Sharps Model 1853 Slant Breech Saddle Ring Carbine

American Civil War

.52 caliber, 21.5" barrel, S/N 16067. Browned barrel, color casehardened receiver, brass furniture, walnut buttstock and forend. Single shot percussion breechloading slant breech carbine with Lawrence patent pellet priming system, M1853 ladder rear sight, tall brass front sight blade and 9" long saddle bar with ring opposite lock. Matching serial numbers on receiver tang and under barrel, forend number weak but appears to match. Standard Sharps lock marking in three-lines SHARP'S/PATENT/1852, tang marked SHARPS/PATENT/1848 and with serial number, barrel marked SHARPS RIFLE/MANUFG CO/HARTFORD, CONN. This pattern of carbines was sold to both the US military and to the radical abolitionist John Brown, with Brown acquiring as many as 900 of the guns. The result was the collector moniker of "John Brown Sharps" for this model. Only about 400 of the 900 guns acquired by Brown have documented serial numbers, with the two closest to this gun being #15817 and #16461. A search of the Springfield Research Service serial number books did not find this gun, but #16062, only 5 numbers away, was issued to the 22nd New York Volunteer Cavalry. {ANTIQUE}

From the Lifetime Collection of Robert G. Paulsen

This lot is located in Cincinnati.