Lot 2130

U.S. CIVIL WAR 6TH VETERAN VOLUNTEER INFANTRY SHARPS NEW MODEL 1863 RIFLE AND BAYONET

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U.S. CIVIL WAR 6TH VETERAN VOLUNTEER INFANTRY SHARPS NEW MODEL 1863 RIFLE AND BAYONET

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Current Bid: $2,050

(13 Bids)

by Bradford's
June 28, 2026 9:00 AM MST
Timed Auction
15210 N 99th Ave
Sun City, AZ, US 85351

U.S. Civil War 6th Veteran Volunteer Infantry Sharps New Model 1863 Rifle and Bayonet. Markings: The lockplate marked “C. SHARPS’ PAT / OCT 5TH 1852.” in the center. The top of the right sideplate is marked "R.S. LAWRENCE PAT. / APRIL12TH 1859". The left side of the receiver marked “C. SHARPS PAT / SEPT. 12TH 1846”. The left side of the receiver on near the forearm is marked "M". The lower tang is marked twice "M". The bottom of the barrel has matching serial number. The right rear of the right sideplate is marked "P". The hammer is marked "G". The right side of the lever is marked "D". The upper tang is marked “C38344”. The top of the barrel at the receiver is marked “NEW MODEL 1863". There are two cartouche on the left of the buttstock. The rear sight has a faded marked “R.S. LAWRENCE / PATENTED / FEB 15TH / 1859”. The top of the barrel is marked "SHARP'S RIFLE MANUFG. CO HARTFORD CONN". Sights: The front sight is a silver-colored blade pinned into a slotted base atop barrel. The rear sight is a folding ladder sight that presents a small “V” notch when the ladder is folded down. There is a “V” notch in the top of the slider, another at the bottom of the ladder, and a ”U” notch at the top edge of the ladder for use when the ladder is raised. The right side of the ladder is marked “2” at the bottom and “3” through “7” for use with the slider, and “8” at the very top. Stock Configuration: The stocks are two piece smooth walnut with three barrel bands and screw-secured forend with nose cap, straight grip, straight comb, patchbox, case color metal buttplate, sling swivel in the belly and another on the middle barrel band. The Sharps family of rifles and carbines are probably the most recognizable of all the breech loading firearms to be proven successful during the course of the American Civil War. Christian Sharps is probably responsible for designing the most successful and recognizable family of breechloading arms of the 19th century. Sharps’ early training in the field of firearms had occurred at the Harpers Ferry Arsenal in Virginia, where he went to work in 1830 under the supervision of gun designer John Hall, who as a pioneer of the “American System of Manufacture”; assembly-line manufacturing using interchangeable parts produced to strict tolerances. Sharps worked at Harpers Ferry for over a decade, learning the not only the arms making trade, but the early concepts of assembly line production as well. In 1848, Sharps received his first patent for a breech-loading carbine. The first Sharps patent firearms were produced by A.S. Nippes of Mill Creek, PA in 1849 and 1850. By 1851, Sharps formed the Sharps Rifle Manufacturing Company in Hartford, CT. As the company was not yet ready to produce arms, Sharps entered into an agreement with Robbins & Lawrence of Windsor, VT to manufacture his arms. By 1852, R.S. Lawrence (formerly of Robbins & Lawrence) moved to Hartford and became the master armorer of the Sharps Rifle Company. Over the next seven years, Sharps produced a variety of carbines and rifles of various patterns, with each new pattern an attempt to improve upon his earlier designs. However, all the future success of the business was without the namesake of the company at its helm. Rather, Christian Sharps established a new business under the name C. Sharps & Company in Philadelphia in 1854, after various issues with Lawrence and others at the original company. During the 1850s, several thousand arms were produced by the Sharps Rifle Manufacturing Company both for various small US government contracts and for sale to the general public. The Sharps Rifle Company really struck gold with the introduction of their “New Model” 1859 series of breechloading percussion carbines and rifles, which were subsequently improved upon as the “New Model” 1863. During the Civil War, the Sharps Rifle Company produced thousands of carbines and rifles for the US government with more than 77,000 of their carbines being purchased for use by the US military. While the Spencer might have shot quicker with its repeating action and seven-round magazine, no breechloading carbine or rifle was more beloved for its sturdy reliability in the field and proven accuracy than the Sharps. It was for this reason that the New Model 1859 was selected by Colonel Hiram Berdan to arm his 1st and 2nd Regiments of US Sharpshooters. By the end of the American Civil War, it had become clear that the percussion era was also reaching its end and that self-contained metallic cartridges were the future of firearms designs. Few percussion rifle designs were as readily adaptable to the metallic cartridge as was the Sharps. After the war, the Sharps designs were easily modified for use with metallic cartridges, especially powerful, long-range cartridges, and in many ways the Model 1874 rifle in 45-70 and larger calibers was responsible for the taming of the American West, due their devastating effectiveness against the North American Bison. The primary Sharps models to see Civil War use were the New Model 1859and New Model 1863 rifles and carbines. Approximately 6150 New Model 1863 Rifles were produced and delivered to the US government for use by the US military. The New Model 1863 was the pinnacle of the Sharps Rifle Company’s beech-loading, percussion-ignition military rifle designs. The rifles featured a 30” round barrel, secured by three spring-retained barrel bands and a combination front sight / bayonet lug that allowed a socket bayonet to be secured to the rifle. An adjustable rear sight of Lawrence’s design, graduated to 800-yards, allowed the rifles to be used effectively at longer ranges than conventional muskets. Like the New Model 1859 version before them the New Model 1863 had blued barrels and color case hardened receivers and furniture. These rifles were produced in the C, 30,000 to C, 40,000 serial number range (Sharps used the “C” designation to indicate serial numbers in the 100,000 range). Sharps rifles (both New Model 1859 and New Model 1863) were issued to a number of US regiments, other than the 1st & 2nd US Sharpshooters. The infantry regiments included the 1st, 2nd, 4th, 6th-8th, 11th, 13th & 14th Connecticut, 66th & 113th Illinois, 20th Indiana, 11th, 12th Kentucky, 3rd, 5th & 16th Michigan, 15th Massachusetts, 1st & 8th Minnesota, 26th & 27th Missouri, 2nd & 3rd New Hampshire, 30th New Jersey, 2nd, 5th,146th, 151st & 1st Independent New York Sharpshooters, 38th, 42nd, 149th, 150th & 190th Pennsylvania, 4th Wisconsin & the 37th US Colored Troops. Additionally, many Sharps New Model 1863 Rifles were issued to members of the Veteran Volunteer Regiments. The US Veteran Volunteers was a Corps intended to be made up of veteran US soldiers who had completed their original enlistments in other regiments and been honorably discharged. The hope was that they would re-enlisted to serve in a special Corps of veteran soldiers. In reality, not all of the men who would join the Veteran Volunteer Corp regiments would be actual veterans, but many were. The Corps was authorized on November 28, 1864 and was commanded by one of the Union heroes of the Battle of Gettysburg; General Winfield Scott Hancock. The Corps consisted of one regiment of engineers and nine regiments of infantry, which were mostly organized during the late winter and early spring of 1865. As part of the incentive to get veteran soldiers to re-enlist the men were enticed not only with cash bounties, but with the ability to choose their own firearm and take it home at the end of the war. The most popular rifles of the choices made available to the men were the Henry Rifle, and the Sharps New Model 1863 Rifle. Serial Number: C38344 | Caliber / Gauge: .52 cal. | LOP: 13.75" | Working Order: Firearm has not been tested | Background Check: Not Required | Keywords: Firearms, Guns, Firearm; Ref: BD3301

