Page 233 - 4095-BOOK1

LOT 234
Historic Civil War U.S.
Martially Inspected
Berdan Sharpshooter
Range Sharps New
Model 1859 Percussion
Military Rifle with Double
Set Triggers - Serial no.
56750, 52 cal., 30 inch round bbl., brown
finish, walnut stock. This double set trigger Sharps
New Model 1859 rifle was manufactured in 1862, with
proper features 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, known as Berdan’s Sharpshooters, and falls within the correct approximate
54000 to late 57000 serial number range of Berdan Sharps rifles, per known surviving
examples listed on pages 97-99 of “Sharpshooter” by Wiley Sword. Berdan’s two regiments
were composed of experienced marksman from Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire,
New York, Pennsylvania, Vermont, and Wisconsin. Berdan’s Sharpshooters became one of the most
feared units of the Civil War, and played an important role in many of the biggest battles including
Gettysburg, Spotsylvania, Chancellorsville, and the Second Battle of Bull Run. The two U.S.S. 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, and some others
were diverted and used by other units such as the Bucktails (1st, 13th, and 42nd Pennsylvania). This rifle has a standard nickel-silver blade front sight with base that doubles
as a socket bayonet lug, Lawrence patent notch and ladder rear sight, the Sharps Hartford address on top of the barrel ahead of the rear sight and “NEW MODEL 1859” at
the breech, adjustable double set triggers, long military type forearm, sling swivels on the middle barrel band and buttstock, an iron patch box, and is correctly not fit with
a lever latch. The left wrist area of the stock has a bordered script “JT” inspection cartouche of John Taylor, who reportedly inspected all 2,000 of the Berdan special contract
rifles between April 11 and May 24, 1862. Small “OWA” inspection initials stamped on the left breech of the barrel. Matching serial numbers marked on the receiver and
underside of the barrel. Includes a modern printing of the book “Berdan’s United States Sharpshooters in the Army of the Potomac” by Stevens. 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: Good as a historic Civil War issued rifle, with antiqued brown patina on most of the iron, and characteristic patches of light to mild pitting. Wood is also good as
restored, repaired pinned wrist, with dents, scratches, nicks, and a visible cartouche. Mechanically functions. This historic Berdan Sharps rifle is a desirable firearm for a Civil
War collector!
Estimate: 8,500 - 13,000 231