Civil War Sharps New Model 1863 Carbine .52 Cal Percussion Rifle, Antique
SOLD FOR: $1,000.00
LSB#: WY240810MZ004
Make: Sharps
Model: New Model 1863 Carbine
Serial Number: 63935
Year of Manufacture: Ca. 1863-1865
Caliber: .52 Caliber
Action Type: Single Shot Lever Operated Falling Block Breech Loading Percussion Rifle
Barrel Length: 22”
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a German silver blade pinned in a slotted base at the front of the barrel. The rear sight is a folding ladder sight screwed to the barrel. There is a “V” notch at the bottom/rear of the ladder’s base for use when the ladder is folded down. When the ladder is folded up, there is a “V” notch at the bottom of the ladder, another at the top edge of the slider and another on the very top edge of the ladder. The right side of the ladder is marked “2” through “7” with an “8” at the top.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are two piece smooth walnut with banded and screw-secured forend, straight grip, straight comb, carbine-style metal buttplate (not attached, no screws included) and a sling bar with ring on the left of the wrist opposite the lockplate. The belly is marked “Z” or “N” at the bottom tang. The sling plate in the left of the wrist has inspector’s mark “T.W.B.”. The stocks show moderate wear with several scattered nicks and dings, most finished over. The forend has a notable loss along the top-left edge and there is a pin-repaired loss at the toe. There are some other scattered more minor losses. There is a crack at the left-rear edge of the forend. The LOP measures 13 5/8″ from the front of the trigger to the back of the wood, with the plate installed it should come to approximately 13 7/8″. The plate has scattered remaining finish, showing wear and minor surface oxidation. The inside at the toe is marked “37”, matching the marking on the left of the receiver. Overall, the stocks are in Fair-Good condition as refinished Antique.
Type of Finish: Blue & Case Color
Finish Originality: There are signs of cleaning and polishing, but no sign of a new finish being applied. The barrel and receiver are serial-matching.
Bore Condition: The bore is gray with well defined rifling. There is scattered erosion and pitting in the bore. In this writer’s opinion, the bore rates about 5 out of 10.
Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 3% of its metal finish. There is a little blue finish on the bottom of the barrel under the forend. Exposed surfaces have worn or been cleaned to white, starting to go to a light patina. There is some scattered surface erosion. There are nicks, scuffs and scratches. The installed nipple (replacement) is in quite good shape, the original is included, sheared off at the wrench-square. The action shows operational wear. The screw heads range from sharp to tool marked with strong slots. The markings range from clear to worn away. Overall, this rifle is in Good condition as Antique.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. We have not fired this rifle. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: None
Our Assessment: The Sharps New Model rifles and carbines were made in three models: 1859, 1863 and 1865. From Flayderman’s, over 100,000 of the 1859 and 1863 models were purchased by the U.S. Army and Navy during the Civil War. The Sharps carbine was the most significantly utilized carbine of the Civil War. It was a single shot percussion breechloader using paper cartridges and revolutionized hand weaponry at the time. The Model 1863 reflected only minor improvements over the Model 1859, mostly elimination of the patchbox. Standard features include an iron buttplate, iron loading lever which serves as a trigger guard, one iron band, a hinged Sharps sight, saddle bar on left side, and rifling with six lands and grooves. This carbine is in Good overall condition as Antique, showing wear consistent with its age and service. The Sharps rifles and carbines represent a great period in the history of American firearms – they participated in the last great war in which percussion rifles were used, and many were converted to metallic cartridges soon after the war. These rifles are highly collected, primarily because there are so few still remaining in their original condition. This carbine should be no exception and, though it shows its age, we expect it to still find interest from the collectors. Please see our photos and good luck!
Please forgive any typos, I was educated in California. -Bud
