May 21, 2013 - A civil war New Model 1859 Sharps Rifle. The serial number places the mfg. Of this gun in approx. Most were used by the union soldiers although the Confederate army did have some. Soldiers could fire up to 10 rounds per minute with the Sharps while the vast majority of Confederate soldiers could only fire up to 3 rounds per minute with muzzleloading rifles and muskets. May 08, 2019 As manufactured by Sharps Rifle Manufacturing Co., Hartford, Connecticut, serial numbers for the 'New Model 1863' generally run 75,000 to 140,000, some overlap with other models. The Model 1863, reflected only minor improvements over the Model 1859, mostly elimination of the patchbox.
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1859 Sharps Rifle Serial Numbers
1859 Sharps Carbine Serial Numbers
This 'slant breech' specimen is attributed to use by John Brownin his 1859 raid on the U.S. Armory at Harpers Ferry, Virginia. Itis one of 75 whose serial numbers are listed in the CONGRESSIONALRECORD for 1859 as a result of its association with that event.Over 900 of these 'Beecher's Bibles', named for abolitionistpreacher Henry Ward Beecher, were purchased by New Englandabolitionists and shipped in crates marked BIBLES for the purposeof arming Free Soil settlers in Kansas during the 1850s. John Brownwas one of many anti-slavery settlers who fought againstpro-slavery 'Border Ruffians' in Kansas prior to the Civil War, andsome of these guns found their way with Brown to HarpersFerry.
Sharps carbines were manufactured with identical serial numbers onboth the tang and on the underside of the barrel beneath the foreend. The tang serial number of this specimen has been removed,quite likely in an attempt to cover its role in Brown's abortiveraid. However, the barrel serial number remains and is visible withthe fore end removed, substantiating the role of this gun in awatershed event in U.S. history.
Christian Sharps (1811-1874) was the originator of a line ofsturdy, practical, and popular military and sporting rifles andhandguns that were associated with several events that shapedAmerican history in 19th century, including armed conflict inKansas during the 1850s, the Civil War, the era of the Plainsbuffalo hunter, and the rise of modern long-range competitionshooting during the 1870s. Sharps worked at John Hall's Rifle Worksin Harpers Ferry, Virginia, where he learned the principles of armsmanufacturing. His first breechloading rifle design was patented in1848, and the toggle-linking trigger guard and vertically operatingsliding wedge breechblock of later Sharps rifles and carbines datefrom that patent. These features are still with us today, and haveseen use in both rifle and artillery breech mechanisms. The springlever-toggle-breech mechanism of the Borchardt-Luger semi-automaticpistol also had its roots in Christian Sharps' lever-linkedbreech.
In 1850, Sharps moved to Mill Creek, Pennsylvania, nearPhiladelphia, and contracted with the firm of A. S. Nippes tomanufacture two of his sporting rifle designs, which became knownas the Model 1849 and Model 1850. Faced with difficulty inobtaining financing for further ventures, Sharps left thePhiladelphia area in 1851 and relocated to Hartford, Connecticut,where he formed the Sharps Rifle Manufacturing Company. Lackingproduction facilities, he contracted with the Windsor, Vermont firmof Robbins & Lawrence to manufacture his new breechloader. Thisventure continued until 1855.
Among the Sharps-designed firearms manufactured under thisassociation were the Model 1851 'Box Lock' Carbine, which featuredthe Maynard tape primer system, and the Model 1852 and Model 1853'Slanting Breech' Carbines, which were equipped with theSharps-patented pellet primer system as an integral part of itsbreech mechanism. Model 1853 Carbines were nicknamed 'Beecher'sBibles,' after noted New York clergyman and abolitionist Henry WardBeecher. Approximately 900 of these arms were shipped in heavycrates marked BIBLES for use by anti-slavery 'Free Soil' settlerswho were fighting against pro-slavery forces in 'Bleeding Kansas'during the 1850s. One of the most famous Free Soilers was JohnBrown, who later used 300 Model 1853 Carbines in his ill-fatedattempt to capture the U.S. Armory at Harpers Ferry, Virginia in1859.
Christian Sharps served as technical advisor to the Sharps RifleManufacturing Company, receiving royalties on the manufacture oftheir firearms. His relationship with the company was a rocky one,and in 1853, Sharps severed all connections with the firm. There isno evidence that he ever had any further association with thecompany that continued to bear his name.
