This shoulder arm is a Civil War Model 1859 Sharps carbine made by the Sharps Rifle Manufacturing Company of Hartford, Connecticut circa 1859 to 1862. Carbine is a straight-breech, .52 caliber percussion, single shot breechloader fitted with BRASS furniture, and is one of 3,000 such units produced by the Connecticut firm. It is known that the state of Georgia bought 1600 of these Sharps with another 400 going to the commercial market. Some are known to have been issued to Georgia units during the Civil War.

Carbine is serial # 33278. The number is located on top of the breech tang. The shortarm measures 39” long overall and features a 22” long round barrel mated to a two-piece black walnut stock that features a brass patchbox and brass buttplate.

Barrel shows a mixed patina of dark and light gray with moderate to heavy pitting overall. Barrel faintly stamped with “NEW MODEL 1859” in front of the breech behind the folding rear sight. Maker’s three-line address is forward of rear sight and is visible but hard to read due to pitting. Bore is dark and pitted. Rifling is good.

Forend stock is tightly secured to the barrel with one brass band.  Entire stock appears dark and untouched. Wood surface displays scattered light dents and scratches. There are two closed cracks that are very minor. One starts at the end of the breech tang and runs diagonally approx. 0.75 of an inch. The second is located on the bottom of the forend and starts where it meets the breech. This closed crack is approx. 2.00 inches in length. Also visible under the saddle bar is the outline of a very faint cartouche.

Lockplate and breech have good, clear maker and patent stampings. Breech and lock have dark surfaces with scattered moderate pinprick pitting. Triggerguard is iron and matches the rest of the metal surfaces. Original nipple is present but worn from use. Area around nipple is heavily pitted. Screws show light wear. Mechanics are crisp. Brass has been lightly cleaned.

This is a classic, hard-to-find, brass mounted M1859 Sharps carbine in good used condition.

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