December 10-13, 2024 Firearms & Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 12/12/2024
For post Civil War trials Springfield Armory assembled 1,000 Sharps rifles chambered in .50-70, the first 700 utilizing left over percussion actions. Numbered in their own serial number range, a group of 300 new made actions specifically designed for cartridges were also purchased without the integral pellet priming system of the percussion models. These were issued along with the other conversion rifles for Army field trial in 1871 and 1872, many seeing heavy use on the frontier. Rifle features a matching 3-groove rifled in-the-white barrel with bayonet lug front sight and folding ladder rear. Full length oiled walnut forend. Plain walnut stock is marked with a faint script "ESA" Erskine Allin inspector cartouche and fitted with a "US" marked butt plate. CONDITION: Fine. Barrel and bands remain largely bright. Receiver has a light, silvery patterned patina. Wood has darkened with age, some expected impressions throughout. Strong bore with older abrasions. Fine mechanics. A nice example of a very scarce US martial arm marking the transition from percussion to cartridge arms in martial service.
Manufacturer
Springfield / Sharps