Trevor,
Your Sharps 1878 Chinese Contract Rifle is only the second one I have heard of in Australia and I know there are approximately five in the USA. Presumably these were 'Liberated' during the War of the Boxer Rebellion. So they are exceptionally rare, and therefore have a high value. A lot depends on overall condition. You can order a replacement cleaning rod from the Borchardt Rifle Company in Silver City New Mexico. They have a website. You could also ask them if they have an old original barrel from which they could extract the sight, they have rebuilt a number of original Borchardt's over the years, and no doubt re-barrelled many more  There is no harm is asking them. Rafter3C on this forum works part time for the owner, he is a very helpful gentleman.

Borchardt Military rifles is their original configuration are now rare and getting rarer every year as they get converted into anything from Vermin Rifle to Long Range Target rifles. A good action alone in the USA will bring between US$ 1,500 to $2.000. What a Chinese Contract model would bring is anyone's guess as they are probably the rarest of all Borchardt variants. There are so few of these in 'The West' you could ask almost any price for it, it's up to the buyer how much he is willing to pay. I'd suggest getting the missing parts first, the better it looks, the better the price you will get.
Good luck.
Harry

Sometime in the 1960s I bought a Borchardt made for the South Carolina National Guard. I paid $125 for it and sold it for about the same. It was chambered for the 45-70 and in excellent condition. I shudder at the thought of what it would sell for today. I have sold some great single shot rifles and it would be nice to know where they are now. I hope Bubba didn't get his hands on them.When I see a terrible storm rip up the east coast or across the south I can't help but wonder how many fine guns are lost forever.

Good morning Ken That would be greatly appreciated thank you

Regards Trevor

Hello Frank,
The Chinese Contract Sharps Borchardt military rifle are exactly the same as all the other military Borchardt's with one exception. On the top of the barrel just forward of the receiver ring the words 'Old Reliable' have been replaced by words in Chinese which on translation read, 'Old Reliable' and that is the only difference as far as I am aware. There is a photograph in Sellars Book on Sharps Firearms. My copy is out on loan otherwise I would have scanned the picture for you.

Harry

Hello Frank, 
I would presume so as Sharps would be hoping for further orders. The Chinese got a bit pee'd off due to a delay in delivery. Part way through the production Sharps diverted staff to work on a number of Long Range Borchardt Rifles for the US Creedmoor Team and others for sale to visiting competitors and their supporters. I know that at least two of those made it to Britain with Team Members. A friend of mine owns one. Sharps apparently sold quite a number of completed rifles and a number of Long Range actions. Very profitable at US$ 125.00 for the Long Range rifle as against about US$ 22.50 for a military rifle. The Chinese got their small order, but did not place another.

Harry

Thanks Ken

Regards Trevor

Hello Ken I will tale a pic of the what is left of the existing sight and send it to you.

Regards Trevor