The rifle was displayed at the Buffalo Museum in Scottsdale Arizona until it's closing.

Lot 637, Sold $30,680
Brian Lebel's Mesa Old West Auction - January 21st & 22nd, 2022 - Mesa, AZ.

Sharps Original Metallic Cartridge Sporting Rifle

S/N C53597, .44 caliber, 32 inch barrel Sharps Sporting rifle. “Hartford” collar, blue and case color finish, walnut stock and forearm, Hartford forearm cap, extra figure wood, double set triggers, original barrel and front sight, tang sight referred to in letter is not present. Circa 1872. Condition: excellent bore, 80% barrel blue thinning, 60% shadowy case colors on receiver, wood is shrunken slightly, excellent mechanically, excellent marks.

Included Sharps letter states shipment to Walter Cooper, Bozeman, M.T.

Provenance: From the Montana History Collection of Jerry "Buzz" Nyhart.

Walter Cooper at age 12 ran away from home and headed west. He opened his firearms business in December of 1868 and ordered his first Sharps rifle in September 1871. He went out of business in 1884.

Lot 228, Sold $20,060.
Brian Lebel's Mesa Old West Auction - January 23, 2021. Mesa, AZ.

Rare and Historic Sharps Model 1874 No. 1 Creedmoor Target Rifle

S/N 155011, .44 caliber, 34 inch barrel Sharps Model 1874 No. 1 Creedmoor. Blue and case color finish, walnut pistol grip checkered, shotgun butt stock, walnut checkered forearm, Vernier tang sight and wind gauge front sight. Sharps letter states sent to H.T. Hansen of Helena, M.T. circa 1875. Condition: excellent bright bore, 95% original barrel blue, 90% receiver case colors fading slightly, pistol grip has crack at heal, remaining wood excellent, Vernier tang sight numbered to rifle, excellent mechanically, excellent marks.

This was 1 of 3 Sharps Creedmoor rifles known to have been sent to Samuel Hauser, in Helena. He and his good friend, Granville Stewart, were set to have a shooting contest, so Hauser ordered 3 (noted in included Sharps letter). This gun was among them. Samuel Hauser was a famous early Montana pioneer, miner, banker, and went on the 1870 Washburn-Langford-Doan expedition to Yellowstone. His lobbying efforts later helped with the creation of Yellowstone National Park. He was the first territorial governor of Montana Territory in 1885. Hauser was also a Vigilante.

Includes Sharps letter and correspondence with Mr. W.S. Peace regarding his research.

Provenance: From the Montana History Collection of Jerry "Buzz" Nyhart.

Lot 94, Sold $53,100.
Brian Lebel's Mesa Old West Auction - January 23, 2021. Mesa, AZ.

Sharps Buffalo Rifle

S/N C45530 (matching on barrel), .45 x 2 7/8 .45 caliber, (marked Calibre) “Meacham” conversion of a percussion Sharps rifle. 1 ½ inches across the muzzle, 30 inch octagon barrel, military style stock, double set trigger, “Old Reliable” on barrel, Lawrence rear sight, copper blade front sight, circa late 1870s. Weighs 17 pounds. Condition:  bore is excellent, plum brown barrel, frame has 20% silvered case colors, small filled area in checkering on left wrist, small chips in fore arm, excellent mechanically.

Lot 140, Brian Lebel's Old West Auction - June 10, 2017, Fort Worth.
Sold $8,260.

After the dissolution of the Sharps Rifle Co, The E. C. Meacham & Co, seeing a ready market, produced a number of rifles using surplus U.S. Sharps actions converted to center fire, and parts from the Sharps Company.