MODEL 1852 CARBINE Description
.36, .44, or .52 cal., Sharps pellet primer, falling block, slant breech, breech loading single shot, 18 or 21 1/2 in. bright or brown finished round barrels, squirrel ear or folding leaf rear and dove tail mounted brass blade front sights, single or double set triggers, blue, brown, case colored, plated or white finish, walnut stock and forearm with brass or iron patchbox, buttplate, and forearm tip, saddle ring bar mounted on the left side from receiver to barrel band, marked on the barrel "ROBBINS &/LAWRENCE" or "SHARPS' RIFLE/MANUFG. CO./HARTFORD, CONN." or "SHARP'S RIFLE/MANUFG. CO./HARTFORD, CONN.", on the tang "C. SHARPS/PATENT/1848", and on the lockplate "C. SHARPS'/PATENT/1852" or "SHARPS'/PATENT/1852". Approx. 4,997 mfg. in the 2041-7500 serial number range circa 1853-1855. RF=2.
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.