2020 September Premier, Volume I

BOTH SIDES PICTURED
LOT 108
Attractive Historic
Documented Sharps Model 1874 Sporting Rifle
Purchased by a New York County Sheriff with Mogg Telescope Sight and Factory Letter - Serial no.
C,54533, 40 cal., 28 inch octagon bbl., blue/casehardened finish, walnut stock. The accompanying factory letter lists
this rifle with a 28 octagon barrel in .40 2 1/4 inch caliber, double triggers, globe and peep sights and oil finished stock when
invoiced on July 6, 1875 to merchant E.G. Chase of Geneseo, New York, who received the rifle at discounted price. A second
included letter from Richard Labowskie explains that based on correspondence with Sharps, E.G Chase received the discount
after informing Sharps he was “able to sell quite a few Sharps” and Chase purchased this rifle for Elijah Youngs (1825-1895), who
was the sheriff of Livingston County, New York. Labowskie states that he purchased the rifle from Gary Quinlan of Pennsylvania.
The original barrel sights have been removed to accommodate the addition of the 34 inch Mogg telescope sight. The Mogg sight is mounted in the
front and rear sight dovetails, and the peep sight has been removed (no filler screws). The barrel has the Hartford address, and the action has the C.
Sharps 1849 patent date and double set triggers. The forearm has a pewter cap. Matching serial number on the upper tang, inside of the forearm
(“533”) and bottom of the barrel (factory reportedly remarked due to a stamping error). Period sources indicated that Youngs was the sheriff of
Livingston County as well as a merchant and farmer.
CONDITION: Very good plus, retaining 30% faded original blue with the balance a mottled gray patina. The attractively silvered out action retains patterns of original case colors, otherwise
mostly a smooth dark gray patina. The refinished wood is fine with some minor handling marks. The telescope sight has hazy optics. Mechanically excellent.
Estimate: 4500 - 7500
BOTH SIDES PICTURED
LOT 109
Very Fine Remington Model 1 1/2 Rolling Block
Sporting Rifle - Serial no. 2799, 22 RF cal., 28 inch octagon
bbl., blue/casehardened finish, walnut stock. Manufactured from 1888 to 1897.
German silver front blade, adjustable semi-buckhorn rear and mid range tang mounted peep
sights. The top barrel flat is marked “REMINGTON ARMS CO ILION, N.Y.” ahead of the
rear sight with the six line patent marking on the left side of the receiver. The matching serial
number is marked on the lower tang and bottom barrel flat under the forearm. The bottom
barrel flat is also marked “22” ahead of the forearm. Blue barrel, hammer and breechblock and
casehardened receiver. Smooth walnut forearm and straight grip stock with forend cap and
crescent buttplate.
CONDITION: Very fine. The barrel retains 70% original blue finish mixed with smooth plum
patina. The breechblock and hammer retain 95% of the original bright nitre blue finish. The
receiver retains 80% of the original vivid case colors with fading on the trigger guard and a
smooth silver-gray on the lower tang. The buttplate is a mix of dark original case colors and
smooth silver gray patina. The wood is also very fine with almost all of the original varnish and
showing a minor chip on the rear edge of the forearm and scattered minor dents and dings. The markings are crisp and clear.
Mechanically excellent.
Estimate: 4500 - 6500
LOT 110
Serial Number 1 P. A. Altmaier’s Patent Repeating
Mountaineer Lever Action Rifle - Serial no. 1, 44 cal., 28 1/4
inch octagon bbl., blue/nickel/black finish, walnut stock. This rifle was
designed by Peter A. Altmaier (b. 1828 in Bavaria) who came to the U.S. in 1850 after
training as a gunsmith and later manufactured firearms, including repeating rifles of his own
design and cane guns, in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. The rifle has a German silver blade front sight, notch rear
sight, “No. 1 1884.” and “P.A. ALTMAIERS./PAT. REPEATING MOUNTAINEER/RIFLE. HARRISBURG. P.A.” on top of
the barrel at the breech, simple scroll patterns on the sides of the frame, and a checkered buttstock.
CONDITION: Fair. Part of the breech mechanism and the buttplate are absent, the steel
components have dark brown patina and moderate oxidation/pitting, the magazine tube and
action have a mix of nickel and black paint, and the somewhat loose buttstock has some minor
cracks and dings. Buttplate is absent. All of Altmaier’s firearms are very rare. A truly unique
American firearm!
Estimate: 1600 - 2500
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