Guns International #: 102321118
Seller's Inventory #: 227926

Category - Civil War Pistols - Antique Pepperbox

Category
Civil War Pistols
Antique Pepperbox

CIVIL WAR Era Antique C. SHARPS Model 1 .22 Cal. Rimfire PEPPERBOX Pistol WILD WEST/RIVERBOAT Pocket Revolver

Description:
CIVIL WAR Era Antique C. SHARPS Model 1 .22 Cal. Rimfire PEPPERBOX Pistol 

WILD WEST/RIVERBOAT Pocket Revolver

Here we present an antique Christian Sharps Model 1 Pepperbox Pistol, made circa 1859 through 1862 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Christian Sharps invented his famously large bore, breech-loading rifle in 1848, after practicing gun-making under John Hall at Harpers Ferry Armory. In 1859, he premiered another unique design in the 4-barreled pepperbox pistol with a unique revolving firing pin, made for 19th Century concealed carry. Over the decade and half that Sharps produced his little pistols, some 156,000+ would be manufactured in four basic types. They were the Model 1 in .22 Rimfire with about 89,000 produced, the Model 2 in .30 Rimfire with about 37,000 produced, the Model 3 made by Sharps & Hankins in .32 Rimfire Short with about 15,000 produced and the Model 4, which was the “Bird’s Head” grip in .32 Rimfire Short and Long with another 15,000 produced.

Christian Sharps began producing his pepperbox pistol commercially in 1859. In 1862, William Hankins joined the firm and the company became “Sharps & Hankins”. The 3rd Model pistol, which debuted in 1862, differed from the earlier models that began three years earlier. They were larger, .32 caliber as compared to .22 caliber, and had iron frames. When the partnership was dissolved in 1867, production of this model was stopped entirely. The 4th Model, or “birdshead” model was the last Sharps pepperbox produced. Production ceased with the death of Christian Sharps in 1874.

This repeating design was able to utilize the new rimfire ammunition like Smith & Wesson, without infringing on Smith & Wesson’s Rollin White Patent for bored through chambers on a revolver’s cylinder. This gave Sharps a leg up in the market since everyone else either had to produce single shot pistols, come up with an alternate ammunition and weapon design, or just stick with percussion until the patent expired. They made very nice, easy to use and compact firearms for 19th century conceal and carry.

The overall condition is good. Original blue finish with some oxidized scale on the barrels, patinated silver plate on the brass frame. The action is excellent with a fully functional firing pin. The bores are in good condition with nice rifling. The molded hard rubber/gutta percha grips are in nice condition, showing some wear. Numbers match.

Own the original! This is a legitimate antique and not a reproduction.

Barrels are 2-1/2 inches.

Caliber: .22 Rimfire (short; black powder)

Overall condition as seen in photos.

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Guaranteed AUTHENTIC & Includes CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICITY.

ancestryguns

$1300

#227926
 

SOLD

Antique: Yes