^Lot 4212 DESIRABLE SHARPS MODEL 1855 BRITIHS CONTRACT

CARBINE.Cal. 577. S# 25379. Bbl. 19" with the British style folding leaf rear sight. Left side breech section of the barrel has a British proof consisting of a crown over "TP" / broad arrow / crown over "A2" with an additional crown at the top. The top tang has Sharps patent marking with 1848 date followed by the serial number and a crown over "2". Case colored action and blue finished barrel. Lock is fitted with a Maynard style priming devise. Left side is fitted with a saddle ring and bar. Walnut stock set has a brass patch box and butt-plate. Butt-plate peak and left side of stock are stamped "1". The forearm is held by a steel band. The Model 1855 was mfg. at the Robbins & Lawrence factory in Windsor Vermont. Nearly all of the 6,796 Model 1855 carbines were purchased by the British or U. S. Governments. The British contract was in response for need of arms for the Crimean War, October 1853 to February 1856. Sharps submitted a Model 1851 carbine to the British Committee of Small Arms in April 1954 and later a Model 1852 as sample models. Three thousand Model 1855's had 21" barrels and three thousand had 19" barrels. The British contract was completed in 1856. CONDITION: action and barrel have faded to gray / brown with spots of very light pitting. Brass fittings show past cleaning. Stocks exhibit scattered mats and dents. The action functions properly when hand cycled. The lever latch has stiff operation. Generally bright bore has very good rifling. (01-29571/DS). ANTIQUE. $12,000-18,000.