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RARE CIVIL WAR DOCUMENTED SHARPS BERDAN RIFLE
Guns International #: 101064556 Seller's Inventory #:
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:
Rare .100% original and complete Civil War Sharps Berdan rifle. 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 "J.T." final inspection mark cartouche of ordnance inspector John Taylor is found on most Berdan's Sharps rifles along with inspection marks on the left side of the barrel near the breech. 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. This example bears the serial #56920 which is stamped on the upper receiver tang. This exact Sharps Berdan is documented by serial # on page #98 of Wiley Sword's volume "SHARPSHOOTER: HIRAM BERDAN, HIS FAMOUS SHARPSHOOTERS AND THEIR SHARPS RIFLES". The top of the barrel, left and right sides of the receiver in addition to the lock plate have correct standard Sharps and R.S. Lawrence patent markings. The overall condition of this particular rifle is very good and quite better than those that one usually comes across due to the heavy service these particular weapons encountered. The 30" round barrel, receiver and other metal components have an untouched, age pewter patina. The bore is very good. Left side of barrel at breech stamped with inspector's initials "O.D.W.", although obscured from a few old vise marks. 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 age handling wear, light surface dings, no cracks. The left side of the buttstock with a nicely done period carved name "S C ALLEN". The right side of the buttstock has some overlapping letters/numbers that I really can't distinguish. The left stock wrist has the faint ordnance final inspection marks that consists of the script initials "JT", this is confirmed in Wiley Sword's volume as mentioned earlier. Original fine rear leaf sight, original swivels. Punch mark appears on the inside of the iron patchbox which is insignificant, although believed by some to be the final inspection of John Taylor. Again, see "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, highly desirable and very historic Berdan Sharps rifle. Berdan's are truly becoming harder to obtain on the market than a Henry. This would be for the advanced collector and would be hard to find one in better condition. A rare chance to own this historic and epic Civil War weapon.
SOLD
Antique: Yes