SHARPS, CHRISTIAN

.25 cal., 3 in. octagonal tip-up barrel with rib, 6 shot. Mfg. circa 1850s in Philadelphia, approx. 2000 produced.

also marked Sharps and Hankins, breech-loading, .22, .30, or .32 rimfire cal., rotating firing pin, brass frame with silver plating or case hardening on iron frame.

5 variations, 2 1/2 in. barrel. Scarcer variations can be worth up to 150% more.

5 variations, 3 in. barrel. Scarcer variations can be worth up to 150% more.

Sharps and Hankins markings, .32 rimfire short, 4 variations, 3 1/2 in. barrel. Premium for scarcer variations.

4 variations, 2 1/2, 3, or 3 1/2 in. barrel, bird's head grip, .32 rimfire long. Premium for scarcer variations.

5 in. round barrel, dropping block, lever action single shot percussion, patent 1848 style carbine action of reduced size, all iron mountings, walnut grips. Made mid-1850s in Philadelphia, about 850 total of two types produced.

.31-.34 cal., "SHARPS PATENT/ARMS MFrd FAIRMOUNT/PHILA. PA" stamped within an oval panel on left side of frame, serial numbered from 1 to approx. 500.

.36 cal., 6 1/2 in. round barrel, "C. SHARPS & CO./PHILA.PA." or "C. SHARPS & CO'S RIFLE WORKS/PHILA. PA." stamped on right frame, "C. SHARPS/PATENT/1848" stamped on left side of frame. Approx. 350 mfg., serial numbers between 470-950.

.31 and .38 cal., lever action single shot percussion, using the single shot pistol action with the additions of a longer barrel and a rifle pistol grip buttstock, various barrel lengths with 28 in. being most common, early rifles have German silver buttplate, forend cap and escutcheon plates on forend which is held on by a wedge, standard production uses iron mountings, dropping block. Made mid-1850s in Philadelphia. About 650 total of two types produced.

pistol action, ramrod mounted under barrel, German silver mountings, "C. SHARPS PATENT 1848-52" marked on left side of frame. Approx. 50 mfg.

standard model, iron mountings, no ramrod, "C. SHARPS & CO. PHILADA. PA" marked on left side of frame. Approx. 600 made.

.36 or .44 cal., percussion breech loader, 30 in. barrels and brass patchboxes were standard, very few examples exist, less than 100 mfg, serial numbered. These are the first of all Sharps long guns, there is no fixed value range.

.36 or .44 cal., incorporated the Maynard tape primer on right side of breech, features similar to Model 1849, approx. 150 mfg. by A.S. Nippes, very rare.

.52 cal. percussion, 21 5/8 barrel, hammer mounted inside frame, Maynard tape primer. Approx. 1,800 mfg. by Robbins and Lawrence, 200 went to U.S. Government - these will bring a premium.

this design became standard for all the Sharps for the next two decades, first to be called "slant breech," established Christian Sharps as a major gun manufacturer. Approx. 5,000 mfg. by Robbins and Lawrence, U.S. military markings will command a premium.

.52 cal., very similar to Model 1852, with walnut stock and brass patchbox, Sharps patented pellet primer feed, ser. no. range 9000-19000.

.52 cal., U.S. military model, all with Maynard tape primer, this was the period during which Robbins and Lawrence failed, and Sharps Rifle Co. took over production. 800 mfg.

standard with all-iron furniture and patchbox, first 3,000 had brass instead of iron, ser. no. range 30000-75000. Approx. 33,000 mfg.

made with and w/o iron patchbox, ser. no. range 75,000-140,000. Approx. 65,000 mfg. - those with patchbox will bring a premium.

made w/o patchbox, ser. no. range 140000-145000. Only 5,000 mfg.

iron patchbox only, long forearm fastened with three barrel bands, approx. 4,300 mfg. in carbine ser. range with lug on barrel for attachment of saber bayonet. Approx. 600 were mfg. with 36 in. long barrel - these will command a premium.

experimental variation buttstock with a grinding device and detachable handle that was fitted to several Model 1859 & 1863 Carbines. Designed to provide a quick and easy method for cavalry troops in the field to process coffee beans or corn for meals. Field trials are believed to have been in Trenton, NJ circa 1863. Very few originals known - no official records indicating government acceptance. Original condition carbines are extremely rare and values could range from $15,000-$65,000.

adapted for socket bayonet, shared ser. range with carbine. Approx. 6,000 mfg.

only 1,000 mfg. in carbine ser. range.

most had relined three groove barrels, approx. 31,000 remodeled. Those found with original six groove barrels will command a slight premium, as will those Model 1859s & Model 1863s with original patchbox buttstocks.

all had three groove relined barrels, approx. 1,000 converted in 1867. More rare, but do not command any higher prices than their carbine counterparts.

approx. 1,000 rifles and 300 carbines altered by Springfield Armory to fire .50/70 metallic cartridge, in addition to those done by Sharps Co., rifle barrels 35 1/2 in., carbine barrels 22 in., receivers color case hardened, all other metal parts bright finish, own ser. range, and numbered on receiver tang and left side of barrel.

mfg. in several configurations and a variety of calibers, designed to fire metallic cartridges and was not a conversion from percussion parts, made famous for its deadly accuracy at long distances and became known as the "Buffalo Rifle" of its day. Mfg. in Hartford, CT circa 1874-76, and in Bridgeport, CT circa 1881.

.40, .44, .45, or .50 cal., variety of barrel lengths and weights, many special order features. Approx. 6,500 mfg.

no frills version of the 1874 Sporting, with shorter, round barrel and open sights.

.45/70 or .50/70 cal., long forearm and three barrel bands. Approx. 1,700 mfg.

most in .50/70 cal., very similar to previous Sharps carbines. Less than 500 mfg.

most in .45/70 cal., very similar to Business Rifle, with both round and octagon barrels, mfg. from Civil War Sharps carbine actions and surplus, as well as new parts by several commercial firms in the 1880s after Sharps Rifle Co. closed. Sharps Co. assembled several hundred of these from 1879-1881 from existing parts on hand.

many cals. and barrel lengths, single trigger, hammerless action designed by Hugo Borchardt, carbines, military, sporting, and target rifles were all mfg., but sales suffered from a bolt and lever action market glut. Less than 9,000 mfg. by Sharps Rifle Co. in Bridgeport, CT circa 1878-1881.

material for 1,300 rifles was purchased in 1879 but little work was done on the U.S. Navy order for 300 rifles before Sharps ceased operations Oct. 18, 1880. Only a few hand-made tool room models for demonstration purposes were completed.