New Model 1859 Sharps Carbine / SOLD

Description

Brass Mounted New Model 1859 Sharps Carbine

 

This New Model 1859 Sharps carbine has a great untouched patina to the iron, brass, and wood, and rates about very good for overall condition, with the wood grading lower from handling marks, etc., but which is natural for a carbine produced in time for use throughout the whole war. Serial numbered 30368, it falls into a group of carbines issued to souther state arswnals in December 1860 and 800 were from a diverted Egyptian contract that were eventually offered to U.S. Ordnance in April 1861, but ended up in Ohio hands that September.

 

Developed as a successor to the 1853 pattern, with serial numbers starting about 30,000, the Model 1859 morphed into the New Model 1859 with some internal changes about #32000. Improvements over the Model 1853 included a straight breech and the use of a longer chamber intended to take a combustible cartridge rather than a paper cartridge needing to have its end sheared off by the breech block, as well as a shorter sling ring bar for the 1841 pattern sling. This one also correctly has the base for a sling swivel at the toe for alternative use of the 1859 pattern sling that would buckle around the barrel to enable the trooper to carry it across his back. This was specified for the New Model 1859 and continued to about number 43,000. This carbine also uses brass furniture, barrel band, patchbox and buttplate, which ceased to be used after number 36000 or so.

 

The carbine is the standard configuration with 22-inch .52 caliber barrel. Both sights are in place and complete. The barrel is roll stamped “SHARPS RIFLE/MANUFG. CO./HARTFORD CONN.” in three lines between the barrel band and rear sight with a little rubbing to the second line. The rear sight is the New Model 1859 carbine leaf sight graduated to 700 yards for the elevator with squared opening and 800 yard notch at top. The leaf shows some blue. The base is gray and clearly stamped with the Lawrence patent markings: “R.S. LAWRENCE / PATENTED / FEB 15th 1859.” Just to the rear of that is the barrel stamp, “NEW MODEL 1859.” The metal is generally smooth and plum brown, with just some roughness on the top of the breechblock from the act of firing.

 

The receiver is very good, with smooth metal, crisp markings, and some thin, smokey blues from faded case colors. The left side is stamped “C. SHARPS’ PAT./SEPT. 12th 1848.” The right side reads, “C. SHARPS’ PAT./OCT. 5th 1852” in two lines on the lock plate and “R.S. LAWRENCE’ PAT/APRIL 12th 1859” behind the hammer. The loading channel is smooth metal. The hammer shows some caramel. The serial number is sharp on the receiver tang, which shows some thin blue and gray, with only sone very small dings. The patch box and buttplate have nice medium tones matching the barrel band. Action works well; bore is very good with just a small amount of dirt present.

 

The wood has a tight fit to the metal but does show its history of active use in numerous small dings, and wear to the forestock from being placed in a carbine thimble, etc. The wood is solid and stable. The wood has good, untouched color.

 

This has a great, untouched out-of-the-attic look that should not be messed with.

 

From the collection of renowned artist, Don Troiani, the stock has some light traces of paint from being adjacent to the easel while being used for his artwork!

 

Inventory Number: RIF 283