[mikiec]

I found a Sharps rifle that I think is an 1863 version.

http://i210.photobucket.com/albums/bb222/mikiec66/Misc/DSCN0266.jpg

It is stamped with the following:

R.S. lawrence PAT. april 12, 1859

Sharps PAT. October 5, 1852

Serial number is 732XXX

Any info about this rifle?

Mike

[Jim Watson]

Sure looks like it.
Is it still percussion or has it been converted to cartridge?

[mikiec]

It's been converted.

Mike

[Jim K]

Whoa, that serial number is way too high for an original Sharps carbine. Sure it isn't a repro?

Jim

[mikiec]

I have no idea. That's why I'm asking. This rifle belongs to my Boss (72 yrs old) and it was his Grandfathers.

Mike

[mikiec]

I just re-checked the S/N it is 73269

[mikiec]

Here is the history of this rifle to date.

It belongs to my 72 year old boss. The gun was his grandfathers, probably handed down from his father. It will be going into a museum recreation of his great grandfathers 1881 office. The history of the gun has been lost and I would like to know the date of manufacture. That way I may be able to trace it's history.

It is a 1863 Sharps Carbine converted to metallic cartridge. S/N 73269

Mike

[ultradoc]

that's cool. good luck with your search.

[Jim Watson]

I found on the Shiloh board that:
"Sellers list the New Model 1863 Carbine as having numbers 71,235 through 99,999 and thereafter starting with # C,1 through C, 49528, period of production 1863 to 1865."
Which would make yours an early one, probably 1863.

After the War, a lot were converted to .50-70 like yours, starting in 1867 or 1868.
If the barrel diameter was small enough, it was left as was with the 6-groove Sharps rifling, if it was oversize it was lined with the three groove Springfield pattern rifling.
Which is yours? Uh, his?

You could get some more discussion on the Shiloh board.
http://shilohrifle.com/forums/

The Sellers book is available from Shiloh. Not cheap but it is the main reference on Sharps.
http://www.shilohrifle.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=24&products_id=56

[mikiec]

Additional Pics: I hope this helps.

http://i210.photobucket.com/albums/bb222/mikiec66/sharps/barrel.jpg

http://i210.photobucket.com/albums/bb222/mikiec66/sharps/breech.jpg

http://i210.photobucket.com/albums/bb222/mikiec66/sharps/chamber.jpg

http://i210.photobucket.com/albums/bb222/mikiec66/sharps/cocked.jpg

http://i210.photobucket.com/albums/bb222/mikiec66/sharps/hammer.jpg

http://i210.photobucket.com/albums/bb222/mikiec66/sharps/sight.jpg

http://i210.photobucket.com/albums/bb222/mikiec66/sharps/top.jpg

[Jim Watson]

Looks like a three groove reline to take the .515" .50-70 bullet.
They left anything up to .525" with the original barrel which was pretty sloppy. A friend of mine has one of those and it is about a "minute of Injun" rifle.