The Sharps Model 1874 was considered one of the best firearms of the late 19th century American West and was famously used by professional buffalo hunters, pioneers, and guides. They were a highly valued arm on the frontier, not only due to their firepower but also their long range accuracy. According to "Sharps Firearms" by Frank Sellers, Sharps only manufactured approximately 6,400 of Model 1874 sporting rifles in a variety of configurations between 1871 to 1880. This exceptional Sharps Model 1874 sporting buffalo rifle has a fascinating history with desirable period improvements performed by the legendary Freund & Bro. including being rechambered for .45 2 7/8 Sharps, giving it all the stopping power a buffalo hunter could ask for. This exact rifle is pictured on page 319 of the book "Freund & Bro. Pioneer Gunmakers to the West" by F.J. Pablo Balentine, in which the caption lists all of its features along with the statement, "This rifle originally belonged to Montgomery C. Meigs (1848-1930), Surveyor General of the United States. It went to his daughter, a Mrs. Orr, then Dede Jasiman [Jasmann], then the present owner." It has accompanying provenance, two different factory shipment records, and subsequent tasteful period alterations performed by the well-known Freund & Bro. out of their Wyoming Armory shop in Cheyenne, Wyoming, where they regularly modified firearms, particularly Sharps rifles, to fit their customer's needs. Two accompanying factory letters list the rifle by its serial number 156478 as originally invoiced from the Sharps Bridgeport factory on June 24, 1876 to John P. Lower of Denver, Colorado, as a "Model 1874 Sporting Octagon Rifle" in .40 caliber, with a 28 inch octagon barrel, double set triggers, a knife blade front sight, weight at 10 lbs, with a list price of $40. The factory letter further states that this gun was reportedly returned to the factory and rebarreled, then reshipped on August 18, 1876, to Ben Kittredge and Company of Cincinnati, Ohio, again listed as a "Model 1874 Sporting Octagon Rifle" but now in .44 caliber, with a 32 inch octagon barrel, double set triggers, open sights, oil-finished stocks, weight listed at 11 lbs 13 oz, with a list price of $42. One of the two mentioned factory letters only lists the first shipment to John P. Lower, and shows a list price of "$40 less 25%" with weight not recorded, but states that the price indicates that it was a standard weight rifle at 10 pounds. Consignor notes accompanying this rifling list that it was once displayed in Cody, Wyoming, in 2013 next to another Freund altered Sharps, serial number 157130, that is fitted with this guns original "156478" numbered barrel. The display notes state that this rifle, 156478, is wearing a barrel numbered "157404" (unconfirmed, unable view due to leather cover). A third factory letter accompanies this lot that lists serial number 157130 as one of ten "Model 1874 Carbines" invoiced from the Sharps Bridgeport factory to Ben Kittredge and Company at an unlisted date in caliber .50, with 25 inch round barrel, weight not listed and net price of $15. It is likely that these two rifles made their way to Freunds shop in Cheyenne, Wyoming, sometime around late 1876-1877 where they received their alterations. An accompanying April 20, 1995, dated letter of provenance from Susan Jasmann (spelling of her last name is hand corrected) states that this rifle, serial number 156478, was sold by her mother, Alice O. "Dede" Jasmann, to the current consignor around 1969 and originally belonged to her great grandfather Montgomery C. Meigs. Alice Orr, the daughter of Montgomery C. Meigs, owned this rifle for many years, and then gave it to Susan's mother, also named Alice. A death certificate was located for Montgomery Meigs, listing him as born February 27, 1847 in Rouses Point, New York, with a December 9, 1931, date of death at 84 years of age in Keokuk, Iowa, with his profession listed as "U.S. Civil Engineer." The death certificate lists his father with the same name, General Montgomery Meigs, who was a prominent, well-known career U.S. Army officer and also a military and civil engineer alive between May 3, 1816-January 2, 1892. A December 10, 1931, dated newspaper obituary was also located for the younger Montgomery C. Meigs, owner of this Sharps rifle, that states, "Maj. Meigs, 82, retired U.S. engineer, was in charge of river work at Keokuk from 1882 until 1926. He went to Keokuk from Rock Island. He was an inspector for the government when the Keokuk lock and dam were built." This rifle features the fancy period inscription "F.W.Freund./-PATENTED-/AUGUST 1. 1876./JANUARY 2. 1877." on the left of the receiver in reference to two of Frank W. Freund's patents for improvements in breech loading firearms, which this gun has features of. These two referenced U.S. patent numbers 180,567 and 185,911 are illustrated and described on pages 150-152 and 172-175 of F.J. Pablo Balentine's book "Freund & Bro. Pioneer Gunmakers to the West". This exact rifle is also pictured on page 270 of the book “Sharps Firearms: Model 1878 ‘Borchardt Patent’ Rifles and other Sharps Models, Volume IV” by Roy Marcot. Features a 28 inch period replacement factory octagon barrel chambered in .45 2 7/8 Sharps with the boxed "Old Reliable" marking on the top barrel flat ahead of the non-viewable Sharps address (hidden beneath the leather cover), with double set triggers, and Freund modifications including the camming breech block, double extractors, hammer with extension, Freund patent dovetail mounted blade front sight marked "FREUND PAT.S" and "1876" on top, modified Lawrence patent rear sight, leather wrapped barrel and walnut forearm adapted for the bottom mounted wooden cleaning rod, and a straight walnut stock with a nickel plated brass crescent buttplate. Serial number "156478" is visible on top of the receiver tang. Includes a metal container with brass cassitings and consignor notes. Provenance: The Family of Montgomery C. Meigs; Property of a Gentleman

Very fine as period Freund improved/customized, retains 85% of the original viewable blue finish on the barrel with a few scattered patches of light surface spotting, vivid patterns of case colors visible in the protected areas with smooth gray patina on the balance, and a sharp inscription on the receiver. Wood is very fine, with some scattered scratches and dents, a nick visible on the top front of the comb, and defined edges. The leather barrel/forearm cover is fine. Mechanically excellent. This exceptional Freund improved .45 2 7/8 Sharps Model 1874 sporting rifle, with provenance, would add volume to any western arms collection!