.52 caliber. 34.75" octagonal barrel secured by a single key. SN: 10706. Blued and color casehardened finish, brass furniture, smooth straight-gripped walnut stock and forend with pewter tip. Tang marked in three lines "SHARPS'/PATENT/1848" and with serial number. Barrel unmarked except for the name "DAVID RIDENOUR" stamped in it, about where the markings would be found on a factory Sharps' barrel. Double set triggers, fixed buckhorn rear sight and dovetailed Rocky Mountain German silver front sight blade with steel base. Research provided by some noted Sharps' specialists suggests that David Ridenour was a LaCrosse, WI gunsmith working circa 1890s and the replacement heavy barrel and forend are his work. No readily available published reference lists the name as a gunsmith or hunter. Further research may prove fruitful.