A Real Buffalo Rifle Makes it Back to Montana

Welcome to the Leverguns.Com Forum. This is a high-class place so act respectable. We discuss most anything here ... politely.

Moderators: AmBraCol, Hobie

Forum rules
Welcome to the Leverguns.Com General Discussions Forum. This is a high-class place so act respectable. We discuss most anything here other than politics... politely.

Please post political post in the new Politics forum.
Post Reply
User avatar
Shrapnel
Levergunner 3.0
Posts: 594
Joined: Sun Nov 27, 2011 9:21 pm

A Real Buffalo Rifle Makes it Back to Montana

Post by Shrapnel »

I had talked to a friend in Alaska about a similar Sharps he had to a Walter Cooper Sharps I have, that was sent to Montana in the late 1870's and customized here. Jeff's rifle actually lettered to Bozeman, Montana Territory in 1878.

After some communication and a few months, Jeff sold me the gun. It is truly a rare and quite unique gun as it is a real buffalo rifle with double Montana provenance. It was shipped to J.G. Dow in Bozeman, then it eventually ended up in A. D. McAusland's shop in Miles City, Montana, and was rebarreled to 40-90 Bottleneck, a caliber that was preferred by the hunters during the last of the northern buffalo hunts.

There were only 517 Sharps rifles shipped to Montana, how many of those were for buffalo hunting, then how many of those have even survived? You can be sure, there were not many.

Here are some pictures...

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image
Top
WCF3030
Senior Levergunner
Posts: 1244
Joined: Mon Sep 03, 2007 3:15 pm
Location: West Michigan
Contact:
Contact WCF3030

Re: A Real Buffalo Rifle Makes it Back to Montana

Post by WCF3030 »

Very nice!! 8)
Is she to be shot?
That which does not kill me has made a grave tactical error.

http://thewoodsman1.blogspot.com/
Top
User avatar
Pitchy
Advanced Levergunner
Posts: 13143
Joined: Tue Mar 01, 2011 9:15 am
Location: Minnesooooota

Re: A Real Buffalo Rifle Makes it Back to Montana

Post by Pitchy »

cool rifle. 8)
Because I Can, and Have
-------------------------------------------------------------
USAF-72-76
God Bless America.
Disclaimer, not responsible for anyone copying or building anything i make.
Always consult an expert first.
Top
User avatar
Rimfire McNutjob
Advanced Levergunner
Posts: 3156
Joined: Mon Sep 03, 2007 2:51 pm
Location: Sanford, FL.

Re: A Real Buffalo Rifle Makes it Back to Montana

Post by Rimfire McNutjob »

Quite the barrel profile. I noticed the double set trigger as well. Nice.
... I love poetry, long walks on the beach, and poking dead things with a stick.
Top
User avatar
JReed
Advanced Levergunner
Posts: 5509
Joined: Tue Apr 03, 2007 11:17 am
Location: SoCal

Re: A Real Buffalo Rifle Makes it Back to Montana

Post by JReed »

Oh My! :mrgreen:
Jeremy
GySgt USMC Ret

To err is human, To forgive is devine, Neither of which is Marine Corps policy
Semper Fidelis
Top
User avatar
Dave
Senior Levergunner
Posts: 1658
Joined: Sun Sep 09, 2007 8:00 pm
Location: TN

Re: A Real Buffalo Rifle Makes it Back to Montana

Post by Dave »

That is quite a rifle
Top
C. Cash
Advanced Levergunner
Posts: 5384
Joined: Thu Sep 06, 2007 6:02 pm

Re: A Real Buffalo Rifle Makes it Back to Montana

Post by C. Cash »

Congratulations....that is quite a rifle with a wonderful history. Thanks for sharing it.
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8
Top
User avatar
RIHMFIRE
Advanced Levergunner
Posts: 7655
Joined: Fri Sep 07, 2007 11:51 am
Location: Florida

