Ridgeway Civil War Research Center, A virtual examination of artifacts of the American Civil War
	Civil War Weapons, all pre 1898
	by Harry Ridgeway

Breechloader, Sharps single shot percussion carbine, Model 1853, slanting breech, .52cal. . 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. Details click: http://relicman.com/weapons/Weapon2423-Breechloader-Sharps-Carbine-Model-1853.html

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.

This is the "Ridgeway Civil War Research Center", a research tool for educational purposes only, and is provided at no cost to the reader. Some of the relics listed are retained in the author's collection, most reside in other collections and are not owned by the author. None of the items listed in this section are for sale, please refer to relicman.com sales listings for items offered for sale. This is a work in progress, I list items as I get to them, there are many patterns that are not listed yet, this list will be regularly updated as I get pictures and descriptions for more items. I will also correct mistakes, so if you see any please tell me. All items listed are believed to be authentic to the Civil War or as otherwise described. Any excavated relics have been recovered from private property with owners permission.This information is available for research purposes, pictures may be used by permission only.

All weapons listed on this webpage are strictly manufactured before 1898, and are considered unsafe for actual use. These are antique collectible weapons of the Civil War (most are pre 1865, unless I state otherwise) and actual firing of these weapons is not recommended for any purpose whatsoever! Because these are all "pre 1898" weapons, no licenses are required for ownership, but common sense and good judgment should be applied.

Most information on this page is from:
Flayderman's Guide to Antique American Firearms......
John Thillman series, "Civil War Cavalry & Artillery Sabers...", or "Civil War Army Swords....".

Ridgeway Civil War Research Center, A virtual examination of artifacts of the American Civil War Weapons Research center, weapons, click: http://relicman.com/weapons/Weapon0000-Index.html. Research center, weapons, click: http://relicman.com/weapons/Weapon0000-Index.html.

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