ASSRA Forum - 1878 Sharps Borchardt Military Rifle

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1878 Sharps Borchardt Military Rifle (Read 194 times)

SILVERTIP Participating Member Offline Posts: 41 Location: Mtns of New Mexico & Alabama Joined: Oct 1^st, 2017	1878 Sharps Borchardt Military Rifle May 24^th, 2026 at 10:35am	Print Post
	The 1878 Sharps Borchardt is an interesting and strong actioned rifle. My Military Model is original with 32 inch barrel- stamp/engraved " Old Reliable", ramrod, and long leade-throat into a well-preserved cared-for set of lands/grooves: excellent bore, age considered. It is an accurate rifle with FFG black or relatively fast smokeless powders under .405 gr lubed bullets without gas checks-due to the velocities held close to factory cartridges extant at the time of manufacture. Paper patched bullets may be my next effort.The sight is an original Lawrence pattern adjustable ladder style mounted on the barrel. The short tang does not lend itself readily to any Vernier-style mid-range tang sight. JP Lower of Denver is pictured in the Sellers Sharps volume next to a target reflecting 50 consecutive shots fired. The empty and loaded shell extraction is well above average, in the same quality as the Winchester 1885 SS or the Remington RB rifles. A serial number has not been located on this rifle as yet. If anyone has one or a set of 1878 Sharps Military photos, any posting is appreciated along with possible photos of serial number(s) and location.
	« Last Edit: May 24^th, 2026 at 10:56am by SILVERTIP »
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bobw Frequent Elocutionist Offline Posts: 2098 Location: NW, Iowa Joined: Mar 19^th, 2013	Re: 1878 Sharps Borchardt Military Rifle Reply #1 - May 24^th, 2026 at 11:29am	Print Post
	Not an expert on Borchardts, but here is one I own. I think it is an example of a military version, but the barrel has been changed. The CO. I. and 26 has meaning but I have no clue what. I bought it to build a new rifle around at some point. As you can see the serial number is in the center of the frame side. Bob

	Robert Warren
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Old-Win Frequent Elocutionist Offline Posts: 1822 Location: Minnesota Joined: Nov 24^th, 2005	Re: 1878 Sharps Borchardt Military Rifle Reply #2 - May 24^th, 2026 at 1:49pm	Print Post
	Sometimes the serial number is found on the bottom of the receiver in front of the trigger.


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SILVERTIP Participating Member Offline Posts: 41 Location: Mtns of New Mexico & Alabama Joined: Oct 1^st, 2017	Re: 1878 Sharps Borchardt Military Rifle Reply #3 - May 24^th, 2026 at 9:18pm	Print Post
	Thank you. My Sharps Bridgeport markings are on the original barrel. The CO I on your rifle refer to military designations. This is an Infantry unit designation. Many National Guard state units in MT, PA, NY, MI and other states were issued these 1878 Sharps models. This affected the use, ammunition, and cleaning of these rifles, as well as survival of the original cleaning rods. SN 8177 was found in front of the trigger lightly stamped on the receiver, as indicated by Old Win. This 1878 is chambered for the 45-70 GOVT cartridge. Because of reliability and extraction, I would rather have carried one of these rifles in lieu of the 1873 Springfields issued to the troopers of the 7th Cavalry two years earlier at the Little Big Horn. Alternatively, a Spencer carbine or an 1873 Winchester.
	« Last Edit: May 24^th, 2026 at 9:40pm by SILVERTIP »
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