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P. 248
LOT 1232
Historic Civil War
Berdan Sharpshooter
Serial Range Sharps
Model 1859 Percussion
Military Rifle with Double
Set Triggers - Serial no. 57555,
52 cal., 30 inch round bbl., blue/
casehardened finish, walnut stock.
This New Model 1859 Sharps rifle was
manufactured in 1862, and is in the
proper configuration 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 nickel-silver blade front sight correctly in a
fixed block mount that doubles as a socket bayonet lug, Lawrence patent notch and ladder rear sight, standard markings including 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 very faint outline of a bordered inspection cartouche that was likely “JT” of John Taylor, who reportedly inspected all 2,000 of the Berdan special
contract rifles between April 11 and May 24, 1862. 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 used rifle, with areas of antiqued brown patina, hammer exhibiting vivid case colors, some scattered patches of light pitting/oxidation, and plenty of character.
The wood is also good as sanded and re-oiled, with some scattered characteristic light battle scars. Mechanically functions. This desirable Berdan Sharpshooter range Sharps rifle would make a fine
addition to any U.S. Civil War arms collection!
Estimate: 9,500 - 16,000
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