This is a nice looking Sharps carbine is in the standard “New Model 1863” configuration, eliminating the superfluous patch box and using a larger and easier clean out screw. This one has smooth metal with lots of blue and subdued case color, and is serial numbered 98198. A Sharps ledger records the sale of some carbines numbered up to 92634 on 5 November 1863; in Spring 1864 guns numbered over 100,000 were given a “C” prefix. It thus dates to late 1863 or very early 1864, in time for some of the most active cavalry campaigns of the Civil War.

The metal is exceptional and would rate excellent. The surface is smooth and the markings are crisp: SHARPS RIFLE / MANUFG CO. / HARTFORD, CONN” in front of the rear sight and “NEW MODEL 1863” between rear sight and breech. Only the “Manufg. Co.” on the high point of the barrel surface shows any wear. The receiver has the standard Sharps and Lawrence patent markings on the left and the Sharps marking on the right. The barrel retains better than 90 percent muted blue and the receiver shows significant remnants of case color, subdued and mottled in most places, but very evident on the right, around the hammer, a little on the straight breech and some along the side of the leaver, and on the rear of the plate. It is even stronger on the left breech, particularly moving forward from the base of the sling bar and onto the straight breech, and the side of the lever. The hammer show a nice mix of caramel and subdued blue, as does the loading groove and the barrel band. The buttplate is more subdued, but smooth and the screw head shows some blue.

The wood rates very good, with butt stock and forestock showing dings from field use, but with good matching color and a tight fit to the metal. The wood beneath the sling ring on the left wrist shows some pressure dents from the ring, but still displays a very visible ink inspector’s cartouche. The left butt flat shows some scattered dings and scratches. The right butt flat shows more wear with some pressure lines, scratches, small dings, and one small divot at the top just forward of the buttplate tang,, but has good color as well. The forestock matches in color, and shows just slight wear forward of the barrel band, where it would have been placed through a carbine thimble on the saddle and a slight chip just behind the band where must have fallen against something that also put two very small dings in the metal. The front and rear sights, with leaf, are in place. The mechanics are good.

The .52 caliber breech-loading Sharps was one of the best liked and widely used carbines of the war, seeing service in all theatres in scores of cavalry units, north and south (the latter also producing their own version.) It was very popular before the war, being popularized for its role in Bloody Kansas, and continued in military service after the war in its metallic cartridge versions. This is a very good wartime example of this popular cavalry weapon.  [sr]

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