Make: Sharps Rifle Mfg. Co.

Model: Civil War-era Sharps Model 1863 Carbine Conversion to Centerfire

Serial#: 31784

Year of Manufacture: Circa 1863-1865, Antique

Caliber: .20 GA

Action Type: Single Shot Lever-Action Falling Block Rifle

Markings: The rear left portion of the barrel is marked with a small “C.” The left side of the frame is marked “C” and faded stamp “SHARP’S PAT / SEPT. 12TH 1848”. The top tang is marked “31784”. The butt-plate is unmarked. The right side of the frame has a faded mark “R.S. LAWRENCE PAT. / APRIL 12TH 1859” and “C. SHARPS’ PAT. / OCT. 5TH 1852”. The receiver lever pin is marked “S”. The rear sight is marked “R.S. LAWRENCE / PATENTED / FEB. 15TH 1869”. The right side of the barrel band is marked “U”. The top of the barrel is marked “MODEL OF 1863”.

Barrel Length: 22”

Sights/ Optics: The front sight is an orange fiber optic filled in the front sight base. The rear sight was a folding ladder sight but has been removed but the vase still remained, dovetailed at the rear and screwed at the front. 

Stock Configuration & Condition/ Grip: The stocks are two-piece wood featuring a forend secured by a barrel band and retaining screw, a straight wrist, a straight comb and a semi-crescent butt-plate. The stock has some mild to heavy handling marks, nicks and scuffs.There is some erosion on the sling bar and on the ring. There are no notable cracks. The LOP is 13 7/8” from the trigger to the rear of the butt-plate. The buttplate has taken a dark patina throughout with mild corrosion, erosion, and other spots of rust. Overall, the stocks are in Good condition for an Antique.

Type of Finish: Blue & Case Color

Finish Originality: Original

Bore Condition: The bore is mostly dark with intermittent erosion and pitting throughout. The bore is smooth where not interrupted by erosion. In this writer’s opinion the bore rates 4/10. 

Overall Condition: The rifle retains about 10% of its metal finish. There is still appreciable bluing on the barrel under the forend. The exposed portion of the barrel is largely coated in light surface oxidation and has taken a dull patina color. The rest of the gun’s finish has worn off and is coated in light surface oxidation which gives it a dull patina color. There are some light handling marks, nicks and scuffs. The hammer has been cut down to fit in a scabbard. Some markings have faded but the discernible markings have been described above. The screwheads are tooled but remain serviceable. Overall, the rifle is in Good condition.

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

Box Paperwork and Accessories: None.

Our Assessment: The Sharps Carbine was a percussion ignition breech-loader that was carried by cavalrymen during the American Civil War. By the end of the four-year conflict the superiority of breech-loaded weaponry had become clear, but the percussion ignition system was showing its obsolescence and new firing mechanisms were developed. Among a number of Civil-War vintage surplus, a number of Sharps Carbines were converted with modern firing pins and rechambered for several calibers. These conversions were both carried out at Springfield Armory and also done by private companies.

This particular specimen appears to have been rebored and had its stocks either replaced or refurbished. The gun is chambered for 20 GA and despite some superficial wear it remains both aesthetically pleasing and mechanically sound. This is a solid option for historical firearms collectors.