In 1855, the Sharps company introduced the Model 1855 Carbine.These arms retained the slanting breech and buttstock patch boxesof earlier models, but featured the Maynard tape primer system.Approximately 800 .54 caliber carbines were manufactured for theU.S. government, and an additional 6,000 Model 1855s in .577caliber were purchased by Great Britain. While these carbines werein production, both Robbins & Lawrence and Sharps sufferedserious financial losses. The latter corporation went bankrupt, andtheir operations were taken over by Sharps and moved to Hartford.The Sharps New Model 1859, introduced in that year, was availableas a carbine, and in round-barrel military rifle oroctagonal-barrel sporting rifle versions. Its straight-breechdesign is credited to Richard S. Lawrence, formerly of Robbins& Lawrence, who had become the superintendent of the SharpsRifle Company.
This design, in conjunction with a breechblock-mounted platecapable of slight rearward movement when under pressure, created amoderately effective gas seal. New Model 1859 arms also employed animproved version of the Sharps pellet primer system which allowedthe pellet feed mechanism to be disengaged. Ordinary percussioncaps could then be used, with the supply of pellet primers held inreserve. Like earlier Sharps designs, the Model 1859 fired a glazedlinen combustible .52 caliber cartridge. When closed, thebreechblock sheared off the rear of the cartridge, exposing thepropellant.
During the Civil War, the Federal government bought over 80,000Sharps carbines and nearly 10,000 Sharps Rifles. These arms werehighly regarded by the troops who used them. Sharps Carbines foundfavor with Federal cavalry troopers, and New Model 1859 Rifles wereused with great success by famous infantry units such as ColonelHiram Berdan's U.S. Sharp Shooters, perhaps the first specialtytroops in the history of modern warfare, as well as the 5th NewYork (Duryea's Zouaves) and the 13th Pennsylvania Reserves(Bucktails). Even the Confederate government recognized thesuperiority of the New Model 1859 Carbine, contracting with theRichmond firm of S.C. Robinson for the production of 5,000 copies.The New Model 1859 was followed by the New Model 1863 and New Model1865 Carbines and Rifles. These were nearly identical to the NewModel 1859, differing primarily in barrel stampings, the omissionof buttstock patchboxes, and in the design or absence of bayonetlugs. Many versions of all three arms were later converted for usewith .50-70 and .52-70 caliber metallic cartridge ammunition in theyears following the Civil War. The New Model 1869 Carbine andRifle, available in .44-77, .50-70, and .60 calibers, were thefirst Sharps arms designed for use with metallic cartridges.
In 1874, the firm was reorganized as the Sharps Rifle Co., withoperations remaining in Hartford. In 1876, manufacturing was movedto Bridgeport, Connecticut, where it remained until 1881. Thisperiod saw the manufacture of some of the more notable of Sharpslongarms, beginning with introduction of the Model 1874 Rifle.Nicknamed 'Old Reliable,' this arm, available in a variety ofcalibers, barrel lengths, sights, and other features, became afavorite with both Plains buffalo hunters and competition shooters.Many Fancy-Grade models featured engraving which ranged from simplescrollwork to elaborate hunting or western scenes on theirsurfaces. The Sharps Model 1877 shared in the popularity of itspredecessor. These deluxe-grade heavy-barreled .45 caliber rifleswere designed specifically for Creedmoor and other long-rangetarget shooters. Only 100 of these were produced, and they are assought-after today by collectors as they were by competitors at thetime of their introduction.
The last rifle to be produced by the Sharps Rifle Company was theModel 1878 Sharps-Borchardt Rifle. This arm was developed by HugoBorchardt, who later became famous for his automatic pistoldesigns. These rifles, with their flat-sided frame and hammerlessappearance, differ notably from earlier Sharps designs. Like theModel 1874, the Sharps-Borchardt was available in a variety ofstocks, barrel lengths and weights, sights, calibers, and otherfeatures, including deluxe grade models. These popular rifles wereproduced until 1881, when the Sharps Rifle Company went bankruptand ceased operations.
