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

Boot pistol, Sharps pepperbox . Research Center: Weapon3300-Pistol-Sharps-Pepperbox . Details click: http://relicman.com/weapons/Weapon3300-Pistol-Sharps-Pepperbox.html

W0567 ### Sharps Breech - Loading 4 shot Pepperbox pistol, .22 caliber . This small boot pistol loaded 4 rimfire cartridges at a time, firing pin rotated.Pistol is marked C.Sharps Patent 1859 on the left side, and C.Sharps & Co Philada, PAon the right.It is serial number 3494, This is Model 1C wood grips, on brass frame.This was weapon of last resort, spring is broken on this example, that can be fixed.. Research Center: Weapon3300-Pistol-Sharps-Pepperbox .

W0194 ### Boot pistol belonging to Charles Henry Peterson 2nd Maryland (sn# 701) . These small boot pistols were sold on the civilian market for private defense and could be carried and concealed in a boot. As a weapon these were ineffective but some soldiers did carry them. This pistol was carried Pvt. Charles Henry Peterson, 2nd Reg't Maryland, Eastern Shore Infantry. He enlisted at age 21 in October 1861 and was discharged July 1865. He fought at Falling Waters, Maryland, Piedmont, Va, Lynchburg, Va, Snickers Gap, Va, 2nd Kernstown and Berryville Va among other battles. His pension records show he suffered from chronic stomach ailments which were from the retreat from Lynchburg through West Virginia. During that period food was scarce and the soldiers took to eating roots, bark, and other things unimaginable. He died of his stomach problems in 1900.Weapon is on loan from Chuck Peterson, great great grandson of Private Charles Henry Peterson. The pistol is Sharps Breech - Loading 4 shot Pepperbox pistol, .22 caliber. It loaded 4 rimfire cartridges at a time, firing pin rotated. Pistol is marked C. Sharps & Co Philada, PA on the left side, and C. Sharps Patent 1859 on the right. It is serial number 701, This is Model 2E, distinct gutta percha grips, on iron frame. Research Center: Weapon3300-Pistol-Sharps-Pepperbox . Reference: Flayderman 5F-082. Old Court House Civil War Museum collection, loaned by Charles Peterson.

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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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.