“JOHN BROWN SHARPS” SHIPPED TO “BLOODY” KANSAS.

“JOHN BROWN SHARPS” SHIPPED TO “BLOODY” KANSAS. SN 17619. Cal 52. Bbl 21-1/2″. This gun is listed by serial number as being purchased by the New England Immigrant Aid Society and were shipped to Kansas. This gun is one of ten guns shipped in case number 689. These first guns delivered to “Bloody” Kansas came in crates famously marked “Books” and “Bibles”. Henry Ward Beecher; the abolitionist preacher believed the Sharps Rifle Co. was a “moral” agency and that “there was more moral power in one of these guns, so far as the slaveholders of Kansas were concerned, then in 100 bibles”. These comments appear in an article in the New York Tribune on Feb. 8, 1856 where after these firearms became known as a “Beecher’s Bible”. This appellation was further encouraged by the marking of the cases in which the guns were shipped as “Books” and “Bibles”, a concealment which appears to have served a double purpose: both hiding the identity of the contents from pro-slavery men and keeping the aid companies from any difficulties with the federal authorities who had forbidden the shipping of arms to the bloody region. There are several hundred guns known by serial number listed in Frank Sellers’ book Sharps Firearms where this information was found. John Brown took 200 of these Aid Society guns for his famous raid on Harper’s Ferry. Only 102 of the original 200 guns were found after Brown and his men were captured. In his book, Seller mentions the history of many of these 1853 carbines which is as many as 800 or 900 probably made it to Kansas used by both slavery advocates and the anti-slavery aid societies. In March of 1856, 100 of these carbines were taken from the river steamer “Arabia” at Lexington, MO by pro-slavery “Border Ruffians”. A copy of this Frank Sellers article accompanies this gun and regardless of its actual history, it was in “Bloody Kansas” and saw light use and is still in fine “as found” condition. This is a standard Model 1853 Sharps carbine which was made between 1854-1858 with a total production of approx. 10,000. This gun has all standard markings. Bbl marked “Sharps Rifle/Manufg. Co./Hartford Conn”. Tang is marked “Sharps/Patent/1848” and serial number “17619”. Lockplate is marked “Sharps/Patent/1852”. Gun is original, complete and authentic in every regard. Regardless of history, you are bidding on a fine example of the classic John Brown Sharps which was known shipped to Kansas in 1855 or 1856. CONDITION: Bbl retains 20% original blue with scattered areas of staining and pitting. Remaining metal is gray/brown with some traces of case colors in protected areas. Bore is fine with crisp rifling with areas of pitting. Forestock and buttstock are very good and solid with scattered scratches, nicks and scrapes. There is a “JPO” stamped in small letters on front of buttstock adjacent to frame. There is a 1/2″ area that has a filled repair just behind these initials in stock. Brass mountings including band, patchbox and buttplate have a yellow patina. Gun is fully functional including Maynard capping device. Correct long range rear sight lacks adjustment to its leaf. 4-46670 JS113 (5,000-7,000)

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
	2136	$9,440.00	“JOHN BROWN SHARPS” SHIPPED TO “BLOODY” KANSAS. SN 17619. Cal 52. Bbl 21-1/2″. This gun is listed by serial number as being purchased by the New England Immigrant Aid Society and were shipped to Kansas. This gun is one of ten guns shipped in case number 689. These first guns delivered to “Bloody” Kansas came in crates famously marked “Books” and “Bibles”. Henry Ward Beecher; the abolitionist preacher believed the Sharps Rifle Co. was a “moral” agency and that “there was more moral power in one of these guns, so far as the slaveholders of Kansas were concerned, then in 100 bibles”. These comments appear in an article in the New York Tribune on Feb. 8, 1856 where after these firearms became known as a “Beecher’s Bible”. This appellation was further encouraged by the marking of the cases in which the guns were shipped as “Books” and “Bibles”, a concealment which appears to have served a double purpose: both hiding the identity of the contents from pro-slavery men and keeping the aid companies from any difficulties with the federal authorities who had forbidden the shipping of arms to the bloody region. There are several hundred guns known by serial number listed in Frank Sellers’ book Sharps Firearms where this information was found. John Brown took 200 of these Aid Society guns for his famous raid on Harper’s Ferry. Only 102 of the original 200 guns were found after Brown and his men were captured. In his book, Seller mentions the history of many of these 1853 carbines which is as many as 800 or 900 probably made it to Kansas used by both slavery advocates and the anti-slavery aid societies. In March of 1856, 100 of these carbines were taken from the river steamer “Arabia” at Lexington, MO by pro-slavery “Border Ruffians”. A copy of this Frank Sellers article accompanies this gun and regardless of its actual history, it was in “Bloody Kansas” and saw light use and is still in fine “as found” condition. This is a standard Model 1853 Sharps carbine which was made between 1854-1858 with a total production of approx. 10,000. This gun has all standard markings. Bbl marked “Sharps Rifle/Manufg. Co./Hartford Conn”. Tang is marked “Sharps/Patent/1848” and serial number “17619”. Lockplate is marked “Sharps/Patent/1852”. Gun is original, complete and authentic in every regard. Regardless of history, you are bidding on a fine example of the classic John Brown Sharps which was known shipped to Kansas in 1855 or 1856. CONDITION: Bbl retains 20% original blue with scattered areas of staining and pitting. Remaining metal is gray/brown with some traces of case colors in protected areas. Bore is fine with crisp rifling with areas of pitting. Forestock and buttstock are very good and solid with scattered scratches, nicks and scrapes. There is a “JPO” stamped in small letters on front of buttstock adjacent to frame. There is a 1/2″ area that has a filled repair just behind these initials in stock. Brass mountings including band, patchbox and buttplate have a yellow patina. Gun is fully functional including Maynard capping device. Correct long range rear sight lacks adjustment to its leaf. 4-46670 JS113 (5,000-7,000) 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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