Sharps Conversion 1874 50-70 35″ Single Shot Black Powder Antique
SOLD FOR: $1,140.00
LSB#: LSB260302TW004
Make: Sharps
Model: 1874 Cartridge Conversion
Serial Number: 47
Year of Manufacture: Circa late 1870s
Caliber: 50-70 Government
Action Type: Single shot, falling block, centerfire cartridge conversion, black powder rifle.
Markings: The upper tang is marked with the serial number. All other markings are gone.
Barrel Length: 35″
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a barley corn blade integral to the barrel. The rear sight is a two leaf folding US military style sight.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The stock is two piece smooth walnut, two bands, capped forend, straight wrist, straight comb, and smooth steel buttplate. There is heavy handling wear, scratches, and compression dents throughout. There are some light chips and cracks throughout. Overall this stock is in Fair condition.
Type of Finish: Blued, Color Case
Finish Originality: Scrubbed
Bore Condition: The bore is semi bright. The rifling is distinct. There is moderate erosion. There is scattered corrosion pitting throughout. The chamber and throat are corroded and cartridges chamber quite tight. In this writer’s opinion this bore rates 4/10.
Overall Condition: This rifle retains none of its original finish. The entire rifle has been scrubbed and buffed. There is pitting throughout. The screw heads are tooled but serviceable. The only marking left is the serial number. Overall this rifle is in Poor to Fair condition.
Mechanics: This rifle is not in functional condition. The hammer and lever are worn and loose. The chamber is corroded and pitted. We did not fire this rifle. As with all used firearms a full cleaning may be necessary to meet your standards.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: None
Our Assessment: This Sharps Model 1874-style cartridge conversion is an antique single-shot falling-block rifle chambered in .50-70 Government and likely assembled or altered during the late 1870s black powder cartridge era. The rifle features a long 35″ barrel, military-style two-band stock configuration, and a two-leaf folding rear sight, giving it a distinctly martial frontier appearance. While most factory markings have been removed over time, the surviving tang serial number and overall Sharps-style action still preserve some of the rifle’s historical identity and visual presence.
Condition is Poor to Fair overall. The rifle retains none of its original finish, having been heavily scrubbed and buffed at some point in its life, leaving the surfaces softened and nearly all markings erased. Pitting is present throughout the metal surfaces, and the screw heads are tooled but remain serviceable. The walnut stock set shows heavy handling wear, scratches, compression dents, chips, and light cracking throughout, though the rifle still retains its overall military-style profile and configuration. The lack of surviving markings and extensive refinishing substantially reduce collector originality.
The bore is semi-bright with distinct rifling, but moderate erosion, scattered pitting, and a corroded chamber and throat reduce it to a 4/10 rating in this writer’s opinion. Mechanically, the rifle is not currently functional, as the hammer and lever are worn and loose, and the chamber corrosion causes cartridges to fit tightly. The rifle has not been test fired, and substantial restoration work would be required before any attempt at firing. Overall, this is a heavily worn and altered Sharps conversion rifle best viewed as a restoration candidate, display piece, or representative black powder-era artifact rather than a functional shooter or high-condition collector example. Please see our photos and good luck on your bids! MF