Civil War Relicman Harry Ridgeway
	Winchester, Virginia USA (changed hands 70 times in the Civil War!) authentic Civil War relics, bought and sold.
	http://relicman.com/

Weapons (pre 1898) of the Civil War Relicman Sales catalog.

W1452 ### Breechloader, Sharps single shot percussion carbine, New Model 1863, no patchbox, cavalry model fitted with saddle riding bar, .52cal. (sn# C23531) . Sharps carbine was a single shot percussion breechloader using paper cartridge. The Sharps series of rifles and carbines became the most important breechloaders utilized in the Civil War. The Model 1863, reflected only minor improvements over the Model 1859, mostly elimination of the patchbox. Serial numbers for the New Model 1863 generally run 65,000 to 140,000, some overlap with other models. Manufactured by Sharps Rifle Manufacturing Co., Hartford, Connecticut. Mark on sight, R.S. LAWRENCE / PATENTED / FEB. 15TH 1859. . Mark forward of sight, SHARPS RIFLE / MANUFG. CO. / HARTFORD CONN. Notches on top of barrel and receiver for alignment. Mark on lock near center: C. SHARPS' PAT. / OCT. 5TH 1852. Mark upper lock: R. S. LAWRENCE' PAT. / APRIL 12TH 1859. Mark left side of receiver: C. SHARPS' PAT. / SEPT. 12TH 1848. Serial number on rear breech. Cartouches on wood on left side beneath the saddle bar indicate government inspection, additional inspector marks, on the barrel. Standard features include: iron buttplate, iron loading lever serves as a trigger guard, one iron band, percussion nipple was designed to utilize a tape primer system that did not work very well and was usually disabled, but conventional cap served effectively, hinged Sharps sight, rifling with six lands and grooves. Intended for cavalry use, saddle bar and ring installed on left side for hanging from a sling, strap hook on bottom of butt. Mark on top of barrel, NEW MODEL 1863. Research Center: Weapon2427-Breechloader-Sharps-Carbine-Model-1863-v2 . Reference: Flayderman 5F-021. Barrel length 22in. Serial number, C23531. For sale $3,000.00 Details click: http://relicman.com/weapons/Relicman-Sales-Weapon-W1452.html

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All weapons I sell are "pre 1898 weapons". This exempts antique firearms from regulation, which means that they can be owned, or shipped through the mail, no permitting or licensing is required. The complete text of the law can be found in the Cornell online law library:
http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/html/uscode18/usc_sec_18_00000921----000-.html The following relevant excerpt is taken from the law:
(3) The term (firearm) means
(A) any weapon (including a starter gun) which will or is designed to or may readily be converted to expel a projectile by the action of an explosive;
(B) the frame or receiver of any such weapon;
(C) any firearm muffler or firearm silencer; or
(D) any destructive device.

Such term does not include an antique firearm.

(16) The term (antique firearm) means:
(A) any firearm (including any firearm with a matchlock, flintlock, percussion cap, or similar type of ignition system) manufactured in or before 1898; or.....

This means that pre 1898 weapons are excluded from the law by definition, therefore none of the rest of the law applies to antique weapons made before 1898.

One caution though, the weapons can be dangerous if not properly handled or used maliciously, so please be careful with them.

A note about safety of antique weapons: Pre 1898 weapons are not regulated because the law exempts them as weapons. They are old, they are antique, and some are compromised and altered well beyond their original design. Any of them can be fired, but safety is always a concern with antique weapons. Safety is also a concern if you drive an antique car on the road. With any antique, special care needs to be exercised, you do not want to simply take the thing off the shelf and shoot it. It should be carefully inspected, cleaned, serviced, and tested before firing. Most of these weapons have not been fired in at least 100 years, and the better ones have probably not been fired since the Civil War itself. There is risk of blockage, stressed metal, improper loading, and other problems that might not be imagined. In addition many collectors would consider any cleaning or use of a historic piece to be a compromise. A premium is paid for originality and condition of a historic piece, sometimes this premium is very significant for an unfired piece, a weapon never gets in better condition as it gets handled. However if you choose to fire an antique weapon versus displaying it, you will want to take it apart, thoroughly clean and inspect it before you fire it, or at least you ought to do that. These antique weapons require an entirely different approach versus the licensed modern weapons that are readily available and more easily and safely used for sport firing and hunting. As a dealer selling strictly antique weapons, I do not warrant any use.


All items listed are guaranteed authentic to the Civil War or as otherwise described.
Any excavated relics have been recovered from private property with owners permission.
Any artillery or ordnance relics have been disarmed and rendered safe.
All weapons are pre 1898 antique weapons, and are exempt from Federal regulation, no licenses or permits are required.


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