SCARCE MODEL 1862 SHARPS AND HANKINS CAVALRY CARBINE

SCARCE MODEL 1862 SHARPS AND HANKINS CAVALRY CARBINE

Hover to zoom

Image 1 Image 2 Image 3 Image 4 Image 5 Image 6 Image 7 Image 8 Image 9 Image 10 Image 11 Image 12 Image 13 Image 14 Image 15 Image 16 Image 17 Image 18 Image 19 Image 20 Image 21 Image 22

$2,795.00

Quantity Available: 1

Item Code: 490-7437

Shipping: Determined by Method & Location of buyer

To Order:
Call 717-334-0347,
Fax 717-334-5016, or E-mail

This is a scarce 19-inch barrel Sharps and Hankins Model 1862 cavalry carbine. Christian Sharps left the Sharps Rifle Manufacturing Company in 1853, moved to Philadelphia, and started a new company that in 1858 became C. Sharps & Company. William Hankins joined the firm in 1860 as superintendent of the rifle works and became a full partner in 1862. The company produced both rifles and carbines that fired a .52 caliber rimfire cartridge. A small release tab permitted the lever/trigger guard to drop down causing the barrel to slide forward so a cartridge could be inserted. The First Model utilized a firing pin mounted on the hammer; the improved second model (aka the 1862) has a floating firing pin in the receiver. The guns also featured a hammer safety to keep it from striking the pin and a spring-loaded extractor.

Flayderman estimates production of these shorter, 19-inch, barrel cavalry carbines at 1,000, but Sellers and McAulay each estimate it at just 500, with the latter noting they likely came into army service through a New York state purchase rather than by a U.S. government purchase, with some of the production run ending up in US Navy hands. This pattern is sometimes referred to the 11th New York Cavalry Carbine from its issue to that unit, but they also made their way into the 6th, 9th, and 10th New York Cavalry. Serial numbers were mixed with M1861 Sharps and Hankins rifles, and fall mainly in the 2,000-3,000 range, but Coates and McAulay record three in the 1900 range in the hands of the 11th NY Cavalry and one in Company A of the 3rd NY Cavalry numbered 1773, which is very close to this one, numbered 1767 on the wrist with the “6” then apparently corrected and overstruck as a “9,” indicating the worker had held that stamp the wrong way around the first time- though either number is sufficiently close to suggest a connection.

This rates about very good for condition, showing generally smooth metal with good edges and clear markings, and the wood showing a pleasing warm brown color with some minor handling dings or scratches, but could use some work in the firing chamber. The barrel shows as a faded blue shading to plum brown with some gray showing through. The bore is semi-bright, with visible rifling but some rust/oxidation in the grooves. The frame shows some faded mottled case color mixed with light gray and some darker gray spots. The lever/trigger guard shows stronger color with some pleasing blue. The “SHARPS / & / HANKINS / PHILADA.” stamp on the right is sharp. The “SHARPS / PATENT / 1859” stamp on the left shows some shallow pitting on the top line with a little shallow corrosion showing on the lower left breech of the barrel just above that. Both sights are in place and the rear sight is complete. The sling ring is in place on the left frame, as is the swivel in the bottom of the buttstock, a hold-over from use of the sling that had a cross strap to buckle around the barrel. The brass butt plate has a mellow brass patina with some thin brown age stains.

The wood has some minor scratches and rubs as is typical. Slight age-shrinkage gaps at the wrist and there is some wear in the area where the sling ring and carbine snap hook would rub when carried by the trooper on a carbine sling. A closed crack runs next to the butt plate tang.

This carbine is in nice condition overall. The lever action moving the barrel forward on the frame for loading works well, as do the hammer/trigger mechanics. The sliding safety next to the hammer is missing. Inside the breech, both the ejector pin at the bottom and the firing pin show corrosion and are frozen and unmovable.

Sharps firearms are a collecting field of their own and this would be a good addition to a specialized Sharps collection as well as a US cavalry carbine collection. This is a tough carbine to find.  [sr/jet][ph:L]

DISCLAIMER: All firearms are sold as collector's items only - we do not accept responsibility as to the shooting safety or reliability of any antique firearm. All firearms are described as accurately as possible, given the restraints of a catalog listing length. We want satisfied customers & often "under" describe the weapons. Any city or state regulations regarding owning antique firearms are the responsibility of the purchaser. All firearms are "mechanically perfect" unless noted, but again, are NOT warranted as safe to fire!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

THIS ITEM, AS WITH ALL OTHER ITEMS AVAILABLE ON OUR WEB SITE,

MAY BE PURCHASED THROUGH OUR LAYAWAY PROGRAM.

CLICK HERE FOR OUR POLICIES AND TERMS.

THANK YOU!

Inquire »

Inquire About SCARCE MODEL 1862 SHARPS AND HANKINS CAVALRY CARBINE

should be empty