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LOT 3090
Rare Sharps Model 1849/First Model “Nippes” Breech-Loading Serial Number 25
Percussion Sporting Rifle - Serial no. 25, 32 Bore cal., 30 3/4 inch octagon bbl., brown/
casehardened/bright finish, walnut stock. This rifle is a rare example of a very early Sharps
rifle: the Model 1849 Rifle (a.k.a. 1st Model Sharps). These rifles are covered in detail in pages
28-41 of “Sharps Firearms: The Percussion Era” by Marcot, Paxton, and Marron. Christian
Sharps received the patent for his innovative breechloading design on September 12, 1848.
He contracted with Albert S. Nippes of Mill Creek just to the northwest of Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania, just off the Schuylkill River to manufacture 100-200 rifles of his design on March
14, 1849. Nippes was but 24, he came from a line of German-American gunsmiths, and his
grandfather and father were U.S. military arms contractors. Under his father Daniel’s direction,
the mill had produced around 5,100 Model 1840 muskets in 1842-1848, and the family
previously manufactured earlier models. Under the contract with Sharps, Nippes provided the
machining and tooling to manufacture the rifles while Sharps would sell them and split the
profit. The barrels are identified as purchased from Edwin Wesson. By April 20 1849, Nippes
had the first rifle manufactured. The only example shown in the book that is earlier than this
rifle is number 2 which was a special early variation.
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