Make: Sharps

Model: Meacham Sporting

Serial Number: C34986

Year of Manufacture: Original Sharps action circa 1863-1865; Meacham conversion circa 1882

Caliber: .45-110 Sharps, 45-2 7/8"

Action Type: Single shot, falling block, centerfire rifle.

Barrel Length: 22" Octagon cut down from longer barrel.

Sights / Optics: The front sight is a blade dovetailed to the barrel. The rear sight is a folding ladder style V notch with slider. The upper tang has been drilled and tapped for a peep sight. The holes have been plugged and polished over.

Stock Configuration & Condition: The stock is two piece walnut, no rear forend knob, checkered grip, straight comb, and smooth iron buttplate. These are features characteristic of Meacham conversions. The LOP is 11 1/4" and 12 1/4" from trigger to buttplate. There are scratches and compression dents throughout. There is some light iron staining. There is some discoloration on the right side of the stock. There are some light chips around the tang. There are light cracks at the wrist. Overall this stock is in Good condition for Antique.

Type of Finish: Blued, Color Case

Finish Originality: Original, barrel serial matches the receiver, the tang serial number has lost one digit when the peep sight holes were plugged.

Bore Condition: The bore is mostly bright. The rifling is well defined. There is light erosion and pitting scattered throughout. There is some lead fouling. In this writer's opinion this bore rates 8/10.

Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 5% of its original finish. The barrel has worn to brown patina with corrosion staining. The receiver is muted with corrosion staining. Colors still show in protected areas. There is scattered pitting. The screw heads are lightly tooled but serviceable. The markings are mostly legible. Overall this rifle is in Good condition as Antique.

Mechanics: This action functions correctly. The set triggers function correctly. We did not fire this rifle. As with any used guns a full cleaning may be necessary to meet your standards.

Box, Paperwork & Accessories: None

Our Assessment: E.C. Meacham & Co. of St. Louis was among the firms that continued to capitalize on the reputation of the Sharps after the Sharps Rifle Company ceased operations. Around 1882, Meacham assembled sporting rifles using surplus Civil War-era Sharps actions together with remaining Sharps factory parts, producing what collectors now commonly call Meacham-Sharps conversions. History Colorado specifically notes that these rifles are often incorrectly described as Model 1874 sporting rifles and identifies the coarse checkered wrist and plain sporting forend as characteristic Meacham features. This rifle also bears a Freund Bros. marking on the barrel. The Freund brothers were prominent western gunsmiths and Sharps specialists who retailed, repaired, and modified Sharps rifles, and surviving correspondence documents their direct commercial dealings with the Sharps Rifle Company. The Freund marking gives this rifle an especially appealing connection to the western Sharps trade. The Freund Bros. barrel marking indicates that the rifle passed through or was worked on by the noted western gunmaking firm and may have been retailed by them.

This example is chambered in the formidable .45-110 Sharps, or .45-2 7/8", and retains a matching-numbered octagonal barrel, although the barrel has been shortened to 22". Its checkered wrist, plain forend without a rear knob, and double set triggers are consistent with known Meacham conversion sporting rifles. The rifle retains only about 5% of its original finish, with the barrel aged to brown patina, the receiver showing muted case color and corrosion staining, and scattered pitting throughout. The walnut furniture remains in Good antique condition despite handling wear, small chips around the tang, and light wrist cracks. The mostly bright bore retains well-defined rifling with only light erosion and scattered pitting and rates 8/10, while the action and double set triggers function correctly. With its scarce Meacham conversion configuration, powerful .45-110 chambering, matching barrel, and period Freund Bros. marking, this is a particularly interesting western Sharps sporting rifle with considerable frontier character. Please see our photos for a better understanding of the condition and good luck with your bids!