Sharps New Model 1859 Rifle Likely From the USN "Mitchell Contract"

American Civil War

.52 Caliber. 30" round barrel secured by three rounded, solid, spring-retained bands. SN: 40267. Blued and color casehardened finish, iron furniture, walnut stock and forend. Single shot breechloading percussion rifle with Lawrence Patent pellet primer. Lock with standard Sharps' and Lawrence's patent markings, reverse breech block with Sharps' patent markings as well. Barrel marked NEW MODEL 1859 between breech and rear sight, with standard three-line address forward of the rear sight. Lawrence patent marked sight base with long ladder graduated to 800 yards, Barleycorn musket style front sight base with brass blade, saber bayonet lug under barrel with 1" guide key. No sub-inspector marks or cartouche present. Mounted with correct iron patchbox in obverse stock. Retains both sling swivels. This rifle falls in the serial number range of the "Mitchell Contract" New Model 1859 Rifles (nominally 39,XXX-4,1XXX) that were acquired for the US Navy during June-July of 1861. These Navy acquired rifles were not regularly marked with any inspection or ownership stamps. A very nice Civil War era Sharps New Model 1859 Rifle. {ANTIQUE}

From the Lifetime Collection of Robert G. Paulsen

This lot is located in Cincinnati.

Fine. Bore fine and bright with crisp rifling. Barrel with some thinning blue, mixing with a plum brown patina. Receiver with a plum patina, lock and patchbox with some nice dulling mottled case colors. Markings remain clear and legible. Mechanically functional action, with the pellet primer appearing to function correctly, although the feed arm does not appear to be full length. Wood relatively crisp with some scattered bumps, dings and mars.

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October 17, 20, 21, or by appointment. Please contact the Auction Specialist for details.

Mr. Tim Carey

Associate Vice President, Head of Department, Arms, Armor and Militaria

[email protected]513.666.4984

Mr. Carey joined Cowan’s, a Freeman's company, in 2021 and is a 40-year veteran of the sporting arms and outdoor recreation industry. Carey joined Cowan’s from Griffin & Howe at Hudson Farms in Andover, N.J., where he was responsible for the acquisition, appraisal, and consignment of top-tier firearms consignments from important makers such as James Purdey & Sons of London, Beretta, Caesar Guerini, B. Rizzini, Bertuzzi, Renato Telo, and Anderson Wheeler.

Mr. Tim Prince

Senior Consulting Specialist, Arms, Armor & Militaria

[email protected]312 280 1212

Tim Prince has more than 30-years of experience in the field of antique and collectible arms and is a nationally recognized expert in the area of Civil War small arms. A long-time researcher and author, Tim has been a contributing author to two major books about Civil War firearms, including The English Connection: Arms, Material and Support Furnished to the Confederate States of America by Great Britain (2014) and Confederate Shotguns and Southern Agent Marked Shotguns (2017). He was also a major contributor to the recently updated Blue Book of Antique American Firearms & Values – 2nd Edition (2019) as well as the 2010 updates to the Civil War Collector's Price Guide - 12th edition. Over the last decade Tim has authored more than 50 articles on 19th century collectible and military arms, which have been published in such varied publications as Civil War News, North-South Trader, and Military Antique Collector. Since 2016 has appeared as a featured appraiser in the field of Arms & Militaria on the popular PBS television series Antiques Roadshow. He is a member of the American Society of Arms Collectors and currently serves on the board of directors of that organization. He is also a member of and formerly served on the board of directors of the Society of American Bayonet Collectors. Tim is a life member of the Ohio Valley Military Society, the Tennessee Military Collectors Association, the Alabama Military Collectors Association, is a member of the Company of Military Historians and is a member of numerous other colleting groups and societies. He is the owner of College Hill Arsenal, a web based antique and collectible arms retail web site, specializing in the American Civil War and related military items. Tim has engaged in the business of buying, selling, researching, and appraising antique and collectible arms and associated military items for some three decades. Since 2016 he has also served as a senior Consulting Specialist in the field of Arms, Armor & Militaria for Cowan’s Auctions, a Freeman's Company.

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Sharps New Model 1859 Rifle Likely From the USN "Mitchell Contract"

American Civil War

From the Lifetime Collection of Robert G. Paulsen

This lot is located in Cincinnati.

Please email [email protected] for any additional information or questions you may have regarding this lot.

Arms, Armor and Militaria

Sharps New Model 1859 Rifle Likely From the USN "Mitchell Contract"

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