CIVIL WAR SHARPS BERDAN RIFLE
Guns International #: 100538581 Seller's Inventory #: FR222
Category: Sharps Rifles - Antique - Civil War Rifles
Seller's Information
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Seller: Yankee Collector
Company: Yankee Collector
Member Since: 3/14/15
First Name: Richard
Last Name: Gersten
State: Illinois
Zip: 60631
Country: United States
Phone: (708) 786-8630
Fax:
Number of Active Listings: 11
Total Number of Listings: 92
Seller: Private Seller
Return Policy: 3 day inspection and return policy on used guns.
Payment Types Accepted: Money Order, Personal or Bank Check
Description:
This particular Sharps Berdan rifle was aquired from a family who's ancestor picked this gun up off the Antietam battlefield since it was originally found in 1862. Civil War Sharps model 1859 breech loading rifle with factory double set triggers, manufactured circa 1862. This rifle is one of the 2,000 special order Sharps model 1859 rifles purchased by the Ordnance Department in April 1862 to arm the 1st and 2nd U.S. Sharpshooter regiments,"Berdan's Sharpshooters". The Sharps rifles ordered by Berdan to arm his regiments were equipped with factory installed double set-triggers, angular socket bayonets with combination front sight/bayonet lug, and rear sights with 800 yard center notch. All of the Berdan Sharpshooters rifles had the Lawrence patent pellet primer and a stock with casehardened patch box. The 2,000 model 1859 Sharps rifles purchased for issue to Berdan's Sharpshooters fall in the 5,400-5,700 serial number range (the lowest known Berdan Sharps serial number is 54374 and the highest serial number is 57567). Berdan's Sharps rifles had the standard finish with blue barrel and breechblock, casehardened barrel bands, receiver, hammer, lever, patch box and buttplate and black walnut stock and forearm. The left stock wrist has a faint ordnance final inspection mark that consists of the script initials "JT" in and oval with rounded ends. The "J.T." final inspection mark of ordnance inspector John Taylor is found on most Berdan's Sharps rifles with legible inspection marks. The serial #56359 is stamped on the upper receiver tang. The barrel, left and right sides of the receiver and lock plate have the standard Sharps and R.S. Lawrence patent markings. The two U.S. Sharpshooter regiments were recruited from selected marksmen from Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New York, Vermont and Wisconsin by Colonel Hiram Berdan. Equipped and trained as skirmishes and issued the dark green uniforms with black buttons made famous by British rifle regiments in the Napoleonic Wars, Berdan's Sharpshooters formed an elite corps in the Army of the Potomac. The Sharpshooters saw their first action in the Peninsula Campaign in April 1862 and subsequently fought in nearly every engagement of the Army of the Potomac until they were disbanded in February 1865. Berdan's Sharpshooters claimed to have inflicted more Confederate casualties than any other regiments in the Federal Army. Sharps model 1859 rifles in the 53000-57000 serial range with factory double set-triggers and "JT" sub-inspection marks are scarce. Experts have identified fewer than 50 Sharps model 1859 rifles with all of the Berdan Sharpshooter features. The overall condition of this particular rifle is very good and quite better than any other we have encountered. The rifle shows typical combat usage. The 30" round barrel, receiver and other metal components have a dull age grey patina mixed with brown. The barrel appears to have been originally equipped with a sharpshooter's scope sight affixed to the top of the barrel as a groove has been cut into the top where the barrel address was originally stamped, the scope is no longer present. The "JT" ordnance inspection mark on the stock is faint, but identifiable. The R.S. Lawrence pellet primer is complete and functional. The double-set triggers and mechanics are tight. The stock is very good with expected moderate handling wear, surface bruises and dings, no cracks. Complete with the original sling. Accompanied by a copy of "HIRAM BERDAN, HIS FAMOUS SHARPSHOOTERS AND THEIR SHARPS RIFLES", by Wiley Sword. Few, if any, of the Berdan's Sharps rifles survived in better than "good" condition and most show combat use. This is a solid example of a scarce and very historic Berdan Sharps rifle. This would be for the advanced collector and would be hard to find one in better condition. A rare chance to own this historic Civil War weapon.
SOLD
Antique: Yes