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165
LOT 1170
Historic Civil War U.S.
Martially Inspected Berdan
Sharpshooter Range Sharps
New Model 1859 Percussion
Military Rifle with Double
Set Triggers - Serial no. 55129,
52 cal., 30 inch round bbl.,
blue/casehardened 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 period added dovetailed nickel-silver blade
front sight, 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 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. Matching serial numbers marked on the receiver and underside of the barrel. 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 and gray patina on the barrel, the balance dark brown patina with characteristic patches of light to mild pitting. Wood is also good, with a reattached
section above the lock, dents, scratches, some chips and cracks, and a visible cartouche. Rear barrel band loosely seated. Set trigger engages intermittently, otherwise mechanically functions. This historic Berdan Sharps rifle would
make a fine addition to any U.S. Civil War arms collection!
Estimate: 9,500 - 16,000