.50-70. 35.5" barrel. SN: C,31657. Bright barrel and furniture, color casehardened receiver, walnut stock and forend with two solid spring retained bands. Single shot breechloading military rifle with M1868 pattern rear sight, combination musket style front sight and socket bayonet lug, sling swivels and a jag head cleaning rod. Repurposed Civil War era Sharps lock altered to cartridge, a direct predecessor to the M1874 Sharps action. Standard Civil War era percussion lock and receiver markings. Springfield produced barrel numbered 31657 to match the receiver. Script ESA cartouche at reverse wrist. About 700 of these cartridge altered Sharps rifles were assembled at Springfield Arsenal circa 1870 and were issued in limited quantities for field trials. A scarce Indian Wars period experimental and trials rifle. {ANTIQUE}