Re: A Real Buffalo Rifle Makes it Back to Montana

Post by RIHMFIRE »

outstanding shooter!
LETS GO SHOOT'N BOYS
Top
.45colt
Advanced Levergunner
Posts: 4736
Joined: Fri Sep 07, 2007 5:00 am
Location: North Coast of America-Ohio

Re: A Real Buffalo Rifle Makes it Back to Montana

Post by .45colt »

Shrapnel, I have watched Your posts in the last months in awe of Your great collection and always wonder if You knew or ever met Elmer Keith as You live out West?... You and Elmer in the same room would be something to experience.Thanks for the Great Post's and pictures.
Top
User avatar
Griff
Posting leader...
Posts: 20864
Joined: Sat Mar 31, 2007 4:56 pm
Location: OH MY GAWD they installed a STOP light!!!

Re: A Real Buffalo Rifle Makes it Back to Montana

Post by Griff »

Details! Details! What's her twist? PP chamber or grease groove? Groove diameter? Bore diameter?

Oh yeah... :oops: sweet looking shooter! :mrgreen:
Griff,
SASS/CMSA #93
NRA Patron
GUSA #93

There is a fine line between hobby & obsession!
AND... I'm over it!!
No I ain't ready, but let's do it anyway!
Top
User avatar
Shrapnel
Levergunner 3.0
Posts: 594
Joined: Sun Nov 27, 2011 9:21 pm

Re: A Real Buffalo Rifle Makes it Back to Montana

Post by Shrapnel »

.45colt wrote:Shrapnel, I have watched Your posts in the last months in awe of Your great collection and always wonder if You knew or ever met Elmer Keith as You live out West?... You and Elmer in the same room would be something to experience.Thanks for the Great Post's and pictures.
Never did meet Elmer. I never thought about it, but he didn't live too far from here. My father was a teenager when Charles Russell died, and I asked him why he had never tried to meet Charles Russell, probably the same reason...
Top
User avatar
Shrapnel
Levergunner 3.0
Posts: 594
Joined: Sun Nov 27, 2011 9:21 pm

Re: A Real Buffalo Rifle Makes it Back to Montana

Post by Shrapnel »

Griff wrote:Details! Details! What's her twist? PP chamber or grease groove? Groove diameter? Bore diameter?

Oh yeah... :oops: sweet looking shooter! :mrgreen:
I just got this gun today, I will take it to Mike Venturino's before the end of the week and get it slugged. The Cooper Sharps I have is a paper patch barrel, this one looks like the rifling isn't as deep.
Top
User avatar
Griff
Posting leader...
Posts: 20864
Joined: Sat Mar 31, 2007 4:56 pm
Location: OH MY GAWD they installed a STOP light!!!

Re: A Real Buffalo Rifle Makes it Back to Montana

Post by Griff »

Shrapnel wrote:
Griff wrote:Details! Details! What's her twist? PP chamber or grease groove? Groove diameter? Bore diameter?
Oh yeah... :oops: sweet looking shooter! :mrgreen:
I just got this gun today, I will take it to Mike Venturino's before the end of the week and get it slugged. The Cooper Sharps I have is a paper patch barrel, this one looks like the rifling isn't as deep.
I ask because my Shiloh is in .40-90SBN. I've never seen a grease groove original... Say hi to Mike for me. He needs to email me that list of .40 cal molds he was tellin' me he might let go... but now you're closer... let me know what you don't take!
Griff,
SASS/CMSA #93
NRA Patron
GUSA #93

There is a fine line between hobby & obsession!
AND... I'm over it!!
No I ain't ready, but let's do it anyway!
Top
rjohns94
Advanced Levergunner
Posts: 10820
Joined: Thu Sep 06, 2007 6:02 pm
Location: York, PA

Re: A Real Buffalo Rifle Makes it Back to Montana

Post by rjohns94 »

Wow, that is a beautiful rifle. That barrel has quite the profile. Looking forward to the details and range report
Mike Johnson,

"Only those who will risk going too far, can possibly find out how far one can go." T.S. Eliot
Top
1894c

Re: A Real Buffalo Rifle Makes it Back to Montana

Post by 1894c »

Pitchy wrote:cool rifle. 8)
add me to that comment... :)
Top
User avatar
hightime
Senior Levergunner
Posts: 1002
Joined: Sun May 01, 2011 9:22 am
Location: Duluth, MN

Re: A Real Buffalo Rifle Makes it Back to Montana

Post by hightime »

That's a wonderful find. You're now the curator of a museum piece.