Although his association with the Sharps Rifle ManufacturingCompany ended in 1853, Christian Sharps continued to work as adesigner and manufacturer of firearms. He returned to Philadelphiaand formed C. Sharps & Co., a manufacturer of percussionrevolvers, breechloading single-shot pistols and pistol-rifles, andfour-shot pepperbox pistols. In 1862, Sharps entered into apartnership with William Hankins. Their new company, known asSharps & Hankins, continued to produce pepperbox pistols, aswell as the single-shot .52 caliber Model 1861 Navy Rifle and theModel 1862 Carbine, both of which featured sliding breech actions.The partnership was dissolved in 1866, and Sharps reverted to theC. Sharps & Co. name. This firm ceased operations in 1874 withthe death of Christian Sharps on March 12 of that year.
Sharps carbines were manufactured with identical serial numbers onboth the tang and on the underside of the barrel beneath the foreend. The tang serial number of this specimen has been removed,quite likely in an attempt to cover its role in Brown's abortiveraid. However, the barrel serial number remains and is visible withthe fore end removed, substantiating the role of this gun in awatershed event in U.S. history.
Christian Sharps (1811-1874) was the originator of a line ofsturdy, practical, and popular military and sporting rifles andhandguns that were associated with several events that shapedAmerican history in 19th century, including armed conflict inKansas during the 1850s, the Civil War, the era of the Plainsbuffalo hunter, and the rise of modern long-range competitionshooting during the 1870s. Sharps worked at John Hall's Rifle Worksin Harpers Ferry, Virginia, where he learned the principles of armsmanufacturing. His first breechloading rifle design was patented in1848, and the toggle-linking trigger guard and vertically operatingsliding wedge breechblock of later Sharps rifles and carbines datefrom that patent. These features are still with us today, and haveseen use in both rifle and artillery breech mechanisms. The springlever-toggle-breech mechanism of the Borchardt-Luger semi-automaticpistol also had its roots in Christian Sharps' lever-linkedbreech.
In 1850, Sharps moved to Mill Creek, Pennsylvania, nearPhiladelphia, and contracted with the firm of A. S. Nippes tomanufacture two of his sporting rifle designs, which became knownas the Model 1849 and Model 1850. Faced with difficulty inobtaining financing for further ventures, Sharps left thePhiladelphia area in 1851 and relocated to Hartford, Connecticut,where he formed the Sharps Rifle Manufacturing Company. Lackingproduction facilities, he contracted with the Windsor, Vermont firmof Robbins & Lawrence to manufacture his new breechloader. Thisventure continued until 1855.
Among the Sharps-designed firearms manufactured under thisassociation were the Model 1851 'Box Lock' Carbine, which featuredthe Maynard tape primer system, and the Model 1852 and Model 1853'Slanting Breech' Carbines, which were equipped with theSharps-patented pellet primer system as an integral part of itsbreech mechanism. Model 1853 Carbines were nicknamed 'Beecher'sBibles,' after noted New York clergyman and abolitionist Henry WardBeecher. Approximately 900 of these arms were shipped in heavycrates marked BIBLES for use by anti-slavery 'Free Soil' settlerswho were fighting against pro-slavery forces in 'Bleeding Kansas'during the 1850s. One of the most famous Free Soilers was JohnBrown, who later used 300 Model 1853 Carbines in his ill-fatedattempt to capture the U.S. Armory at Harpers Ferry, Virginia in1859.
Christian Sharps served as technical advisor to the Sharps RifleManufacturing Company, receiving royalties on the manufacture oftheir firearms. His relationship with the company was a rocky one,and in 1853, Sharps severed all connections with the firm. There isno evidence that he ever had any further association with thecompany that continued to bear his name.
In 1855, the Sharps company introduced the Model 1855 Carbine.These arms retained the slanting breech and buttstock patch boxesof earlier models, but featured the Maynard tape primer system.Approximately 800 .54 caliber carbines were manufactured for theU.S. government, and an additional 6,000 Model 1855s in .577caliber were purchased by Great Britain. While these carbines werein production, both Robbins & Lawrence and Sharps sufferedserious financial losses. The latter corporation went bankrupt, andtheir operations were taken over by Sharps and moved to Hartford.The Sharps New Model 1859, introduced in that year, was availableas a carbine, and in round-barrel military rifle oroctagonal-barrel sporting rifle versions. Its straight-breechdesign is credited to Richard S. Lawrence, formerly of Robbins& Lawrence, who had become the superintendent of the SharpsRifle Company.
