Sharps New Model 1863 Cavalry Carbine

American Civil War

.52 caliber. 20" round barrel secured by a single spring-retained barrel band. SN: C,4233. Blued and color casehardened finish, iron furniture, walnut stock and smooth walnut forend. Single shot percussion falling block breechloading carbine with military ladder rear sight, German silver front sight blade in iron base and sling bar and ring opposite lock. Lock marked in two lines behind the hammer SHARPS' PAT./OCT 5th 1852. Lock additionally marked at the top behind the primer mechanism RS LAWRENCE PAT/APRIL 12th 1859. Reverse of breechblock marked C SHARPS' PAT/SEPT 12th, 1849. Barrel marked NEW MODEL 1863 between the rear sight and the breech, and SHARPS RIFLE/MANUFG CO/HARTFORD CONN forward of the rear sight in three lines. Reverse of butt with two script cartouches, the TWR of Thomas Russell and the SW of Sam Williams. This gun was not listed by serial number in the Springfield Research Service serial number books. The location of the cartouches on the butt stock are consistent with those found on post-Civil War cartridge conversions of Sharps carbines, but typically that is a DFC in a ribbon. Since Russell in particular was both an inspector of contract arms during the Civil War and an in house inspector at Springfield following the war, it is not clear if the stock is a replacement from a cartridge altered carbine or not. {ANTIQUE}

This lot is located in Cincinnati.