Model 1863 Sharps Rifle U.S. Military Issue Breechloader
Model 1863 Sharps Rifle U.S. Military Issue Breechloader - Inventory Number: RIF 254
A classic example of the Model 1863 Sharps Rifle, one of the most iconic and effective single-shot breechloading rifles used during the American Civil War. Manufactured by the Sharps Rifle Manufacturing Company of Hartford, Connecticut, this robust and accurate firearm was prized by Union infantry and sharpshooter units for its reliability and advanced design.
Chambered in .52 caliber percussion, the rifle features a 30-inch round barrel and a falling block action, operated by a lever integrated into the trigger guard. This model also includes the Sharps pellet primer system built into the lockplate, an innovation designed to automatically feed percussion caps—though often disabled in the field.
The barrel is marked with the Sharps address and patent dates, while the lockplate typically bears the “C. Sharps’ Patent 1852” and “R.S. Lawrence Patent 1859” markings. The walnut stock and forearm are solid and well-fitted, often showing government inspection cartouches on the left wrist and barrel proof marks at the breech.
Issued in large numbers to Berdan’s Sharpshooters, U.S. cavalry regiments, and other elite units, the Model 1863 Sharps Rifle was a favored arm due to its accuracy, quick reloading capability, and dependable performance under combat conditions.
An essential piece for any collection of Civil War long arms, the Model 1863 Sharps Rifle stands as a landmark in the evolution of U.S. military firearms.
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