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Sharps and Sharps & Hankins 4 Barrel Derringers, 22, 30, 32 & 32 Rimfire
Guns International #: 100973860 Seller's Inventory #:
Category: Sharps Pistols - Derringer Antique
Seller's Information
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Seller: Michael Lee
Company: Michael Lees
Member Since: 2/21/09
State: Florida
Country: United States
Phone: (727) 415-0811
Number of Active Listings: 0
Total Number of Listings: 109
Seller: Private Seller
Return Policy: 3 day inspection and return policy on used guns.
none
Payment Types Accepted: Cash, Bank Check, Money Order
Description:
For sale are a collection of the Sharps and Sharps & Hankins 4 Barrel Pepperbox pocket pistols. The first one is a Model 1 in 22 rimfire. It is in good working condition. It does however have missmatched grips. Ser. # 30135 Next is a Model 2A in 30RF, mechanicaly good with lots of original finish left on the pistol, Ser.#16555 Next is a Model 3C in 32 short RF, Good mechanical condition,Ser#8726 There is an old Fitted wood case with this pistol, I doubt that it is original however it does contain 12 rounds of ammo. Last is a Model 4B in 32 long RF. Lots of finish left on this one. Good mechanical condition, Ser#2922
The story of the Sharps four-barrel pistol begins, officially, on December 18, 1849. On that date, the United States Patent Office issued patent number 6960 for a revolver to Christian Sharps, then residing in Washington, D.C. This "revolver" was, actually, not a revolver at all, but a pepperbox in which the barrels didn't revolve! It was fired by a striker which did revolve, though, on a center post to hit, in sequence, the percussion caps which were placed on nipples on the ends of the barrels. The side hammer served both as a cocking lever and as the force behind the striker.
The pistol was not produced on a commercial basis until 1859, after Sharps had become sole owner of the Fairmont Rifle Works in West Philadelphia. By this time, the metallic cartridge had been introduced and Sharps was able to develop his design into a practical repeating pistol. Patent number 22753 was issued to Sharps on January 25, 1859, again for a "revolver". The first model was .22 caliber. Made with a brass frame, it had a spur or stud trigger, and was a single-action, four-shot repeater. Approximately 85,000 of these little pepperboxes were made in the ten years between 1859 and 1868.
In 1862, William Hankins joined the firm and the company became "Sharps & Hankins". With the money brought into the company by Hankins, they were able to acquire a new factory. The new factory was first used for the manufacture of metallic rimfire cartridges but was later used to make both rifles and pistols. The Sharps and Hankins (third model) pistols differed from the first and second models in many ways. They were larger, .32 caliber, and had iron frames. With only one exception, the Sharps & Hankins pistols had the barrel release button on the left side of the frame instead of underneath the frame, as was most common on the earlier pistols. Some are found with the firing mounted in the frame instead of on the hammer, a few are also found with extractors.
When the partnership was dissolved in 1867, production of this model was stopped entirely. The fourth, or "birdshead" model was the last Sharps pepperbox produced. Production ceased with the death of Christian Sharps in 1874.
SOLD
Curio/Relic: Yes
Antique: Yes
Manufacturer: C. Sharps Sharps & Hankins
Model: 1, 2A, 3C and 4B
Caliber Info: 22rf,30rf &32rf