Looking for info on this Sharps Flintlock

theweight

Hello -

Since I'm the computer geek among my circle of friends I help them get pics on the net and to contact folks like those here at this forum.

Last year you folks helped me with an old Nippes that my buddy found (turned out to be a gun built from old parts - still he got a couple hundred bucks for it).

This time my buddy is excited about this old gun that he thinks might be worth something.

From what we can it has the following markings on the metal;

C. SHARP's
Pat. Oct 5th 1853

R.S. Lawerence
Pat. April 12 1859

C. SHARPS
Pat. Sept. 13th 1848

C, 739

It's about 51 and half inches long. An expert may need to see it in person but here is a link to about 30 pics (it may take a minute or two to load as I tried to keep the pics big so you could see details). Once the page is loaded, clicking on a picture will enlarge it.

http://home.comcast.net/~theweight/flint.htm


Any help identifying what it is will be appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

Kevin

perry shooter

This is a hammer Sharps but not a Flint-Lock just to let you know a flint-lock has a set of Jaws to hold a rock/flint to strike a spark and set off the powder charge. from the first few pictures I am on dial up it looks like it could be a Carbine with saddle ring.or springfield altered 1870 model but ram rod and lack of patch box I will have to down load all pictures . DO NOT TRY TO CLEAN THIS ITEM you may cut value in half The small shield /inlay on butt stock will not help its value but it is/may be collector item.

rhmc24

What Perry says is correct. It is a Sharps breech loading percussion rifle with a carbine ring and ramrod. Later this type was developed into a breech loader & became arguably the most famous and practical buffalo rifle in its period of use.

rufe-snow

From the patent marking on the right side of the receiver, i.e. "C. Sharps Pat./Oct 5th 1852". I believe the firearm in your pictures was originally made as either a Military Carbine or Rifle during the era of the U.S. Civil War, circa 1859-1865.

After the war it was "sporterized" into a shotgun. Because of this, it's value as a original firearm used during the Civil War has been greatly diminished.

perry shooter

Hello with out a patch box it most likely was a 1863 or 1865 carbine because it has a saddle ring I finally got all pictures down loaded the Eagle badge in the butt stock is of course not factory but would be very interesting to find out what it is. I think you need to take to a gunshow for a hands on look Baltimore Md. would be the best place

theweight

Wow - you folks are fast. I posted before yesterdays football games and checked before bed and there were already some posts.

Thanks for the info. Interesting stuff.

Never heard of a patch box or saddle ring but searched the net and found out what they were. I'm assuming that patch boxes ceased being used around a certain time and that is one reason why the year was placed around 63 - 65. Correct?

Also, would the saddle ring also indicate this time period too? Or just that the gun was used on horse back as opposed to infantry?

Excuse my lack of knowledge on the subject but I thought a carbine was a shorter version of a rifle. Perhaps less powerful and less accurate but uses the same ammunition. This gun is long, about 51.5 inches. We're rifles of the day even longer? If so, I wouldn't want to carry themn around all day. This baby is heavy enough. Or, does carbine refer to something else? Just wondering.

I agree that the eagle inlay may help to identify it. Not sure I can get to the Baltimore area but I may check out some Cival War sites to see if that turns up anything. I know some roving coin shows come to my area but I'm not sure about gun shows.

Assuming I cannot find any more information on it, what would be a guestimate on value? I know it depends upon the individual but in general are we looking at a collectible gun or just a few hundred dollar conversation piece for the den wall?

Thanks again for all your help.

Kevin

Hawk Carse

I think you have another parts gun. They started out with a New Model 1863 Sharps carbine. According to Flayderman's Guide to Antique American Firearms, C 739 is the serial number, C = 100,000 so this is gun no. 100,739 which places it right in the middle of the 1863s.
The barrel is probably off a Sharps rifle; rifle barrels were 30" carbines 22". Does it have any rifling visible or has it been reamed smooth for use as a shotgun?
The ramrod was likely added so it could be used as a muzzleloader without having to prepare nitrated paper or linen cartridges for breechloading. You can load a Sharps at the breech with bullet and loose powder, but it would be tough with birdshot; easier to muzzle load it as a shotgun.

rufe-snow

I personally believe that in the "sportized" condition it's now in, it's a prime candidate for the den wall. BUT to be on the safe side, locate a knowledgeable 19th Century military arms dealer/collector in your area, for a hands-on.

theweight

Thanks.

I tend to agree with eveyones' assessment.

The barrel is 33.75 inches in length. Much longer than the carbine. Also, I cannot seem to find a way to load a shell. There is a lever that I thought should allow the barrel to move to expose a place to load a shell. However, no matter which way I push or pull, I cannot make it work.

Also, I've seen several pics of the carbine as well as their sporting rifle, and the barrels just don't match up. None of the pics I've seen have a ramrod.

The barrel being different, plus the addition of the ramrod and the fact that I cannot open the gun to load a shell would point to this being used a shotgun (as rufe-snow and Hawk Carse have already pointed out).

I'll give my buddy the bad news.

Still, maybe he'll get a couple hundred bucks for it. I'll tell him to pursue an expert when the gun shows come thru town.

Thanks again for everyones help.

Kevin