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 and Hankins carbine. . Manufactured by Sharps & Hankins, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Research Center: Weapon2430-Breechloader-Sharps-Hankins . Details click: http://relicman.com/weapons/Weapon2430-Breechloader-Sharps-Hankins.html

Breechloader, Sharps and Hankins single shot rimfire carbine, Model 1862, for Cavalry, .52cal. . Sharps partnered with Hankins for a short period during the Civil War, 1862 to 1865, producing a limited quantity of these carbines. Those made for the cavalry employed a short barrel, were never leather covered and so the breech screws and forward band used to secure the leather on the Navy model was not installed on the cavalry version. This rimfire carbine employed a metal cartridge, and was loaded by sliding the barrel forward using a loading lever on the underside, secured by a small latch inside the lever which can be awkward to operate, Manufactured by Sharps & Hankins, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Mark on right side SHARPS / & / HANKINS / PHILADA. Mark on left side SHARPS / PATENT / 1859. Serial number on rear tang and inside on the loading lever. Standard features include: brass buttplate, iron loading lever, unique hinged sight, metal forearm is extension of the block, single strap hook on the butt, rifled bore with 6 lands & grooves. Research Center: Weapon2431-Breechloader-Sharps-Hankins-Carbine . Reference: Flayderman 5F-094. Barrel length 19in. Details click: http://relicman.com/weapons/Weapon2431-Breechloader-Sharps-Hankins-Carbine.html

Breechloader, Sharps and Hankins single shot rimfire carbine, Model 1862, for Navy, .52cal. . Sharps partnered with Hankins for a short period during the Civil War, 1862 to 1865, producing about 8,000 of these carbines. Those made for the Navy employed a leather covering on the barrel to protect against rust when used on shipboard, although the damp conditions actually tended to trap moisture, consequently many are either missing the leather or it was removed. This rimfire carbine employed a metal cartridge, and was loaded by sliding the barrel forward using a loading lever on the underside, secured by a small latch inside the lever which can be awkward to operate, Manufactured by Sharps & Hankins, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Mark on right side SHARPS / & / HANKINS / PHILADA. Mark on left side SHARPS / PATENT / 1859. Serial number on rear tang and inside on the loading lever. Standard features include: brass buttplate, iron loading lever, leather sleeve on barrel is secured by screws at the breech, and an iron ring at the muzzle, unique hinged sight, metal forearm is extension of the block, single strap hook on the butt, rifled bore with 6 lands & grooves. Research Center: Weapon2432-Breechloader-Sharps-Hankins-Carbine . Reference: Flayderman 5F-091. Barrel length 24in. Details click: http://relicman.com/weapons/Weapon2432-Breechloader-Sharps-Hankins-Carbine.html

Breechloader, Sharps and Hankins single shot rimfire carbine, Model 1862, for Army, .52cal. . Sharps partnered with Hankins for a short period during the Civil War, 1862 to 1865, producing about 500 of these carbines. Those made for the Army did not utilize the leather covering employed on the Navy version, there will be no hole at the breech or clamp at the muzzle to secure the leather covering. This rimfire carbine employed a metal cartridge, and was loaded by sliding the barrel forward using a loading lever on the underside, secured by a small latch inside the lever which can be awkward to operate. Manufactured by Sharps & Hankins, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Mark on right side SHARPS / & / HANKINS / PHILADA. Mark on left side SHARPS / PATENT / 1859. Serial number on rear tang and inside on the loading lever. Standard features include: brass buttplate, iron loading lever, leather sleeve on barrel is secured by screws at the breech, and an iron ring at the muzzle, unique hinged sight, metal forearm is extension of the block, single strap hook on the butt, rifled bore with 6 lands & grooves. Research Center: Weapon2433-Breechloader-Sharps-Hankins-Carbine . Reference: Flayderman 5F-093. Barrel length 24in. Details click: http://relicman.com/weapons/Weapon2433-Breechloader-Sharps-Hankins-Carbine.html

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.

and now a word from our sponsor.....

Civil War Relicman, Harry Ridgeway, Civil War weapons, Relicman sales catalog. Sale listings click: http://relicman.com/weapons/Relicman-Sales-Weapon0000.html. Sale listings click: http://relicman.com/weapons/Relicman-Sales-Weapon0000.html.