Excellent and Rare Sharps Borchardt Model 1878 Officers Model Single Shot Rifle

Only 48 Sharps Officers Model rifles were reportedly manufactured between March 1878 and February 1879. As noted on page 274 of Frank Sellers’ Sharps Firearms: “Almost without exception, the Officers Rifles were sent as prizes in rifle matches or to influential men in military circles. They were charged off to ‘expense accounts’ and very few were actually sold. Since they were usually sent complimentary, the recipients had little choice as to what the company sent them. Consequently, no variation of the Officers Model is known other than sights, which are in most cases nonfactory additions.”

This example features a standard military-style blade/bayonet stud front sight, Lawrence pattern adjustable notch and folding ladder rear sight, and sling swivels on the front barrel band and bottom of the action. The barrel is marked with the “Old Reliable” legend and the Sharps Bridgeport address, and shows two sets of small filler screws on top from what was possibly a previously mounted telescopic sight. The serial number “6613” is stamped on the bottom of the action.