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95
As pictured & described in
Sharps Firearms: The Percussion Era
by Marcot, Paxton, and Marron
The next closest is number 35. They note that only 16 were known to them when the book
was published in 2019. The highest known serial number is 166, and no more than 175 are
believed to have been manufactured before production shifted in late November 1849 to
the similar Model 1850 which used the Maynard primer system. These two early models
are much closer to the original Sharps patent than later models which were significantly
modified to the “classic” Sharps pattern most of us think of and contain the majority of the
approximately 160,000 Sharps rifles made between 1849 and 1881. Though production
ended before 1850, they were advertised for sale in 1850 and were sold by M. Magee &
Co., Wm. H. Horstmann & Sons, John Krider, E.K. Tryon, E. Lewis, and Spang & Wallace in
Philadelphia and also by Magee & Kneass in New Orleans, Baden & Bro. in Washington,
D.C., J.H. Taylor in Charleston, and Burtis & Brother in St. Louis. The latter specifically
advertised them for emigrants headed to the West, later the key market for Sharps rifles.
The advertisements noted the rifles could be fired eight to twelve times in a minute. Nippes
ended his relationship with Sharps in June of 1851. While not a major commercial success,
the Model 1849 was historically significant in the evolution of the Sharps rifle design, and
Albert Nippes was a key figure in the early manufacture and promotion of the Sharps design.
These early “First Model” rifles feature the distinctive brass circular disk automatic capping
device similar to “cappers” for Colt Paterson revolvers on the right side of the breech that
was designed by Christian Sharps but apparently never patented and was only used on this
model. Lowering the lever lowers the nipple along with the breech allowing the device to
feed a cap onto the nipple for the next shot. The barrel has 12-groove rifling, and the top flat
is roll-stamped: “MANUFACTURED/BY/A.S. NIPPES/PHILADA PA” in four lines behind the rear
sight along with the serial number “25.” The barrel also has dovetail mounted blade front and
notch rear sights, and the lower flat has a single iron cleaning rod ferrule and is grooved to
fit the wiping rod. “C.SHARPS/PATENT/1848” is stamped in three lines on the top of the frame
at the breech. “L” is marked on some of the flat head screws. The breech lever curves over the
brass trigger guard. The elongated back action lock has a curved profile. The stock is fitted
with a large brass “patchbox” on the right side designed to carry a second primer wheel. The
forend cap and buttplate are also brass.
CONDITION: Very good with mostly dark brown mix of faded brown finish and case colors
and dark patina on the iron throughout, some mild pitting, very attractive aged patina on
the brass, distinct markings, and fairly minimal overall wear including some mild pitting. The
front screw for the lock is stripped. The wood is fine and has smooth oiled finish, a crack in
the butt, light scratches and dings, and minor edge wear. Mechanically fine. Very few of these
early Sharps rifles remain today, and this is a fleeting opportunity to get your hands on a very
early one! Significantly, this is the 25th production rifle of approximately 160,000 Sharps rifles
manufactured from 1849 through 1881!
Estimate: 30,000 - 50,000
Serial Number 25