#229 • The Most Documented and Historic Sharps Buffalo Rifle Owned by Buffalo Hunter Frederick "Doc" Zahl

Part of The Ray Howser Firearms Collection, 1931-2026 (timed auction by Lewis & Grant Auctions)

Starting at $1,500.00

Status: Available

Live bidding starts Nov 20, 2026 10:00 AM EST

.50 caliber, 30" octagonal barrel length, S/N C53888. This classic Buffalo Sharps measures 1.100" across the barrel flat and decorated with a "Hartford Collar”, double set triggers, open sights and oil-finished stocks. Forearm with double screws and pewter forend cap. Single line Sharps address on the top of the barrel and the left side of the frame. The barrel has a different number and was a replacement shipped to the same location.  All metal has a nice even look with brown patina and some staining.  The stock and forearm are nicely weathered from the demanding use in hunting buffalo in the American West. This rifle has a factory letter from Dr. R. L. Moore Junior stated that the rifle was shipped to Sharps dealer J.C. Lindley of Hayes City, Kansas on June 10, 1872 and confirmed the current configuration. The weight was not stated but the rifle currently weighs 12 lbs. The extra barrel is listed as blank in the factory records as it was a factory extra barrel to be changed in the field as needed. The Frontier Saga of "Doc" Fredrick Rudolph Zahl "Doc" Fredrick Rudolph Zahl was one of the quintessential figures in the American West, living a life from a Taylor Sheridan script. From a German immigrant to a record-breaking buffalo hunter, frontier lawman, and wealthy rancher, Zahl was at the center of the Western sagas, an eyewitness to the murder of Wild Bill Hickok. From Germany to the Black Hills (1871–1876) Born in Bearnhagen, Germany, Zahl immigrated to the United States on June 24, 1871. He initially settled in Morris, Minnesota. In 1876, Zahl joined a group of westward-bound pioneers traveling deep into the Black Hills, where Zahl quickly learned the rigors of buffalo hunting. On August 2, 1876 Zahl was in the saloon in Deadwood, Dakota Territory together with his trusted Sharps rifle when Jack McCall murdered James Butler “Wild Bill” Hickok.  The Legendary Buffalo Hunter (1877) Zahl quickly developed an elite reputation for his tracking skills and marksmanship. In the summer of 1877, the U.S. Army employed him for the somber task of reburying the fallen soldiers from the Battle of the Little Bighorn. As autumn approached, he returned to the plains between Fort Sully and the Black Hills to hunt. Zahl's hunting exploits became legendary: The 5,000 Season: Zahl once noted that the plains were so thick with bison that his hunting party took down over 5,000 buffalo in a single season.The One-Hour Record: In a stunning display of sharpshooting, historical records note that Zahl once killed 120 buffalo in just one hour from a single position (a "stand"). Skirmishes, Vigilantes, and Saloon Shootouts (1882–1884) During the summer of 1882, Doc and his brother, Frank, ran a ferry service at the junction of the Musselshell and Missouri rivers. Frontier life was dangerous, and Zahl frequently found himself in the line of fire: The Helena Newspaper Account: On October 6, 1882, a newspaper report detailed that a Native American raiding party had stolen Zahl's livestock. Zahl pursued them, overtook one of the raiders, and later dryly noted in an interview that the man had "gone home to sin no more." Zahl spent the following months recovering from a bullet wound to his hip .Stuart's Stranglers: Seeking to establish order on a lawless frontier, Zahl joined "Stuart's Stranglers," a fierce vigilante group operating across the Montana and Dakota territories under the leadership of Granville Stuart.The Stoneville Shootout (1884): Now a Deputy Sheriff , Zahl, along with Marshal Joe Ryan and Johnny Edwards, was tasked with transporting Jesse Pruden—a member of the notorious Axelby (Excelbee) rustler gang. Tipped off by Sheriff Johnson that an ambush was brewing, the lawmen intercepted the gang at a saloon in Stoneville, Montana . A fierce gunfight erupted, ultimately leaving four outlaws dead and one hanged . Hunting with Presidents and Legends Zahl’s unparalleled knowledge of the plains made him a highly sought-after guide for wealthy easterners and political elites. Over the years, he hunted alongside "Buffalo Bill" Cody and guided Theodore Roosevelt. Roosevelt grew so fond of the frontiersman that he later extended a personal invitation for Zahl to visit him at the White House. Zahl also maintained personal acquaintances with famous Native Americans of the era, including Sitting Bull and Chief Gall. The North Dakota Rancher & Civic Leader (1888–1918) As the wild frontier began to settle, Zahl transitioned into a prosperous and peaceful life. In 1888, he established what would become one of the largest cattle ranches in North Dakota. Deeply involved in building his community, Zahl served as the Treasurer of Williams County. He and his wife, Mary, also operated the local post office directly out of their ranch home. Zahl managed his successful ranching empire for thirty years until his death on February 10, 1918. Provenance: Sharps Factory to: J.C. Lindley of Hays City, Kansas to: Doc Zahl to: Martine Johnson to: Dee Dee Johnson to: Attorney Grover Johnson, California to: Ray L. Howser, Pony Express Sports Shop