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Berdan Contract Sharps 1859 Rifle

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military Start Price:8,000.00 USD Estimated At:8,000.00 - 12,000.00 USD
Berdan Contract Sharps 1859 Rifle
Auction Location:

16600 Aston Street
Irvine, CA
Rare and Historic Berdan Contract Sharps New Model 1859 Military Rifle, one of 2000 purchased and issued in 1862, #56739, .52 cal., 30'' three-banded blue barrel, case hardened receiver, breechblock, lock, lever, and trigger plate; barrel marked at breech ''New Model 1859''; rear sight with Lawrence patent markings; forward of that ''Sharps Rifle/Manufg. Co./Hartford, Conn.''; right side of lock marked ''R.S. Lawrence Pat/April 12, 1859'', with ''C. Sharps/Pat Oct. 5, 1852''; left side with standard 1848 dates. Iron patchbox to right side of buttstock, with desirable double set triggers. Roy Marcot gives the serial number range as 54,374 to 57,567. The most famous users of the Sharps Rifle during the Civil War were Berdan's Sharpshooters. Col. Berdan held marksmen's competition for his volunteers. After the competition, it was decided that two regiments of sharpshooters were to be formed. The 2nd Regiment was placed under the command of Col. Post. Initally they w!
ere to be outfitted with standard Springfield muzzleloaders, but the Sharpshooters felt they were entitled to a better more accurate rifle, as did Col. Berdan. Col. Berdan turned up the heat and complained to the Secretary of War, Gen. Ripley, Chief of Ordnance, who filled the demand with these special rifles. At first Gen. Ripley tried to pawn off some Colt 1855 Revolving rifles on Berdan, which were hardly better than the Springfields. The initial order for 1000 rifles was increased to 2000 rifles and 200,000 cartridges. The order was placed Jan. 27, 1862, and the rifles were to be delivered in 30 days. Before the company had a chance to begin mfg., Berdan added double set triggers and a dull blue finish to the barrel. These Sharpshooters were employed mainly in skirmishes and fought at many battles, including Malvern Hill, Mechanicsville, Gaines Mill, Glendale, and Gettysburg. At Gettysburg, the 1st Regiment and 200 men of the 3rd Maine faced 30,000 men under Gen. !
Longstreet on Little Round Top. Within 20 minutes the 100 Sha!
rpshoote
rs fired almost 10,000 rounds. This huge volume of fire allowed Gen. Meade to bring up reenforcements and turn the tide of battle. Many historians maintain that this battle turned the coarse of the war. Condition is fine. Barrel blue has toned gray. Bands retain 60% original finish. Walnut forestock with clear cartouches and some darkening near metal surfaces. Finish to wood surfaces is completely original with no evidence of sanding at any time. Receiver with light to just moderate pitting at highpoints and with traces of case hardened hues having turned silver in protected areas. Buttstock with faint but visible cartouches and oil darkening near metal. Set trigger functions as designed, with crisp action and a bore that is fine. Est.: $8,000-$12,000.