Owen
Top
3leggedturtle
Advanced Levergunner
Posts: 4145
Joined: Fri Dec 21, 2007 11:34 am
Location: north of Palacios about 1400 miles

Re: A Real Buffalo Rifle Makes it Back to Montana

Post by 3leggedturtle »

Its too bad it couldnt talk and write a book !
30/30 Winchester: Not accurate enough fer varmints, barely adequate for small deer; BUT In a 10" to 14" barrelled pistol; is good for moose/elk to 200 yards; ground squirrels to 300 metres

250 Savage... its what the 223 wishes it could be...!
Top
User avatar
Warhawk
Levergunner 3.0
Posts: 755
Joined: Tue Apr 03, 2007 3:35 am
Location: Hot Springs, Arkansas

Re: A Real Buffalo Rifle Makes it Back to Montana

Post by Warhawk »

Outstanding! If guns could talk.

It looks like the butt stock has been replaced.
Top
User avatar
KirkD
Desktop Artiste
Posts: 4406
Joined: Sat Apr 07, 2007 6:52 am
Location: Central Ontario, Canada
Contact:
Contact KirkD

Re: A Real Buffalo Rifle Makes it Back to Montana

Post by KirkD »

Well, I am envious! That is a highly desirable piece of western history.
Kirk: An old geezer who loves the smell of freshly turned earth, old cedar rail fences, wood smoke, a crackling fireplace on a snowy evening, pristine wilderness lakes, the scent of
cedars and a magnificent Whitetail buck framed in the semi-buckhorn sights of a 120-year old Winchester.
Blog: https://www.kirkdurston.com/
Top
mod71alaska
Senior Levergunner
Posts: 1924
Joined: Thu Apr 05, 2007 3:36 pm
Location: New Hampshire

Re: A Real Buffalo Rifle Makes it Back to Montana

Post by mod71alaska »

Beautiful rifle! Welcome back to Montana!
Top
User avatar
O.S.O.K.
Advanced Levergunner
Posts: 5533
Joined: Sun Apr 27, 2008 4:15 pm
Location: Deep in the Piney Woods of Mississippi

Re: A Real Buffalo Rifle Makes it Back to Montana

Post by O.S.O.K. »

Wow. I bet we see that in a future Rifle article... I hope. :D

Thanks for sharing that Shrapnel!
NRA Endowment Life
Phi Kappa Sigma, Alpha Phi 83 "Skulls"
OCS, 120th MP Battalion, MSSG
MOLON LABE!
Top
Ben_Rumson
Advanced Levergunner
Posts: 2569
Joined: Sat Sep 15, 2007 12:51 pm

Re: A Real Buffalo Rifle Makes it Back to Montana

Post by Ben_Rumson »

Great score! How much does it weigh?
"IT IS MY OPINION, AND I AM CORRECT SO DON'T ARGUE, THE 99 SAVAGE IS THE FINEST RIFLE EVER MADE IN AMERICA."
WIL TERRY
Top
User avatar
vancelw
Advanced Levergunner
Posts: 3932
Joined: Mon Sep 28, 2009 1:56 pm
Location: 90% NE Texas and 10% SE Montana

Re: A Real Buffalo Rifle Makes it Back to Montana

Post by vancelw »

:mrgreen:

Educate me. What is that second dovetail for?
"Make yourself an honest man, and then you may be sure that there is one less scoundrel in the world." - Thomas Carlyle
Top
User avatar
Shrapnel
Levergunner 3.0
Posts: 594
Joined: Sun Nov 27, 2011 9:21 pm

Re: A Real Buffalo Rifle Makes it Back to Montana

Post by Shrapnel »

hightime wrote:That's a wonderful find. You're now the curator of a museum piece.

