.45-70. 30" octagonal barrel. SN: 98266. Browned and color casehardened finish, iron furniture, smooth straight-gripped walnut stock with smooth semi-splinter forend without cap. An EC Meecham style conversion of a Civil War era New Model 1863 percussion carbine that was delivered to the US Government in December of 1864. Rifle with modified percussion lock marked "C SHARPS' PATENT/OCT 5th 1852", barrel marked "SHARPS RIFLE CO BRIDGEPORT. CONN." forward of the rear sight and with the boxed "OLD RELIABLE" trademark. Equipped with double-set triggers, folding ladder carbine style rear sight and dovetailed copper blade front sight with steel base. Original carbine buttstock with sling bar plate cutout filled. Rifle is accompanied by a "factory letter" from Dr. Richard Lebowski documenting the original Civil War delivery of carbine #98266 and further discussing the fact that the Meacham company of St. Louis referred to this modified cartridge rifle as "Black Hills Rifles" and offered them for sale into the 1890s.