J.P.LOWER DENVER, SHARPS CONVERSION TO THE SHARPS MODEL 1874, 45/70 CAL.RIFLE

A TRUE PIECE OF THE HISTORY OF THE EARLY FRONTIER, FROM A WELL RESPECTED AND KNOWN GUNSMITH, OPERATING HIS STORE CALLED THE  SPORTSMANS DEPOT IN DENVER COLORADO. HE WAS ONE OF THREE EARLY FAMOUS DEALERS OF FIREARMS IN DENVER, THE TWO BEING, CARLOS GOVE, AND FREUND & BROS. ALL RETAILING WEAPONS, BUT LOWER WAS MAKING HIGHLY DESIRED RIFLES FOR THE EARLY FRONTIERS MEN. HE WAS FRIENDS WITH ALL THE FOUNDERS OS EARLY COMPANIES, COLT, COL. SHARPS, REMINGTON , AND S&W . AT THE CLOSE OF THE CIVIL WAR WITH THE REDUCTION OF THE ARMY, THERE WERE THOUSANDS OF RIFLES IN STORAGE. MANY BEING BOUGHT BY MEN LIKE OF J.P. LOWER . SHARPS WAS RAPIDLY BECOMING THE FAVORITE OF THE EARLY FRONTIERSMEN AND HUNTERS. HOWEVER, PRODUCTION COULD NOT MEET THE DEMAND. LOWER BOUGHT SHARPS FROM THE ARMORIES, AND CONVERTED THEM FROM PERCUSSION TO THE NEW METALLIC CARTRIDGE.  THE FAVORITE WAS THE MODEL OF 1874 RIFLE, THE MOST POPULAR CARTRIDGE WAS THE 45/70, WHICH WOULD GO ON TO BE THE UNIVERSAL MILITARY CALIBER FOR ALL SINGLE HOT TRAPDOOR RIFLES FOR THE NEXT 30 YEARS. THE ORIGINAL SERIAL NUMBER OF THIS CONVERTED 1874 IS C 41432. NOW IT IS THE MODEL OF 1874 PATTERN IN 45/70 CALIBER. J.P. LOWER’S STORE  WAS A WELL KNOWN STORE AND HE SOLD ALL HIS WORK. CUSTOMERS LIKE, TOM CUSTER, KIT CARSON EVEN BUFFALO BILL WOULD STOP . THIS 1874 IS 100% ALL ORIGINAL LOWER CONVERSION, WITH 30 INCH BARREL. SPEAKING OF BARREL, THIS BARREL IS STAMPED WITH J.P.LOWER , DENVER CO. CAN BE FOUND ON TOP  OF BARREL JUST BEHIND THE BARREL BAND, IN FRONT OF REAR RIFLE SIGHT. IT IS IDENTICAL TO ALL OTHER LOWER STAMPED EXAMPLES. THE SHARPS MECHANICAL ACTION IS 100% CORRECT. THE WOOD IS SMOOTH AND HAS A WONDERFUL ANTIQUE LUSTER, NEVER HAVING BEEN CLEANED ETC…. THE METAL SURFACES HAVE A DARKENED BLUE/GRAY PATINA WITH TRACES OF PLUM. ALL FACTORY MARKINGS ON THE RECEIVER ARE PRESENT AND CLEAR.  ALL PARTS ARE  EITHER SHARPS FACTORY OR LOWER CONVERSION, A 100% ORIGNAL RIFLE. THESE RIFLES WERE VERY POPULAR ON THE EARLY FRONTIER WHICH AS A HUNTING FRONTIER AND FROM TIME TO TIME A BATTLE GROUND WITH NATIVE AMERICANS. THEY COULD SHOOT 1,000 YARDS, AND  WERE RELAIBALE, AND IN 45/70 KNOCK DOWN POWER. THIS LOWER MODEL 1874 IS IN SUPERIOR CONDITION COMPARED TO OTHERS. THIS MODEL IS CLOSELY TIED TO THE EARLIEST FRONTIER, TRAILBLAZERS AND HUNTERS.  THE TRAPDOOR RIFLE WAS SURE, RELAIBLE AND STRONG KNOCK DOWN. SEVERAL YEARS BEFORE LEVER ACTIONS, AND THEY WERE NOT AS POWERFUL THIS RIFLE REMAINS AN EXCELLNET EXAMPLE FOR THE COLLECTOR, A REAL PIECE OF THE EARLY FRONTIER BUILDING THE COUNTRY OPENING THE WEST. With this sale goes a photograph copy of Lower’s Denver store, and  copy of Sales advertisement of Firearms.