Hello , I've just recently received this rifle . I know very little about it . Could someone here help me with what exactly do I have and what value it would have ? I cannot find any serial # on it anywhere . I suspect it may have been rebarreled at some time due to no markings on barrel and the good condition of the bore . My first time posting pics on CGN so don't be too hard on me LOL .
Sharps Carbine
- Thread starter rimfireplinker
- Start date
Doesn't seem to be lined . 50-70 seems feasible . 45-70 is way small for chamber . Bluing on barrel does not match the rest of the firearm hence my feeling that it's been rebarreled . Thanks for your reply . Any and all help is appreciated .
No markings
The conversion Sharp's I have still has the original barrel and is marked New Model 1863 and i believe the model was marked there on all the civil war guns being a 1859 or the 1863 version by the information I have. So yours may not have been a military conversion one. If the Sharp's rifle company did the conversion it would likely be marked by them also
On the contracted conversion if the barrel was still good and within spec's they used the barrel and chambered to 50/70 as is, and if the barrel was bad or over spec's they installed a 3 groove barrel liner chambered to 50/70 according to what i have read and seen.
So likely a good chance yours had a barrel install by a gunsmith at the time. It still looks like a fine gun but I don't know the value of a civilian conversion is
On the contracted conversion if the barrel was still good and within spec's they used the barrel and chambered to 50/70 as is, and if the barrel was bad or over spec's they installed a 3 groove barrel liner chambered to 50/70 according to what i have read and seen.
So likely a good chance yours had a barrel install by a gunsmith at the time. It still looks like a fine gun but I don't know the value of a civilian conversion is
This is a Sharps New Model 1863 carbine that was later converted to metallic cartridge. The US Government had approx 30,000 of these carbines converted to 50-70 Government, and refer to these as the US Model 1868 Sharps Carbine. These saw heavy western use amongst US Cavalry units.
Many percussion carbines were also owned / converted to metallic cartridge in the 1860s - 1880s. To see if you have a Government conversion or a civilian one, see if you can make out a government cartouche on the left side of the buttstock - should find "DFC" in a banner for David F Clarke - government inspector.
May be a rebarrel or may be lined. Finish of the barrel is often slightly bluer than the case coloured receiver which often greys out over time.
Value wise these tend to go for the 2500-3500 range up here in Canada from my experience.
Many percussion carbines were also owned / converted to metallic cartridge in the 1860s - 1880s. To see if you have a Government conversion or a civilian one, see if you can make out a government cartouche on the left side of the buttstock - should find "DFC" in a banner for David F Clarke - government inspector.
May be a rebarrel or may be lined. Finish of the barrel is often slightly bluer than the case coloured receiver which often greys out over time.
Value wise these tend to go for the 2500-3500 range up here in Canada from my experience.
Any markings on the barrel or under the forestock? May have some clues as to who did the conversion or when. These little carbines have a very interesting history - many (both civilian and military) went west during the 1870s -1880s
I would question why the serial is missing - is the remainder of the tang a replacement?
Take it apart, see if the break matches/mates - or if it is actually a cut. Or if there is something else going on underneath.
That as mentioned could be welded, bronze or silver brazing is also an option without worrying about overheating the receiver. So wall hanger = No. However in 50/70 I would be hesitant to shoot it like that.... oh, I would shoot it, but would hesitate first.
