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LOT 221
Historic Civil War U.S. Martially Inspected Berdan Sharpshooter
Double Set Trigger Sharps New Model 1859 Percussion Military
Rifle - Serial no. 55390, 52 cal., 30 inch round bbl., blue/casehardened
finish, walnut stock. This New Model 1859 Sharps rifle falls within the
correct 54000-57000 serial number range of the 2,000 special ordered
rifles produced in 1862 for the 1st and 2nd U.S. Sharpshooter regiments
(U.S.S.) organized and recruited by Colonel Hiram Berdan (Berdan’s
Sharpshooters), and the left wrist of the stock is stamped with the
bordered script “JT” inspection cartouche of John Taylor. John Taylor
inspected all 2,000 of the Berdan special contract rifles between April
11 and May 24, 1862, per Wiley Sword in “Sharpshooter.” Berdan’s two
U.S. Sharpshooter regiments (U.S.S.) were composed of experienced
marksman from Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New York,
Pennsylvania, Vermont and Wisconsin. The regiments were intended to
serve as skirmishers and light infantry modeled on the famous British
Rifle Brigade. Like their British counterparts, the U.S.S. were issued dark
green uniforms with non-reflective black buttons. Berdan selected the
New Model 1859 Sharps rifle to arm the Sharpshooters, replacing the
originally issued Colt Model 1855 rifles. The Ordnance Department’s initial
order was for standard New Model 1859 rifles, but Colonel Hiram Berdan
contacted the factory and requested a dull barrel finish and double set
triggers. The factory assumed Berdan had permission for the changes
and began producing rifles for the unit to his specifications, but once the
Ordnance Department got word, they insisted that they would not pay
for additional rifles in the altered configuration. However, given that the
specifications Berdan requested did not actually cost more due to the
use of a socket bayonet rather than a sword bayonet, Sharps may have
just continued making the rifles as Berdan requested. Many of the rifles
were used by the Sharpshooters, but others were diverted and used by
other units including the Bucktails (13th Pennsylvania). Page 82 of Wiley
Sword’s book states, “...a detail of sharpshooters cut small sticks to fit to
the sight in order to increase the elevation while at the Po River in 1864.
Their shots at an estimated 1,500 yards distance caused a Confederate
signal station to be abandoned, reported an observer.” Consignor notes
state that this rifle came out of the “Sheridan, Wyoming collection”
in 1992 and was subsequently acquired by the consignor from Jack
Shanstrom in a trade deal. This rifle has a period replacement pinched
blade front sight, standard Lawrence patent notch and ladder rear sight
with readings graduated to 800 yards with a 900 yard center notch at
the top, a period fixed tang mounted sight base (no tang sight present),
standard markings including the Sharps Hartford address on top of the
barrel ahead of the rear sight and “NEW MODEL 1859” at the breech, “S.L”
inspection initials on the left breech of the barrel, adjustable double set
triggers, long military forearm, sling swivels on the middle barrel band
and buttstock, an iron patch box, and is correctly not fit with a lever latch.
The serial number “55390” is marked on the underside of the barrel, with
only the last two digits “90” visible of the serial number on top of the
receiver tang, with the first three digits covered by the added tang sight
base. Includes two extra primer tubes. Most of these rifles saw hard use in
some of the most significant major battles of the Civil War in a specialized
role similar to a modern day sniper rifle, with many dropped in battle;
surviving examples are highly sought after today!
CONDITION: Very good, the original blue finish turned to mostly a plum
patina on the barrel assembly and bands, with smooth gray patina and
scattered brown surface freckling on the casehardened components, and
period modified sights as mentioned above. Wood is also very good as
re-oiled, with characteristic scattered dents and scratches, a crack visible
at the left rear of the forearm, and a visible cartouche. Mechanically fine.
A historic Berdan Sharps rifle that likely participated some of the most
important historical battles of the U.S. Civil War!
Provenance: The Sheridan, Wyoming Collection;
The Jack Shanstrom Collection; Property of a Gentleman.
Estimate: 14,000 - 22,500 243