RARE SHARPS NEW MODEL 1859 3-BAND RIFLE WITH BERDAN SHARPSHOOTER REGIMENT ATTRIBUTION.

RARE SHARPS NEW MODEL 1859 3-BAND RIFLE WITH BERDAN SHARPSHOOTER REGIMENT ATTRIBUTION. SN 56113. Cal. 52. Fine 3-band rifle with 30″ rnd bbl, square base front sight/bayonet lug with Lawrence Patent ladder rear sight & standard Sharps markings on bbl, receiver & lockplate. Receiver has dbl set triggers and it falls in serial range of known Berdan Sharpshooter rifles. Mounted with very highly figured burl walnut buttstock with legible “JT”, for John Taylor, cartouche on left wrist & small “T”inspector mark on left side of bbl. It has std rnd forearm with spring band keepers and sling swivels with normal Sharps buttplate. It has a steel 2-pc patchbox in right side of butt. Berdan’s Sharpshooters were organized in late 1861 by Col. Hiram Berdan and after much wrangling with The Ordnance Dept., 1,000 Sharps rifles were ordered in Jan. 1862 with the order being increased to 2,000 in Feb. 1862. Col. Berdan contacted Sharps Co. and requested them to modify the contract to supply dbl set triggers to which they readily complied. When the Chief of the Ordnance Dept., learned of this from his inspectors, he immediately ordered the company to stop abridgment of the contract which was done after only about 500 of the dbl set trigger rifles were completed. Balance of contract of 1,500 rifles was furnished with sgl triggers. Reference: Sharps Firearms, Sellers. Accompanied by a copy of Sharpshooter: Hiram Berdan, his famous Sharpshooters and their Sharps Rifles, Sword, wherein this exact rifle is pictured on pp. 91-92 and is listed on p. 98 as being a surviving Sharps Berdan rifle. PROVENANCE: Wiley Sword Collection. CONDITION: Very fine. Traces of orig blue & case colors remain in sheltered areas with bbl retaining mostly a mottled silver brown patina over most of exposed bbl with a strong plum/blue patina around rear sight. Receiver & lockplate are mostly a silver/gray patina with some scattered light surface spotting. Stock & forearm are sound with usual nicks & dings with stock retaining a cleaned, hand worn patina and forearm a dark, hand worn patina. Mechanics are fine, strong bright bore with light to moderate pitting. 4-32576 JR444 (12,500-17,500)

Auction: Firearms - Fall 2007

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
	1455J	$17,250.00	RARE SHARPS NEW MODEL 1859 3-BAND RIFLE WITH BERDAN SHARPSHOOTER REGIMENT ATTRIBUTION. SN 56113. Cal. 52. Fine 3-band rifle with 30″ rnd bbl, square base front sight/bayonet lug with Lawrence Patent ladder rear sight & standard Sharps markings on bbl, receiver & lockplate. Receiver has dbl set triggers and it falls in serial range of known Berdan Sharpshooter rifles. Mounted with very highly figured burl walnut buttstock with legible “JT”, for John Taylor, cartouche on left wrist & small “T”inspector mark on left side of bbl. It has std rnd forearm with spring band keepers and sling swivels with normal Sharps buttplate. It has a steel 2-pc patchbox in right side of butt. Berdan’s Sharpshooters were organized in late 1861 by Col. Hiram Berdan and after much wrangling with The Ordnance Dept., 1,000 Sharps rifles were ordered in Jan. 1862 with the order being increased to 2,000 in Feb. 1862. Col. Berdan contacted Sharps Co. and requested them to modify the contract to supply dbl set triggers to which they readily complied. When the Chief of the Ordnance Dept., learned of this from his inspectors, he immediately ordered the company to stop abridgment of the contract which was done after only about 500 of the dbl set trigger rifles were completed. Balance of contract of 1,500 rifles was furnished with sgl triggers. Reference: Sharps Firearms, Sellers. Accompanied by a copy of Sharpshooter: Hiram Berdan, his famous Sharpshooters and their Sharps Rifles, Sword, wherein this exact rifle is pictured on pp. 91-92 and is listed on p. 98 as being a surviving Sharps Berdan rifle. PROVENANCE: Wiley Sword Collection. CONDITION: Very fine. Traces of orig blue & case colors remain in sheltered areas with bbl retaining mostly a mottled silver brown patina over most of exposed bbl with a strong plum/blue patina around rear sight. Receiver & lockplate are mostly a silver/gray patina with some scattered light surface spotting. Stock & forearm are sound with usual nicks & dings with stock retaining a cleaned, hand worn patina and forearm a dark, hand worn patina. Mechanics are fine, strong bright bore with light to moderate pitting. 4-32576 JR444 (12,500-17,500) Auction: Firearms - Fall 2007 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.

.red{fill:#B50938;} .white{fill:#FFFFFF;} .blue{fill:#005596;}