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A.A Kellog 1878 Sharps Borchardt 45 Express

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military Start Price:5,000.00 USD Estimated At:10,000.00 - 15,000.00 USD
A.A Kellog 1878 Sharps Borchardt 45 Express
'Long Range Rifle' Deluxe embellished antique falling block single shot sporting rifle, manufactured circa 1870's-1880's. Produced by Alfred A. Kellogg, a New Haven, Conn. gunsmith well known for his customized Sharps Borchardt rifles. Kellogg guns are believed to be hand built, all of which have no serial numbers and many feature L.D. Nimschke engraving. Configuration: Blued 30" barrel with quarter rib marked "45. EXPRESS. MADE BY. A.A. KELLOGG. NEW HAVEN CT." in gold, blade front sight with gold bead, early Lyman No 1 tang mounted peep sight, case hardened receiver with large gold inlayed "K"s in 'AAK' monograms on the side surrounded by scroll, gold plated brass sideplates with engraved game/hunting scenes including a deer running from a hunter on the left & bear on a ledge on the right, knurled trigger, automatic safety, finely hand checkered fancy Circassian walnut forend with ebony cap & brass furniture, and pistol grip shoulder stock with inlayed gold shield escutcheon and knurled steel buttplate with brass trapdoor. This rifle is believed to be the same rifle offered by Theodore Dexter in his First October List, in 1960. It is photographed and listed as "CUSTOM SHARPS .45 CALIBRE EXPRESS RIFLE OR DE LUXE SPORTING MODEL. THIS CUSTOM BORCHARDT WELL KNOWN TO COLLECTORS AND ALSO RECOGNIZED IN THE SHARPS FILES. TOP OF RIGBY TYPE BARREL FLAT IS INGRAVED AND INLAYED IN HEAVY GOLD "45 EXPRESS. A. A. KELLOG, NEW HAVEN, CONN." 30" ROUND BBL. THE MOST BEAUTIFUL CIRCASSIAN WALNUT PISTOL GRIP STOCK I HAVE EVER SEEN ON A GUN. ACTION ARTISTICALLY ENGRAVED AND ON BOTH SIDES A LARGE "K" INLAYED IN GOLD. THE SIDE PANELS ARE MEDAL HEAVILY OVERLAYED WITH GOLD AND ENGRAVED AND INLAYED WITH GOLD GAME SCENES. RIGHT SIDE A LARGE GRIZZLY BEAR ON A LEDGE. LEFT SIDE A DEER RUNNING THROUGH THE TREES. FOREARM ARTISTICALLY CAPPED WITH HORN. UNDERSIDE OF THE FOREARM INLAYED WITH GOLD ESCUTCHEON BEAUTIFULLY ENGRAVED. GOLD NAME PLATE IN STOCK. THE METAL BUTT-PLATE IS A WORK OF ART WITH ARTISTIC GOLD TRAP DOOR, FINELY ENGRAVED. THE GUN HAS REAR PEEP ON TANG WITH ELONGATED RAISED RAMP FRONT BEAD. THIS ARM MUST BE SEEN TO BE EVEN GUESSED AT IN ITS STATELY BEAUTY OF DESIGN AND ARTISTIC ORNAMENTATION. MADE SPECIAL FOR A ROCKY MOUNTAIN HUNT. FINEST POSSIBLE CONDITION AND ALL ORIGINAL----$2250.00". Includes an article published in the Sharps Collector Association Report Vol. 17 No. 3 issue by Richard J. Labowskie regarding the guns listed by Dexter in 1960 as well as a copy of the listing itself with photos. Barrel retains a small amount of thinned bluing with the majority of the surfaces displaying a mottled aged grey patina. The receiver shows traces of case colors with the balance comprised of bare metal & speckled dark oxidation. Action is sound, the bore is excellent and the wood stocks are very good with some small blemishes. Condition is NRA Very Good to Fine ***Antique Firearm*** [From the Jim Wilkinson Rifle Ranch Collection]