GUN FALL 2017
The live portion of this session begins on Tuesday, October 31, 2017.
HISTORICALLY DOCUMENTED SHARPS 1853/68 CONVERSION ISSUED TO 7TH INDIANA CAVALRYMAN JOSEPH BLACKBURN, ONE OF THE LUCKIEST SURVIVORS OF THE CIVIL WAR. SHARPS 1868 CARBINE C14097 50-70 GOV Cal. 50-70 Gov. 22" traditional carbine bbl. 2-pc walnut stocks with sling bar on left side with faint patent markings on left side of receiver with lockplate marked "C.SHARPS.PAT.OCTOBER 5 1852". Forearm retained by sgl band and spring retainer. Open rear sight dovetail with plugged screwhole. Documented by U.S. National Archives records search to have been issued to Pvt. Joseph Blackburn, whom had enlisted 8-17-1862 and been assigned to Company E, 89th Indiana Infantry. With further documentation also recovered from the National Archives that fully encompassed Pvt. Blackburn's military record and application for disability and later for death benefits for his bereaved wife and children. Joseph Blackburn, while serving with the 89th Indiana Infantry, was captured by Southern forces in September 1862 in Mumfordville, Kentucky, was paroled and sent back to Indiana, re-enlisting after his parole and assigned to the 7th Indiana Cavalry Company E on September of 1863 and was issued Sharps carbine C14097. Again captured by Southern forces in a Cavalry skirmish on the Holly Ford Road near Memphis, Tennessee October of 1864. After violating his prior parole, he was transferred and incarcerated at the infamous Andersonville Prison in Georgia. Surviving his incarceration, he was released at wars end and sent to Vicksburg, Mississippi for travel home to Indiana, whereupon, he boarded the doomed steamer Sultana in April of 1865. A grossly overloaded 300-ft long Sultana with an estimated 2100 Union and Southern troops unexpectedly exploded on the morning of April 27 at approximately 2:30 in the morning. Between 1400 and 1500 of the traveling veterans met their watery grave in what was then the largest maritime disaster in United States history. Again, private Blackburn escaped death and made it home to his state of Indiana. This Sharps carbine originally 52 Cal. Percussion was converted with approximately 10000 others to 50-70 Gov cartridge to be re-issued for use during the Indian Wars period. The history of this rifle is not known since its conversion, however, it shows hard utilitarian use that is frequently found in Confederate, Western and Indian used firearms. Evidence of this hard use is a sliver of wood missing forward of bbl band on right side with eight very old but distinguishable holes in forearm and buttstock that possibly were tack decoration. Rear sight was purposely removed and bbl bored smooth to be used for foraging uses. A very primitive V shaped slot was cut into top of receiver ring as a provision for sighting use. CONDITION: Fair overall with lightly pitted smooth bore and functioning mechanics. Stocks are extremely weathered from a long life of outdoor use. Top receiver tang is cracked of forward screw, as is a very common ailment of these carbines. Carbine is complete and functioning with a unique and detailed history of having been issued to either the luckiest or unluckiest survivor of the Great War of Northern Aggression. 52191-1 TDW (7,500-10,000)