This design, in conjunction with a breechblock-mounted platecapable of slight rearward movement when under pressure, created amoderately effective gas seal. New Model 1859 arms also employed animproved version of the Sharps pellet primer system which allowedthe pellet feed mechanism to be disengaged. Ordinary percussioncaps could then be used, with the supply of pellet primers held inreserve. Like earlier Sharps designs, the Model 1859 fired a glazedlinen combustible .52 caliber cartridge. When closed, thebreechblock sheared off the rear of the cartridge, exposing thepropellant.
During the Civil War, the Federal government bought over 80,000Sharps carbines and nearly 10,000 Sharps Rifles. These arms werehighly regarded by the troops who used them. Sharps Carbines foundfavor with Federal cavalry troopers, and New Model 1859 Rifles wereused with great success by famous infantry units such as ColonelHiram Berdan's U.S. Sharp Shooters, perhaps the first specialtytroops in the history of modern warfare, as well as the 5th NewYork (Duryea's Zouaves) and the 13th Pennsylvania Reserves(Bucktails). Even the Confederate government recognized thesuperiority of the New Model 1859 Carbine, contracting with theRichmond firm of S.C. Robinson for the production of 5,000 copies.The New Model 1859 was followed by the New Model 1863 and New Model1865 Carbines and Rifles. These were nearly identical to the NewModel 1859, differing primarily in barrel stampings, the omissionof buttstock patchboxes, and in the design or absence of bayonetlugs. Many versions of all three arms were later converted for usewith .50-70 and .52-70 caliber metallic cartridge ammunition in theyears following the Civil War. The New Model 1869 Carbine andRifle, available in .44-77, .50-70, and .60 calibers, were thefirst Sharps arms designed for use with metallic cartridges.
In 1874, the firm was reorganized as the Sharps Rifle Co., withoperations remaining in Hartford. In 1876, manufacturing was movedto Bridgeport, Connecticut, where it remained until 1881. Thisperiod saw the manufacture of some of the more notable of Sharpslongarms, beginning with introduction of the Model 1874 Rifle.Nicknamed 'Old Reliable,' this arm, available in a variety ofcalibers, barrel lengths, sights, and other features, became afavorite with both Plains buffalo hunters and competition shooters.Many Fancy-Grade models featured engraving which ranged from simplescrollwork to elaborate hunting or western scenes on theirsurfaces. The Sharps Model 1877 shared in the popularity of itspredecessor. These deluxe-grade heavy-barreled .45 caliber rifleswere designed specifically for Creedmoor and other long-rangetarget shooters. Only 100 of these were produced, and they are assought-after today by collectors as they were by competitors at thetime of their introduction.
The last rifle to be produced by the Sharps Rifle Company was theModel 1878 Sharps-Borchardt Rifle. This arm was developed by HugoBorchardt, who later became famous for his automatic pistoldesigns. These rifles, with their flat-sided frame and hammerlessappearance, differ notably from earlier Sharps designs. Like theModel 1874, the Sharps-Borchardt was available in a variety ofstocks, barrel lengths and weights, sights, calibers, and otherfeatures, including deluxe grade models. These popular rifles wereproduced until 1881, when the Sharps Rifle Company went bankruptand ceased operations.
Although his association with the Sharps Rifle ManufacturingCompany ended in 1853, Christian Sharps continued to work as adesigner and manufacturer of firearms. He returned to Philadelphiaand formed C. Sharps & Co., a manufacturer of percussionrevolvers, breechloading single-shot pistols and pistol-rifles, andfour-shot pepperbox pistols. In 1862, Sharps entered into apartnership with William Hankins. Their new company, known asSharps & Hankins, continued to produce pepperbox pistols, aswell as the single-shot .52 caliber Model 1861 Navy Rifle and theModel 1862 Carbine, both of which featured sliding breech actions.The partnership was dissolved in 1866, and Sharps reverted to theC. Sharps & Co. name. This firm ceased operations in 1874 withthe death of Christian Sharps on March 12 of that year.