Make: Sharps

Model: New Model 1859, 1867 Contract Cartridge Conversion

Serial Number: 58314

Year of Manufacture: Circa 1862, converted on the 1867 Contract, circa 1868-1869

Caliber: 50-70 Government

Action Type: Single shot, falling block, cartridge conversion, carbine.

Barrel Length: 22"

Sights / Optics: The front sight is a brass blade pinned to a base that is fixed to the barrel. The rear sight is a folding Lawrence Patent ladder style V notch dovetailed to the barrel. The slider is missing on the rear sight.

Stock Configuration & Condition: The stock is a two piece smooth walnut, banded forend, straight grip, straight comb, and semi crescent iron buttplate. The LOP is 13 3/4" from trigger to buttplate. The stock has been refinished. There are some scratches and compression dents that show through. There are no cracks or chips. The original cartouche is faint. There is a non-factory restamp of the cartouche on the left side of the stock. Overall this stock is in Very Good condition as refinished.

Type of Finish: Blued, Color Cased

Finish Originality: Refinished

Bore Condition: The bore is bright. The rifling is sharp. There is very minor erosion. There is minor superficial corrosion. In this writer's opinion this bore rates 8/10.

Overall Condition: This carbine retains about 90% of its current blue and case colored finish. There is light handling and operational wear. There are some light scratches scattered throughout. There is bluing loss on the barrel markings. The screw heads are sharp. The markings are legible. Overall this carbine is in Very Good condition as refinished.

Mechanics: The action functions correctly. We did not fire this carbine. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance requirements.

Box, Paperwork & Accessories: None

Our Assessment: The Sharps New Model 1859 was one of the most important cavalry carbines of the Civil War, combining Christian Sharps’ falling-block system with Richard Lawrence’s refinements and the Lawrence pellet-primer mechanism. Originally built as a .52-caliber percussion arm using combustible cartridges, the New Model 1859 saw extensive Federal cavalry service. In October 1867, the U.S. government contracted with Sharps to convert New Model 1859, 1863, and 1865 carbines in government stores to metallic-cartridge operation. The .50-70 Government conversion replaced or altered the breechblock for a firing pin and extractor, adapted the chamber, removed the obsolete pellet-primer components, and, where necessary, relined oversized percussion barrels. More than 30,000 Sharps carbines were ultimately converted under the postwar program, many of which subsequently served on the western frontier.

This example, serial number 58314, is consistent with a Civil War-era New Model 1859 manufactured circa 1862 and later converted to .50-70 Government under the 1867 U.S. contract, with the work performed circa 1868-1869. The carbine has subsequently been refinished and retains about 90% of its current blue and case-colored finish, showing light handling and operational wear, scattered scratches, and some finish loss around the barrel markings. The refinished walnut furniture remains solid with no chips or cracks, while the faint original cartouche survives alongside a clearly disclosed non-factory restamp. The bright bore retains sharp rifling with only very minor erosion and superficial corrosion and rates 8/10, and the action functions correctly. Despite the later refinish and stock work, this remains an attractive example of a Civil War Sharps subsequently modernized for metallic-cartridge service during the immediate postwar period. Please see our photos for a better understanding of the condition and good luck with your bids!