A Real Buffalo Rifle Makes it Back to Montana
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A Real Buffalo Rifle Makes it Back to Montana
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...
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...
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Re: A Real Buffalo Rifle Makes it Back to Montana
Very nice!!
Is she to be shot?
Is she to be shot?
Re: A Real Buffalo Rifle Makes it Back to Montana
cool rifle.
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God Bless America.
Disclaimer, not responsible for anyone copying or building anything i make.
Always consult an expert first.
- Rimfire McNutjob
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Re: A Real Buffalo Rifle Makes it Back to Montana
Quite the barrel profile. I noticed the double set trigger as well. Nice.
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Re: A Real Buffalo Rifle Makes it Back to Montana
Oh My!
Jeremy
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To err is human, To forgive is devine, Neither of which is Marine Corps policy
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Re: A Real Buffalo Rifle Makes it Back to Montana
That is quite a rifle
Re: A Real Buffalo Rifle Makes it Back to Montana
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
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Re: A Real Buffalo Rifle Makes it Back to Montana
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.
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Re: A Real Buffalo Rifle Makes it Back to Montana
Details! Details! What's her twist? PP chamber or grease groove? Groove diameter? Bore diameter?
Oh yeah... sweet looking shooter!
Oh yeah... sweet looking shooter!
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!
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!
Re: A Real Buffalo Rifle Makes it Back to Montana
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....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.
Re: A Real Buffalo Rifle Makes it Back to Montana
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.Griff wrote:Details! Details! What's her twist? PP chamber or grease groove? Groove diameter? Bore diameter?
Oh yeah... sweet looking shooter!
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Re: A Real Buffalo Rifle Makes it Back to Montana
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!Shrapnel wrote: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.Griff wrote:Details! Details! What's her twist? PP chamber or grease groove? Groove diameter? Bore diameter?
Oh yeah... sweet looking shooter!
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!
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!
Re: A Real Buffalo Rifle Makes it Back to Montana
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
"Only those who will risk going too far, can possibly find out how far one can go." T.S. Eliot
Re: A Real Buffalo Rifle Makes it Back to Montana
add me to that comment... :)Pitchy wrote:cool rifle. 8)
Re: A Real Buffalo Rifle Makes it Back to Montana
That's a wonderful find. You're now the curator of a museum piece.
Owen
Owen
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Re: A Real Buffalo Rifle Makes it Back to Montana
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...!
250 Savage... its what the 223 wishes it could be...!
Re: A Real Buffalo Rifle Makes it Back to Montana
Outstanding! If guns could talk.
It looks like the butt stock has been replaced.
It looks like the butt stock has been replaced.
- KirkD
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Re: A Real Buffalo Rifle Makes it Back to Montana
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/
cedars and a magnificent Whitetail buck framed in the semi-buckhorn sights of a 120-year old Winchester.
Blog: https://www.kirkdurston.com/
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Re: A Real Buffalo Rifle Makes it Back to Montana
Beautiful rifle! Welcome back to Montana!
- O.S.O.K.
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Re: A Real Buffalo Rifle Makes it Back to Montana
Wow. I bet we see that in a future Rifle article... I hope.
Thanks for sharing that Shrapnel!
Thanks for sharing that Shrapnel!
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OCS, 120th MP Battalion, MSSG
MOLON LABE!
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Re: A Real Buffalo Rifle Makes it Back to Montana
Great score! How much does it weigh?
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Re: A Real Buffalo Rifle Makes it Back to Montana
Educate me. What is that second dovetail for?
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Re: A Real Buffalo Rifle Makes it Back to Montana
I have several museum pieces already, this will fit in nicely...hightime wrote:That's a wonderful find. You're now the curator of a museum piece.
Owen
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.
This is an original 1892 sold from Montana Armory, Bozeman, Montana.
This is an original 1886 sold by John Brownig from his store in Ogden, Utah Territory in 1887.
And the older brother to the newly acquired Sharps, another 1874 buffalo rifle from Walter Cooper's shop, Bozeman, Montana Territory.
- kimwcook
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Re: A Real Buffalo Rifle Makes it Back to Montana
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
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Re: A Real Buffalo Rifle Makes it Back to Montana
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
Re: A Real Buffalo Rifle Makes it Back to Montana
Most excellent Shrappers
Nath.
Nath.
Psalm ch8.
Because I wish I could!
Because I wish I could!
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Re: A Real Buffalo Rifle Makes it Back to Montana
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!
you have wonderful stuff!
cable
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Re: A Real Buffalo Rifle Makes it Back to Montana
Shrapnel: That's too many way cool guns for just one feller to own!
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?
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?
Re: A Real Buffalo Rifle Makes it Back to Montana
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...Bill in Oregon wrote:Shrapnel: That's too many way cool guns for just one feller to own!
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?