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, New Model 1863, conversion to 50-70 rimfire, .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 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 top of barrel, NEW MODEL 1863.. 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. A new inspector mark in the form of a ribbon was added on the butt once the gun had been refurbished and refitted. Cartouches on wood on left side beneath the saddle bar indicate government inspection, additional inspector marks, on the barrel and butt. Standard features include: iron buttplate, iron loading lever serves as a trigger guard, one iron band, hinged Sharps sight, saddle bar and riding ring on left side. After the Civil War, many of the Model 1863 percussion models were converted to utilize the new 50/70 center fire cartridges, the percussion nipple was replaced with the center firing pin, and most of the barrels were re-lined from .52 cal to .50 cal., the new rifling reflected three wide lands and grooves, versus the six narrow lands and grooves in the original model. Research Center: Weapon2427-Breechloader-Sharps-Carbine-Model-1863-v4 . Reference: Flayderman 5F-031. Barrel length 22in. Details click: http://relicman.com/weapons/Weapon2427-Breechloader-Sharps-Carbine-Model-1863-v4 .html

W1192 ### Breechloader, Sharps single shot percussion carbine, New Model 1863, conversion to 50-70 rimfire, .52cal. (sn# 85004) . 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 top of barrel, NEW MODEL 1863.. 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. A new inspector mark in the form of a ribbon was added on the butt once the gun had been refurbished and refitted. Cartouches on wood on left side beneath the saddle bar indicate government inspection, additional inspector marks, on the barrel and butt. Standard features include: iron buttplate, iron loading lever serves as a trigger guard, one iron band, hinged Sharps sight, saddle bar and riding ring on left side. After the Civil War, many of the Model 1863 percussion models were converted to utilize the new 50/70 center fire cartridges, the percussion nipple was replaced with the center firing pin, and most of the barrels were re-lined from .52 cal to .50 cal., the new rifling reflected three wide lands and grooves, versus the six narrow lands and grooves in the original model. Research Center: Weapon2427-Breechloader-Sharps-Carbine-Model-1863-v4 . Reference: Flayderman 5F-031. Barrel length 22in. Serial number, 85004. Screw holding the hammer is missing, the latch tab underneath holding the lever appears to be a replacement.

W1429 ### Breechloader, Sharps single shot percussion carbine, New Model 1863, conversion to 50-70 rimfire, .52cal. (sn# 94163) . 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 top of barrel, NEW MODEL 1863.. 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. A new inspector mark in the form of a ribbon was added on the butt once the gun had been refurbished and refitted. Cartouches on wood on left side beneath the saddle bar indicate government inspection, additional inspector marks, on the barrel and butt. Standard features include: iron buttplate, iron loading lever serves as a trigger guard, one iron band, hinged Sharps sight, saddle bar and riding ring on left side. After the Civil War, many of the Model 1863 percussion models were converted to utilize the new 50/70 center fire cartridges, the percussion nipple was replaced with the center firing pin, and most of the barrels were re-lined from .52 cal to .50 cal., the new rifling reflected three wide lands and grooves, versus the six narrow lands and grooves in the original model. Research Center: Weapon2427-Breechloader-Sharps-Carbine-Model-1863-v4 . Reference: Flayderman 5F-031. Barrel length 22in. Serial number, 94163.

W1022 ### Breechloader, Sharps single shot percussion carbine, New Model 1863, conversion to 50-70 rimfire, .52cal. (sn# C28199) . 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 top of barrel, NEW MODEL 1863.. 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. A new inspector mark in the form of a ribbon was added on the butt once the gun had been refurbished and refitted. Cartouches on wood on left side beneath the saddle bar indicate government inspection, additional inspector marks, on the barrel and butt. Standard features include: iron buttplate, iron loading lever serves as a trigger guard, one iron band, hinged Sharps sight, saddle bar and riding ring on left side. After the Civil War, many of the Model 1863 percussion models were converted to utilize the new 50/70 center fire cartridges, the percussion nipple was replaced with the center firing pin, and most of the barrels were re-lined from .52 cal to .50 cal., the new rifling reflected three wide lands and grooves, versus the six narrow lands and grooves in the original model. Research Center: Weapon2427-Breechloader-Sharps-Carbine-Model-1863-v4 . Reference: Flayderman 5F-031. Barrel length 22in. Serial number, C28199.

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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