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SHARPS RIFLE COMPANY GREEN LABEL 5 ROUND BOX FOR
.45- 2 4/10 INCH CALIBER, 550 GRAIN PAPER PATCHED
CARTRIDGES – COMPLETE WITH ORIGINAL CARTRIDGES - FOR
SHARPS RIFLES WITH AN EXCELLENT LABEL:
One of the earlier, and
highly desirable boxes of cartridges produced by the
Sharps Rifle Company in Bridgeport, Connecticut, this
very collectable box for 5 .45-100 caliber, (also known
as the 45 - 2 4/10”) cartridges loaded with 550 grain,
paper patched bullets bears the desirable Sharps Rifle
Company green label.
The Sharps Rifle Company
introduced this cartridge in 1877, and this box of
cartridges would have been available in the inventory of
the dealers and hide buyers supplying the commercial
buffalo hunters on the Western Frontier during the
buffalo hunting era.
Based
on “cartridge pictures” which appeared on period
broadsides, this cartridge was also referred to as the
“.45-100 Sharps Special”, and it is interesting to note
that the label carries the word “SPECIAL” below the
cartridge loading data.
As the company was effectively out of business in early
1881, boxes of this cartridge which bear the Sharps
Company label were produced during a fairly narrow
window of time and in limited numbers.
In addition, the Sharps
Company found it difficult to compete with the larger
ammunition manufacturing companies such as Winchester
and UMC, and the Sharps Company ammunition production
was somewhat limited, accounting for their relative low
survival rate and scarcity on the market today.
This box is in excellent condition with a full, legible
cover label showing only minor scuffing, and all five of
the original paper patched cartridges are present, as is
the original brown tissue paper liner. The two piece
box retains its full form, with all of the corners and
edges intact. These boxes simply do not appear on the
market in much better condition than this one presents.
This is an excellent specimen of a very rare box of
paper patched cartridges manufactured by the famous
Sharps Rifle Company, one that seldom appears on the
collector market, and it will make a special addition to
display with your Sharps Rifle.
SOLD
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