RARE SHARPS COMPOSITE HEAVY BARREL SPORTING RIFLE WITH CIVIL WAR INSCRIPTIONS.

RARE SHARPS COMPOSITE HEAVY BARREL SPORTING RIFLE WITH CIVIL WAR INSCRIPTIONS. SN 40277. Cal. 56. Very unusual Sharps rifle that appears to be a New Model 1859 sporting rifle with 28″ heavy oct bbl that has Kentucky rifle style fine Rocky Mountain-type front sight and a thick, heavy, tall, fixed rear sight with very fine notch. Top flat of bbl is altogether unmarked which indicates that it is probably a very old replacement. Bottom of the bbl has an attached iron rail that has two guides, missing its ramrod. Weight: 12 lbs. 12 oz. Forearm appears to be from Sharps with a pewter forend tip and German silver key escutcheon on one side with the other side missing. Buttstock is typical 1859 pattern with 2-pc iron patchbox and a smooth steel buttplate. Bottom of the stock has a sling wire base with no provision for a sling on the bbl. Left side of buttstock is wonderfully carved with a rendition of the 5th Army Corps badge over the top of which is carved “GEN–CRAMER on a ribbon in an arc. Below the corps badge, the stock is carved with several major battles from the Civil War including: Big Bethel, Hanover C.H., Gaines’ Mill, Malvern Hill, 2d Bull Run, Antietam, Snickers Gap, Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville. Below Chancellorsville is carved some light arabesque patterns and finally is carved the name that appears to be “DORVEE”. All the carving is highlighted with old black & red paint. The 5th Corps was in the Army of the Potomac and fought through all the battles listed, continuing on after Chancellorsville, fighting gallantly at Gettysburg where they had nearly 400 killed. Given that the listed battles on this buttstock stop at Chancellorsville the possibility is strong that the owner of this rifle may not have survived Gettysburg. This rifle, being of large caliber and extra heavy bbl and with fine sights, certainly could have been a Union sharpshooter’s rifle. CONDITION: Fair to good. No orig finish remains; bbl retains a dark, mottled attic brown patina showing heavy wear and some light surface rust; receiver & lockplate are a mottled silver/brown patina with rust on top of breech block and spotted rust elsewhere; buttstock is sound showing heavy wear with almost all of the carving completely legible; forearm shows extreme heavy wear with several cracks & grain checks. Half cock & full cock notches in the hammer are chipped & worn and will not catch at half cock and is not solid at full cock, otherwise mechanics are fine, worn dark bore. 4-46673 (8,000-16,000)

Auction: Firearms - Fall 2012

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
	2135	$7,475.00	RARE SHARPS COMPOSITE HEAVY BARREL SPORTING RIFLE WITH CIVIL WAR INSCRIPTIONS. SN 40277. Cal. 56. Very unusual Sharps rifle that appears to be a New Model 1859 sporting rifle with 28″ heavy oct bbl that has Kentucky rifle style fine Rocky Mountain-type front sight and a thick, heavy, tall, fixed rear sight with very fine notch. Top flat of bbl is altogether unmarked which indicates that it is probably a very old replacement. Bottom of the bbl has an attached iron rail that has two guides, missing its ramrod. Weight: 12 lbs. 12 oz. Forearm appears to be from Sharps with a pewter forend tip and German silver key escutcheon on one side with the other side missing. Buttstock is typical 1859 pattern with 2-pc iron patchbox and a smooth steel buttplate. Bottom of the stock has a sling wire base with no provision for a sling on the bbl. Left side of buttstock is wonderfully carved with a rendition of the 5th Army Corps badge over the top of which is carved “GEN–CRAMER on a ribbon in an arc. Below the corps badge, the stock is carved with several major battles from the Civil War including: Big Bethel, Hanover C.H., Gaines’ Mill, Malvern Hill, 2d Bull Run, Antietam, Snickers Gap, Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville. Below Chancellorsville is carved some light arabesque patterns and finally is carved the name that appears to be “DORVEE”. All the carving is highlighted with old black & red paint. The 5th Corps was in the Army of the Potomac and fought through all the battles listed, continuing on after Chancellorsville, fighting gallantly at Gettysburg where they had nearly 400 killed. Given that the listed battles on this buttstock stop at Chancellorsville the possibility is strong that the owner of this rifle may not have survived Gettysburg. This rifle, being of large caliber and extra heavy bbl and with fine sights, certainly could have been a Union sharpshooter’s rifle. CONDITION: Fair to good. No orig finish remains; bbl retains a dark, mottled attic brown patina showing heavy wear and some light surface rust; receiver & lockplate are a mottled silver/brown patina with rust on top of breech block and spotted rust elsewhere; buttstock is sound showing heavy wear with almost all of the carving completely legible; forearm shows extreme heavy wear with several cracks & grain checks. Half cock & full cock notches in the hammer are chipped & worn and will not catch at half cock and is not solid at full cock, otherwise mechanics are fine, worn dark bore. 4-46673 (8,000-16,000) Auction: Firearms - Fall 2012 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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