3011

Very Rare Richmond Confederate Sharps Carbine

Currency:USD Category:Antiques / Firearms & Armory Start Price:8,000.00 USD Estimated At:16,000.00 - 22,500.00 USD
Very Rare Richmond Confederate Sharps Carbine
The marking on the barrel "RICHMOND,VA / 1862" at the rear of the barrel identifies this as one of the Sharp's carbines made by the Confederate government after it took over the Richmond factory of Samuel Robinson, who made the first 1900 of them. This carbine is one of the first 1,900. Two features that identify the Confederate Sharps, both those made by the government and those made by Robinson are the thin lock plate without the Sharp's pellet priming mechanism and the full length plate for the sling ring on the left side of the stock. Most of these also had a sling swivel on the bottom of the stock near the butt, as is the case with this particular carbine. The top of the barrel in front of the rear sight is marked "S.C. ROBINSON / ARMS MANUFACTORY", the lock plate is marked "S.C. ROBINSON / ARMS MANUFACTORY / RICHMOND, VA / 1862" just behind the hammer and serial number, "364" is marked at the rear of the lock and on the upper tang. Integral front blade and fixed iron rear sights and mounted with a smooth forearm with iron barrel band and straight grip stock with a brass buttplate and small brass disk on the upper left side marked "499". Attached to the saddle ring is a brass, personal collection tag. Almost all of these carbines were issued to Confederate troops from the day they were made until the end of the Civil War, many seeing very hard field use.
BBL: 21 3/4 inch round
Stock: walnut
Gauge: 52 percussion
Finish: blue/casehardened
Grips:
Serial Number: 364
Condition: Good. The metal surfaces have a smooth brown patina with some scattered spotting, a small amount of minor pitting on the barrel, and the top of the breechblock is moderately pitted. The replacement barrel band is ill-fitting and is jammed over the rear of the spring. The wood is about good with numerous small dents and gouges in the forearm, repaired, chipped stock toe and scattered minor dents, dings and scratches on the stock. The markings are legible (some fading). The action is fine. A solid example of a highly desirable S.C. Robinson Richmond Sharps carbine, considering the hard use it's probably seen.