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Sharps Model 1874

Popular culture would have most people believe that the “Wild West” was won by men wielding Winchester lever action rifles and Colt Single Action revolvers. However, I think it can be argued that Sharps Model 1874 Sporting Rifle did more to tame the west and cause the demise of the native tribes of the Great Plains, than any other American made firearm. The Model 1874 Sharps Rifle has gained an appropriately iconic place in the lore of the American west, and when long range and large caliber guns are thought of, most people immediately think of the classic falling block Sharps. Christian Sharps is probably responsible for designing the most successful and recognizable family of breechloading arms of the 19th century. Sharps’ early training in the field of firearms had occurred at the Harpers Ferry Arsenal in Virginia, where he went to work in 1830 under the supervision of gun designer and pioneer of parts interchangeability, John Hall. Sharps worked at Harpers Ferry for over a decade, learning the arms making trade, as well as the early concepts of assembly line production. In 1848 Sharps received his first patent for a breech-loading carbine. The first Sharps patent firearms were produced by A.S. Nippes of Mill Creek, PA in 1849 and 1850. By 1851, Sharps formed the Sharps Rifle Manufacturing Company in Hartford, CT. As the company was not yet ready to produce arms, Sharps entered into an agreement with Robbins & Lawrence of Windsor, VT to manufacture his arms. By 1852 R.S. Lawrence (formerly of Robbins & Lawrence) moved to Hartford and became the master armorer of the Sharps Rifle Company. Over the next 7 years, Sharps produced a variety of carbines and rifles of various patterns, with each new pattern an attempt to improve upon his earlier designs. Several thousand arms were produced by Sharps during this time both for various U.S. Government contracts and for sale to the public. Sharps really struck gold with the introduction of his “New Model” 1859 series of breechloading percussion carbines and rifles, which he subsequently improved upon with his “New Model” 1863 pattern. During the Civil War, Sharps produced thousands of carbines and rifles for the U.S. Government with more than 77,000 of his carbines being purchased for use by the U.S. Military!! While the Spencer might have shot quicker with its repeating action and 7 round magazine, no carbine was more beloved for its sturdy reliability in the field and proven accuracy than the Sharps. By the end of the American Civil War, it had become clear that the percussion era was also reaching its end and that self-contained metallic cartridges were the future of firearms designs. Few percussion rifle designs were as readily adaptable to the metallic cartridge as was the Sharps, and by 1871 the company was producing the breechblock and action that would be the heart of the Model 1874. Why the company designated the guns as Model 1874, when they had technically been produced as early as 1871 is unclear, but what is obvious is that the Model 1874 Sporting Rifle changed the way that people thought about hunting and target shooting, and how they thought about cartridge power. The rifles were only produced in four bore sizes, .40 caliber, .44 caliber, .45 caliber and .50 caliber, however they were produced in a wide array of chamberings, based upon their intended use. The rifles were initially produced at the Hartford, CT factory that had been the Sharps Company’s home since before the Civil War, but in 1876 production moved to a newly built factory in Bridgeport, CT. The Sharps Model 1874 became the favorite of the professional buffalo hunter working on the western great plains.

The Sharps Model 1874 Business Rifle.

Manufactured circa 1876-1880 in Bridgeport, Connecticut, this is one of approximately 900 Business models made in .45 caliber. The Sharps Model 1874 was among the most popular firearms on the American Frontier in the late 19^th Century, especially among professional hunters in the bison industry who valued them for their power and accuracy. Those same traits however, along with their inherent reliability, endeared them to settlers, lawmen, Native Americans, outlaws, and gold prospectors as well. Though they couldn’t provide the rapid firepower of the contemporary Winchester repeaters, their simplicity and trusted design kept them a popular and “Old Reliable” option well into the repeating era. The top of the barrel on this example has the “Old Reliable” followed by the “SHARPS RIFLE CO. BRIDGEPORT, CONN” address, both in front of the rear sight. Between the rear sight and the receiver, it’s marked “BUSINESS 45” on the left side of the barrel, “CAL .45” at the top of the barrel and “2 1/10” on the right side of the barrel. Matching serial numbers 159528 are marked on the bottom off the barrel and top rear of the receiver. It’s fitted with a copper blade front sight, folding ladder rear sight which is marked:

S. LAWRENCE
PATENTED
FEB 15^TH 1859

It’s mounted with a smooth walnut forearm and straight buttstock; the wood is in very good to fine condition. The 28” round barrel retains some original blue finish with a smooth grey and brown patina on the balance. The case-hardened receiver turned into an aged silver color with a clear patent marking stamped on the left side:

SHARPS RIFLE CO
PAT APR 6  1869

This rifle is mechanically excellent with a mirror like bore with strong lands and grooves. This is a gun with a lot of history and Frontier character. According to the Factory Records this rifle was shipped out on March 10, 1877, to Spies, Kissam & Co., a firearms dealer located at 279 Broadway, New York. It was part of an order for five Business Rifles. All of the rifles in the order are noted as being 45 calibers.