  • Provenance: Includes bayonet. The bayonet is marked "C&Co" and "M". This rifle's serial number is the middle of a small block of serial numbers that were issued to the 6th Regiment, United States Veteran Volunteer Infantry based on Archival Research Group.
  • Dimensions: 30" barrel
  • Circa: 1865
  • Condition: This rifle is in good condition with signs of wear commensurate with age and use. Approx. 20%-30% original finish retained, the receiver and sideplate have turned to white. Barrel shows a beautiful dark brown patina. The bore is bright and shiny with visible well defined rifling. There is very light old scattered surface erosion to the bore near the last 3"-4" near the muzzle. The wood is in good condition with normal wear with scratches and dent. There is light erosion to the barrel under the rear barrel band. The action functions correctly. The hammer has a half-cock safety position. There is a push-button lever lock on the lower tang. The action is tight, and the lever locks up well. Please review the photos for details and condition.

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ADDRESS: 15210 N 99th Ave Sun City, AZ 85351
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LOCAL PICK UP - ARIZONA FIREARMS BUYERS
Arizona residents MUST pick-up in person at Bradford's Auction Gallery with a scheduled date of pick up. Details and information will be included on the winning bidders invoice. Any local Arizona Buyer of Post 1898 firearms MUST complete all necessary registration forms at Bradford's Auction Gallery. Local Buyers MUST have a Valid ARIZONA ID with Current Physical Address. If your Arizona ID does not reflect your current address you MUST provide us with a secondary form of ID that contains your correct address. Arizona Gun Dealers must have a signed copy of their Federal Firearms License in order to accept delivery of modern weapons. ANY DENIED BACKGROUND CHECK WILL RESULT IN A REFUND MINUS A 25% RESTOCKING FEE.

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Shipping for Out-of-State Buyers must be done through our 3rd Party Shipper Westside Mail Center. All firearms Post 1898 must be shipped to a valid holder of a Federal Firearms License on ALL Modern Weapons. The full cost of shipping and packing will be at the winning bidders / buyers expense. It is your responsibility to provide Westside Mail Center with the FFL dealer of your choice and they are responsible for sending the 3rd party shipper a copy of their FFL information. FIREARMS UNABLE TO BE SHIPPED TO YOUR STATE WILL RESULT IN A REFUND MINUS A 25% RESTOCKING FEE AND SHIPPING COSTS IF APPLICABLE.

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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $99 $5
$100 $199 $10
$200 $999 $20
$1,000 $4,999 $50
$5,000 $9,999 $100
$10,000 + $200