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.

W1527 ### Breechloader, Sharps single shot percussion carbine, Model 1853, slanting breech, .52cal. (sn# 9954) . 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 1853 played a prominent role in the Kansas struggle and is sometimes referred to as the John Brown Sharps or Beecher's Bibles, it was available well before the Civil War, was mostly bought by private individuals or militia groups. Serial numbers for the Model 1853 generally run 9,000 to 19,000. The Model 1853 was essentially the same weapon as the Model 1852 and continued use of the slanting breech, so called based on the angled position of the breech on the frame. Manufactured by Sharps Rifle Manufacturing Co., Hartford, Connecticut. Mark on top of barrel: SHARPS RIFLE / MANUFG CO. / HARTFORD, CONN. Mark on breech tang: C. SHARPS / PATENT / 1848 and serial number. Mark on the receiver: C. SHARPS' / PATENT / 1852. Standard features include: brass buttplate, brass patchbox, iron loading lever serves as a trigger guard, one brass 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 long range sight, rifling with six lands and grooves. Research Center: Weapon2423-Breechloader-Sharps-Carbine-Model-1853 . Reference: Flayderman 5F-010. Barrel length 21.5in. Serial number, 9954. Carving WM YARBRO TIFTON 1862 , meaning of this is not determined. For sale $5,500.00 Details click: http://relicman.com/weapons/Relicman-Sales-Weapon-W1527.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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