Business rifles are still popular by collectors and hunters nowadays. Because of their small production quantity (approximately a total of 1300 made in different calibers) these rifles are not easy to find.

An estimated total of 1300 Business rifles were made at the Sharps Bridgeport Factory between August 1876 to 1879, with run-off sales through 1880. Calibers were originally in 1876 the .40-70-265 (2 ¼- inch BN case) and the .45-70-420 (2 1/10-inch case). In March 1878 the .40-65-330 (2 ½ -inch straight case) was introduced. In later years the .45-100-500 (2 7/8-inch straight case) became a popular chambering. Barrel lengths were standard 28” full round, 26” and 30” barrels are rarely encountered.

Additional information regarding Spies, Kissam & Co.
This rifle was shipped to Spies, Kissam & Co., a firearms dealer located at 279 Broadway in New York.
A.W. Spies had originally been employed by C&J.D Wolfe of New York and acted as their agent in England, when returned to the United States he established his own firm, A.W. Spies & Co. and began importing military goods and firearms to New York. On February 1, 1866 he retired from the firm, and it continued as Spies, Kissam & Co under the direction of Mr. Frederick Kissam who had joined the firm as a partner a year prior on February 1, 1865.
Although this rifle was shipped to New York there is no way of telling where it may have gone from there. In the western parts of the United States at the time there was a large call for lighter, cheaper firearms as opposed to the heavier guns used by the big game hunters. Sharps Business Rifles helped fill this need

Thanks to Tisha Johnson, Caretaker of the Sharps Archive, for the Factory Record Letter and additional information regarding this rifle.

Sharps Model 1874 Military Rifle 

This Sharps Model 1874 Military rifle with all matching serial number 153833 is fitted with a correct 30-inch round barrel. The front sight is a lug brazed into the barrel with a steel blade front sight pinned onto the lug, it is fitted with a correct Lawrence patent rear sight, which is stamped:

R.S. LAWRENCE
PATENTED
FEB 15^TH 1859

The barrel is marked “SHARPS RIFLE CO. HARTFORD CONN” in one line. The left side of the barrel near the breech is marked 45. The barrel retains all original factory blue and have a few minor scratches in front of the middle barrel band. Which was probably caused by removing the barrel band without cleaning it before. The bore is minty with strong land and grooves. The forearm is the correct military style oiled American Walnut forearm which is connected to the barrel by three barrel bands and one screw. The matching serial number 153833 is stamped inside the forearm and under the barrel. The wood of the forearm is in excellent condition. The vertical breech receiver has almost all original factory case colors left and is stamped vertical and horizontal:

SHARPS RIFLE CO
PAT APR 6 1864

C.SHARPS PAT
SEPT 13^TH1849

Breechblock and hammer have lots of case colors left; the lever has a brown patina. According to “Sharps Firearms Model 1874, 1875 & 1877, Target Rifles and Model Variations, by Roy Marcot, Ron Paxton and Edward W. Marron Jr. (page 151)” is this particular rifle the first one without the Lever Safety Catch. The receiver top tang has the serial stamped C, 53833. Military style oiled American Walnut stock and buttplate, stock is without patchbox, are in excellent condition. Screws and swing swivels are unmarred. All matching serial numbers on inside forearm, under the barrel, receiver top tang, lockplate and stock. This rifle is mechanically prefect and really hard to find in this probably unissued condition.

In the seven years between November 1871 and October 1878, the Sharps Company sold over 1,700 military rifles with Model 1874 receivers. These rifles were made to accept a wide range of powerful cartridges and had a variety of sights and other features. Sharps management noted that military rifles were also popular with western hunters and eastern target shooters.
Model 1874 Military rifles closely resembled the Civil War era Model 1859, Model 1863 and Model 1865 military rifles. The biggest difference was that the Model 1874 rifles chambered the latest metallic cartridges. Many of the parts used in the percussion-era rifles were interchangeable with those in the Model 1874 Military Rifles. These included the buttstock, the forearm, internal lock parts, barrel bands and sights. A 30-inch round barrel was standard, a very few were made with shorter and longer barrels. Like many of their Civil War era predecessors, the Model 1874 Military Rifles accepted a socket bayonet and were not fitted for sword bayonets. Total of 1,769 were made, 1,3228 made at Sharps Hartford factory and 441 were made at the Bridgeport plant.