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Important Wyoming Territory Sharps Rifle

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1874 Sharps rifle sent to Fort Fetterman, Wyoming Territory in 1876. Factory letter shows shipment to Captain E M Coates. Coates served with Reynolds in Gen Crooks campaign against the Sioux & Cheyenne in March of 1876. The ensuing battle is judged to be the precursor to the Rosebud and Custer's stand at the Little Big Horn. Rifle is a style very popular with Army officers in the West (Sharps Firearms by Sellers, pg 223). 45/110 cal, 28" octagon barrel with excellent bright bore. Barrel is mottled color with excellent sharp markings. Action, lever and lock plate retain 70% silvering case color. Pistol grip checkered wood has excellent condition considering age & use. At some point in time the original sight "ladder" must have been misplaced. Tang is drilled & tapped for a "non-Sharps" sight but original sight base is still with rifle. Original barrel sight base is also still on rifle. Rare rifle with great history. Captain Edwin M Coates, born in New York, was appointed 2nd lieutenant in the 2nd Cavalry on 8-5-1861. He was transferred to the 12th Infantry and served with them through the rest of the Civil War. He was brevetted a captain for gallant service at the Wilderness and the campaign before Richmond. On 3-23-1869 he was transferred to the 4th Infantry & served with them for many years on the western frontier. (Reynolds Campaign on the Powder River by Vaughan, Pg 46).

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