This Sharps rates Fine+ for condition. It is complete, with all original parts, over 30 percent original finish including full barrel coverage of blue turned plum, matching on the barrel band, sharp lettering and numbers, nice reddish-brown color to the wood that has sharp edges, only very minor handling marks, two visible cartouches on the left wrist, and a tight fit of wood to metal throughout. Both sights are in place on the 22-inch barrel, which is crisply marked forward of the rear sight, “SHARPS RIFLE / MANUFG. CO / HARTFORD, CONN.” and between the rear sight and breech, “NEW MODEL 1859.” The rear sight is complete, with the New Model 1859 carbine leaf graduated to 800 yards and good Lawrence patent marks on the base though the ladder shows some rubbing to gray and the base shows some shallow pitting.

The receiver and lock plate show smooth metal with bluish-gray color from faded case, some slight rubbing to the raised edges around the breechblock, some muted blue to the screws but some very vibrant blue to the cover of the pellet priming system next to the hammer. The markings are crisp: “R. S. LAWRENCE PAT. / APRIL 12^th 1859” and “C. SHARPS PAT. / OCT. 5^th 1852” on the right side and “C. SHARPS PAT. / SEPT. 12^th 1848” on the left. The tang is crisply marked with the serial number, 67117. The triggerguard shows thin blue with the triggerguard tang above it showing some rubbing from handling to brighter metal with gray spots. The saddle ring bar naturally shows wear to bright with gray spots from movement of the sling ring. The patchbox has smooth metal and a pewter tone, mixed with some faint blues and browns. The buttplate is similar. The buttplate tang screw shows some turning to the slot.

Forestock and buttstock match in color and condition, with good edges on the forestock along the barrel and against the receiver, and on the buttstock around the receiver, tang, and sharpness of the comb. There are just minor handling marks. The two cartouches on the left wrist are visible, but rubbing from the sling ring has worn them each on the rear half.  Crisp action; bore is clean with good rifling.

The New Model 1859 was supplied to the government from December 1859 or February 1860, up to July 13, 1863, after which deliveries switched to the New Model 1863. Dating a NM1859 carbine by serial number range is difficult; unit identification by it is near impossible. Production of the New Model 1859 is estimated at 27,000 within the broad serial number range of 30,000 to 80,000 because of other patterns produced at the same time and production overlapping with other models at the lower and upper end. At the moment the lowest numbered NM1859 known is 30875 and the highest is 80894, with the lowest numbered NM1863 being 71235. 1863 total deliveries of the then NM1859 amounted to 11,104. With those factors in mind, an early to mid-1863 date for this one seems likely. As far as a likely unit is concerned, we find NM1859s in the 67000 range scattered among the 5^th and 9^th Illinois cavalry, the 7^th Indiana, the 1^st and 5^th Iowa, the 1^st Mass, 10^th Ohio, and other units.

The Sharps carbine is the most famous single-shot carbine of the war. They were well designed, highly regarded, eagerly sought, and widely used by both sides. The government even began contracting with the company not for fixed numbers of carbines, but all they could produce within a given period. This is a very nice example that would add to cavalry collection or even a specialized collection of Civil War carbines.  [sr] [ph:L]

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