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19HB-1 SHARPS BY SLOTTERBECK W/HISTORY

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military Start Price:3,750.00 USD Estimated At:NA
19HB-1 SHARPS BY SLOTTERBECK W/HISTORY
All items are as is, no warranty or claims and All SALES ARE FINAL. Please examine prior to bidding as it is the bidder's responsibility to establish condition, age, genuineness, value or any other determining factors.
Desirable H. Slotterbeck - Los Angeles marked custom Sharps rifle with silver plaque inscribed "J. W. Wolfskill from his father" inlaid in left center of the stock. William Wolfskill (1798-1866) was a mountain man and explorer who left Taos, New Mexico with Kit Carson and Jedediah Smith. He was a pioneer and prospered from growing grapes and citrus in Southern California. He is credited with the development of the Valencia orange in it's introduction. He was among the first 250 settlers of Los Angeles. His son, J.W. was born in 1844 died in 1884 and continued his father's citrus and business interest, being active in Los Angeles city government. The plaque is believed to have been preserved from J.W's plains rifle inlaid into William's custom Slotterbeck rifle circa 1867-1880's when built on carbine action #C45392.

Physical Description: 30" medium weight barrel with typical Slotterbeck ring on breech which is beautifully knurled and browned with curved "Slotterbeck - Los Angeles" marking. The barrel shows 95% plus original tobacco browned finish with thimbels for rod and rib with period wood rod. The rifle is stocked select walnut with pewter forend cap and keyed forend. Brass crescent butt plate, double set trigger. V notch and blade front sight. Case colored frame with 40-60% case colors going slightly gray. Stock is very good plus to near fine with just minor imperfections and a couple miniscule losses. Bore is bright with strong rifling, .40-70 cal Sharps straight cal. Note: James Irvine purchased his first property (Rancho Santiago) in Orange County from J. W. Wolfskill and this began the Irvine Ranch.

A very fine Slotterbeck - Los Angeles Sharps, of which few are known, but all the more important having association to the pioneering Wolfskill family. Est. $7500-15,000