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New-York Daily Times
THE WAR IN KANSAS
MURDER OF MAJOR HOYT Thrilling Account of the Battle of Franklin
FREE-STATE VICTORY!
PREPARATIONS FOR A BLOODY CONFLICT
Lawrence, Kansas, wednesday, aug. 18, 1856
LOT 1118
Incredibly Historic and Well Documented Sharps Model 1853 “John Brown Sharps/Beecher’s Bible” Slant Breech Percussion Carbine Shipped to Abolitionist General Samuel C. Pomeroy in Kansas during Bleeding Kansas
- Serial no. 16662, 52 cal., 21 1/2 inch round bbl., blue/ casehardened finish, walnut stock. While all Sharps Model 1853 carbines are desirable due to their rarity and historical connections to the turmoil and sectional strife during the antebellum era, those that are documented as being directly connected to Bleeding Kansas in the 1850s are particularly desirable, and that is certainly the case for this fascinating carbine which is accompanied by factory documentation listing it by serial number among 100 carbines ordered from Sharps in 1856 for the Free State settlers in Kansas through the New England Emigrant Aid Company.
This model was manufactured from 1854 to 1857. This example was made prior to March 19, 1856. The barrel has a small brass blade front sight, a “squirrel ear” rear sight, and “SHARP’S RIFLE/ MANUFG. CO./HARTFORD CONN.” marked on top. The lock
is marked “SHARP’S/PATENT/1852.” The upper tang has the “SHARPS/PATENT/1848” marking and the serial number. A long saddle ring bar runs from the left side of the brass barrel band to the rear of the frame. The buttplate and patchbox are also brass. The stock and forearm are smooth walnut. There appears to be a “JPC” mark on the left side of the stock by the saddle ring bar. The breechblock is an earlier style with the platinum band removed. This may be related to this carbine being shipped by the Emigrant Aid Company separately from the original breechblock as discussed below.
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