BERDAN SHARPSHOOTER SHARPS NEW MODEL 1859 SINGLE SHOT RIFLE IN THE CORRECT SERIAL RANGE.

BERDAN SHARPSHOOTER SHARPS NEW MODEL 1859 SINGLE SHOT RIFLE IN THE CORRECT SERIAL RANGE. SN 39628. Cal. 52. Usual configuration with 30″ rnd bbl, square base front sight/bayonet lug with German silver blade, Lawrence Patent ladder rear sight and three bands. Bbl has usual Sharps & New Model 1859 markings. Receiver & lockplate have standard markings. Mounted with uncheckered straight grain walnut with long rnd forearm and straight stock with smooth steel buttplate. It has sling swivels and an iron 2-pc patchbox and left side of wrist has two clear cartouches. Two thousand of these Sharps rifles were purchased by the U.S. Government for issue to Col. Hiram Berdan’s sharpshooter regiments, in the serial range 35,000 to 57,000 and were used to great effect throughout the remainder of the Civil War. Only the first order of these rifles were delivered with dbl set triggers. This feature was ordered by Col. Berdan but the extra cost was unauthorized and upon learning of this change to the contract from his inspectors, the Chief of Ordnance immediately wrote to the Sharps Company and directed them to stop producing the change and revert to the orig order which was for single trigger rifles. The first rifles reached the sharp shooters on May 7, 1862 and the remainder on June 1st. In the Battle of Little Round Top at Gettysburg 100 men from the 1st Regiment of Sharpshooters and 200 men of the 3rd Maine Infantry faced 30,000 Confederate soldiers under Gen. Longstreet. Within 20 minutes the 100 sharpshooters fired almost 10,000 rds. This massive volume of accurately delivered fire delayed the Confederate advance long enough to allow Gen. Meade to bring up reinforcements and turn the battle. Many historians maintain that this battle turned the course of the war to the favor of the Union. CONDITION: Fine. Bbl retains an even very dark brown patina with fine pin prick pitting over the top. Receiver & lockplate are mostly a smooth medium to dark silver/brown patina with traces of silvered case colors around the hammer. Stock has a hairline in front of patchbox, otherwise wood is sound with usual light nicks, dings & scratches with forearm retaining a hand worn patina and buttstock generous amounts of orig factory finish. Mechanics are crisp, strong bore with fine pitting. 4-31690 JR185 (3,000-5,000)

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
	1428	$6,900.00	BERDAN SHARPSHOOTER SHARPS NEW MODEL 1859 SINGLE SHOT RIFLE IN THE CORRECT SERIAL RANGE. SN 39628. Cal. 52. Usual configuration with 30″ rnd bbl, square base front sight/bayonet lug with German silver blade, Lawrence Patent ladder rear sight and three bands. Bbl has usual Sharps & New Model 1859 markings. Receiver & lockplate have standard markings. Mounted with uncheckered straight grain walnut with long rnd forearm and straight stock with smooth steel buttplate. It has sling swivels and an iron 2-pc patchbox and left side of wrist has two clear cartouches. Two thousand of these Sharps rifles were purchased by the U.S. Government for issue to Col. Hiram Berdan’s sharpshooter regiments, in the serial range 35,000 to 57,000 and were used to great effect throughout the remainder of the Civil War. Only the first order of these rifles were delivered with dbl set triggers. This feature was ordered by Col. Berdan but the extra cost was unauthorized and upon learning of this change to the contract from his inspectors, the Chief of Ordnance immediately wrote to the Sharps Company and directed them to stop producing the change and revert to the orig order which was for single trigger rifles. The first rifles reached the sharp shooters on May 7, 1862 and the remainder on June 1st. In the Battle of Little Round Top at Gettysburg 100 men from the 1st Regiment of Sharpshooters and 200 men of the 3rd Maine Infantry faced 30,000 Confederate soldiers under Gen. Longstreet. Within 20 minutes the 100 sharpshooters fired almost 10,000 rds. This massive volume of accurately delivered fire delayed the Confederate advance long enough to allow Gen. Meade to bring up reinforcements and turn the battle. Many historians maintain that this battle turned the course of the war to the favor of the Union. CONDITION: Fine. Bbl retains an even very dark brown patina with fine pin prick pitting over the top. Receiver & lockplate are mostly a smooth medium to dark silver/brown patina with traces of silvered case colors around the hammer. Stock has a hairline in front of patchbox, otherwise wood is sound with usual light nicks, dings & scratches with forearm retaining a hand worn patina and buttstock generous amounts of orig factory finish. Mechanics are crisp, strong bore with fine pitting. 4-31690 JR185 (3,000-5,000) 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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