Owen
I have several museum pieces already, this will fit in nicely...

This is an original 1876 in 45-75 that was sold from W. F. Sheard's store in Livingston, Montana, in the late 1880's.

Image

This is an original 1892 sold from Montana Armory, Bozeman, Montana.

Image

Image

Image

This is an original 1886 sold by John Brownig from his store in Ogden, Utah Territory in 1887.

Image

Image

And the older brother to the newly acquired Sharps, another 1874 buffalo rifle from Walter Cooper's shop, Bozeman, Montana Territory.

Image

Image
Top
User avatar
kimwcook
Advanced Levergunner
Posts: 7978
Joined: Tue Sep 04, 2007 10:01 pm
Location: Soap Lake, WA., U.S.A.

Re: A Real Buffalo Rifle Makes it Back to Montana

Post by kimwcook »

That is something dreams are made of. It's fantastic that someone who appreciates it, won't just put it in a corner and never let it live again. Cool. You're a lucky man.
Old Law Dawg
Top
hfcable
Advanced Levergunner
Posts: 2450
Joined: Tue Sep 04, 2007 1:24 pm
Location: wasilla, alaska and bozeman, montana

Re: A Real Buffalo Rifle Makes it Back to Montana

Post by hfcable »

just awesome! love that rifle and love Montana too. going to bring some of my gear down to bozeman where i have a condo and hope to spend time someday.
cable
Top
Nath
Advanced Levergunner
Posts: 8660
Joined: Sat Sep 08, 2007 1:41 pm
Location: England

Re: A Real Buffalo Rifle Makes it Back to Montana

Post by Nath »

Most excellent Shrappers :D

Nath.
Psalm ch8.

Because I wish I could!
Top
hfcable
Advanced Levergunner
Posts: 2450
Joined: Tue Sep 04, 2007 1:24 pm
Location: wasilla, alaska and bozeman, montana

Re: A Real Buffalo Rifle Makes it Back to Montana

Post by hfcable »

outstanding. i had a WF Sheard marked special order 1886 with 28" extra heavy barrel, mirror bore, etc. really nice ......let it go to a rancher i met at Helena gun show, who guided elk hunters and was just desperate to have it. i am glad he got it. but it sure would be nice to have it again, sigh.
you have wonderful stuff!
cable
Top
Bill in Oregon
Advanced Levergunner
Posts: 9046
Joined: Sun Jun 29, 2008 10:05 am
Location: Sweetwater, TX

Re: A Real Buffalo Rifle Makes it Back to Montana

Post by Bill in Oregon »

Shrapnel: That's too many way cool guns for just one feller to own!
:D
Can't wait to hear would find when you and Mike slug the bore and maybe do a Cerrosafe chamber cast. That .40-90 SBN has always intrigued me, but there was always a worry it would be a hard caliber to get to shoot well, what the case capacity, bullet diameter and bottleneck fowling issues. Is the bore in as good a shape as the exterior?
Top
User avatar
Shrapnel
Levergunner 3.0
Posts: 594
Joined: Sun Nov 27, 2011 9:21 pm

Re: A Real Buffalo Rifle Makes it Back to Montana

Post by Shrapnel »

Bill in Oregon wrote:Shrapnel: That's too many way cool guns for just one feller to own!
:D
Can't wait to hear would find when you and Mike slug the bore and maybe do a Cerrosafe chamber cast. That .40-90 SBN has always intrigued me, but there was always a worry it would be a hard caliber to get to shoot well, what the case capacity, bullet diameter and bottleneck fowling issues. Is the bore in as good a shape as the exterior?
The bore is bright and the slug showed a diameter of .408 and the rifling in the slug was sharp. I shot it this afternoon, Mike Venturino took the pictures, I will be posting them...
Top
Post Reply

Return to “General Discussion”