EXTREMELY RARE SHARPS MODEL 1853 “BEECHER’S BIBLE” SADDLE RING CARBINE.

EXTREMELY RARE SHARPS MODEL 1853 “BEECHER’S BIBLE” SADDLE RING CARBINE. SN 13030. Cal. 54. Usual configuration with 21-3/4″ rnd bbl, tiny half moon front sight and ladder rear sight missing slide. It has brass furniture with a long sling bar & ring on left side of bbl band & receiver. Mounted with uncheckered straight grain walnut with rnd forearm & straight stock with brass buttplate & patchbox. Top tang & lockplate have usual markings. In the early to mid-1850’s, the States of Kansas & Missouri were rife with trouble & turmoil over the question of slavery & states’ rights. A number of different parties including Henry Ward Beecher and several organizations established to provide aid to Kansas, were founded mostly in New York & Massachusetts and were ultimately responsible for fueling the conflict by providing arms to the Kansas free-staters. One shipment of Sharps carbines arrived in Lawrence, Kansas on May 23, 1855 and the cases were labeled as books or Bibles. This carbine’s serial number is found listed on p. 91 of Sharps Firearms, Sellers, and was shipped in case #317. The name “Beecher’s Bible” originated as the result of a speech given by Henry W. Beecher which appeared in the New York Tribune on Feb. 8, 1856. Mr. Beecher is quoted as saying “that there was more moral power in those instruments, so far as the slaveholders of Kansas were concerned, than in a 100 Bibles”. He, of course, was referring to Sharps rifles and thereafter the Sharps rifle became known as a Beecher’s Bible. This moniker was, of course, reinforced by the fact that the crates containing the carbines were labeled as books & Bibles in order to conceal them from the pro-slavery men & to protect the aid companies from difficulties with the Federal Government and State authorities who had forbidden the introduction of arms into the state. This exact gun, SN 13030, was part of the 100 guns delivered in April 1855 and was, in fact, in case #317. Precious few of these historical guns have survived. CONDITION: Good. No orig finish remains with metal being a mottled, dark brown patina with some light pitting over top of bbl. Stock has a repaired toe and a replaced chip in forearm, otherwise wood is sound showing moderate to heavy wear and a smooth hand worn dark oiled patina. Mechanics are fine, bright shiny bore. 4-31816 JR183 (20,000-30,000)

Auction: Firearms - Spring 2008

Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

Image	Lot	Price	Description
	1425	$34,500.00	EXTREMELY RARE SHARPS MODEL 1853 “BEECHER’S BIBLE” SADDLE RING CARBINE. SN 13030. Cal. 54. Usual configuration with 21-3/4″ rnd bbl, tiny half moon front sight and ladder rear sight missing slide. It has brass furniture with a long sling bar & ring on left side of bbl band & receiver. Mounted with uncheckered straight grain walnut with rnd forearm & straight stock with brass buttplate & patchbox. Top tang & lockplate have usual markings. In the early to mid-1850’s, the States of Kansas & Missouri were rife with trouble & turmoil over the question of slavery & states’ rights. A number of different parties including Henry Ward Beecher and several organizations established to provide aid to Kansas, were founded mostly in New York & Massachusetts and were ultimately responsible for fueling the conflict by providing arms to the Kansas free-staters. One shipment of Sharps carbines arrived in Lawrence, Kansas on May 23, 1855 and the cases were labeled as books or Bibles. This carbine’s serial number is found listed on p. 91 of Sharps Firearms, Sellers, and was shipped in case #317. The name “Beecher’s Bible” originated as the result of a speech given by Henry W. Beecher which appeared in the New York Tribune on Feb. 8, 1856. Mr. Beecher is quoted as saying “that there was more moral power in those instruments, so far as the slaveholders of Kansas were concerned, than in a 100 Bibles”. He, of course, was referring to Sharps rifles and thereafter the Sharps rifle became known as a Beecher’s Bible. This moniker was, of course, reinforced by the fact that the crates containing the carbines were labeled as books & Bibles in order to conceal them from the pro-slavery men & to protect the aid companies from difficulties with the Federal Government and State authorities who had forbidden the introduction of arms into the state. This exact gun, SN 13030, was part of the 100 guns delivered in April 1855 and was, in fact, in case #317. Precious few of these historical guns have survived. CONDITION: Good. No orig finish remains with metal being a mottled, dark brown patina with some light pitting over top of bbl. Stock has a repaired toe and a replaced chip in forearm, otherwise wood is sound showing moderate to heavy wear and a smooth hand worn dark oiled patina. Mechanics are fine, bright shiny bore. 4-31816 JR183 (20,000-30,000) Auction: Firearms - Spring 2008 Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

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