Sharps-Borchardt Model 1878 Sporter 26 3/4″ .22LR Single Shot Rifle Antique
SOLD FOR: $2,020.00
LSB#: WY250425SR001
Make: Sharps Rifle Co.
Model: 1878 Sharps-Borchardt Military Action (1.3” Thick)
Serial Number: 7203
Year of Manufacture: 1878-1881
Caliber: .22 L.R.
Action Type: Falling Block Striker Fired Breech Loaded Rifle w/ Ejector
Markings: The left side of the frame is marked with the Sharps-Borchardt name and address. The underside of the receiver is marked with the serial number.
Barrel Length: 26 3/4”
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a Lyman hooded post dovetailed to the barrel. The rear sight is fully adjustable Lyman peephole tang sight.
Stock Configuration & Condition: This rifle has a two piece grade 2 – 3 checkered curly walnut with a sling loop, semi-pistol grip, straight comb, sling loop, and checkered steel buttplate. There are light handling marks throughout. The checkering is mostly sharp. The wrist is cracked through radially at the tang and has been glued. There are no chips. The LOP measures 13.25” from the front of the trigger to the rear of the buttplate. Overall, the stock rates in Very Good condition. There is a screw in the left side of the receiver that can be removed to allow the barrel to be swapped meaning this rifle can potentially be restored with an original barrel. The threads are collar threads are sharp.
Type of Finish: Blued, Case Color
Finish Originality: Refinished
Bore Condition: The bore is bright and the rifling is sharp. There is faint erosion in the bore. In this writer’s opinion the bore rates 9/10.
Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 85% of its metal finish. There is thinning on the leading edges. Most of the metal has taken light oxidation with scattered rust freckles and mottled patina. The barrel retains much of its blue. he action shows operational wear. The markings are somewhat worn. The screw heads are lightly tooled. Overall this rifle is in Very Good condition.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The safety behind the trigger functions properly. We did not fire this rifle. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance requirements. This rifle has been rebarreled and is not in its original caliber. The threads in the collar are sharp meaning this rifle is a candidate for being restored with an original barrel if desired.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: Snap cap.
Our Assessment: The Sharps-Borchardt Model 1878 stands as one of the most mechanically advanced single-shot rifles of the 19th century, blending the legacy of Christian Sharps’ falling block design with the innovation of Hugo Borchardt’s striker-fired action. Produced only between 1878 and 1881, the Borchardt action was a radical departure from earlier Sharps rifles, with no external hammer, a fully enclosed breech, and a flat mainspring striker system that prefigured modern bolt-action rifle design. Despite its forward-thinking engineering, it was introduced just as the era of single-shot military and sporting rifles was waning, making surviving examples rare and highly collectible. This example is a beautifully sporterized rifle built on the heavier military action and rebarreled to .22 L.R. It features a high-grade walnut stock with sharp checkering and attractive figure, indicative of a period sporting conversion or custom build. While the wrist shows a repaired radial crack, the overall condition is very good, with about 85% of its refinished metal remaining and a bright, sharp bore showing only light erosion. The addition of a Lyman hooded front sight and tang-mounted peep rear sight emphasizes its role as a precision target or varmint rifle, and the set trigger adds further appeal to those valuing fine trigger control.
Collectors and enthusiasts of antique American single-shots will find much to admire here. This rifle’s combination of high-end features, strong mechanical condition, and historical significance make it a standout. Whether acquired as a shooter, display piece, or project for further restoration, this Sharps-Borchardt captures the end of one firearms era and the dawn of another. – L.S.
