In November of 1852 the production of the “slant breech” series of Sharps rifles and carbines began. This series of guns would encompass four models, the Models 1851, 1852, 1853 and 1855. These were the first Sharps’ patent guns produced on anything approaching a “large scale”, as the earliest Sharps designs, the Models 1849 and 1850, had been manufactured on a very small scale; less than 100 Model 1849s and less than 200 Model 1850s. 

It is somewhat disingenuous to say that Christian Sharps, inventor of Sharps breechloading design, holder of the patent rights thereto and namesake of the Sharps Rifle Manufacturing Company was the “designer” of the Model 1851. The Model 1851, the first of the “slant breech” Sharps models, was certainly based upon Sharps’ patent and a model he had produced and submitted to his production partners at Robbins & Lawrence. However, it was the modifications to the design added by Richard S. Lawrence and William Jones that resulted in the very unique Model 1851 design. The “slant breech” series derive their appellation from a change to Sharps’ initial design affected by Lawrence & Jones. Rather than the sliding breech block engaging the breech face of the barrel at a 90-degree angle, perpendicular to it, they inclined the breech 22 degrees to the rear, resulting in an operating angle of 112-degrees. This inclined plane is clearly evident from the exterior of the gun, as the breechblock is obviously canted to the rear. It would not be until the introduction of Sharps’ New Model 1859 series that the slanting breechblock would be discarded, and Sharps firearms would return to their original patent design, utilizing a perpendicular breechblock. 

The Model 1851 series of gun utilized the Maynard Automatic Tape Priming mechanism that had been patented by Doctor William Maynard in 1848, and had a unique “box lock” mechanism, with the hammer inside the lock plate, rather than outside the lock. This allowed the bottom portion of the hammer to serve as the tumbler upon which the hammer operated, rather than having a separate tumbler inside the lock that was connected to the hammer outside the lock. This unique arrangement would be abandoned with the Model 1852 Sharps designs, and the box lock system would not be revisited by Sharps and his associates. The Model 1851s were produced in both carbine and sporting rifle variations, with a total of about 2,050 produced based upon factory serial number records. Of these less than 200 were rifles (Seller’s cites 193, but notes that the lack of records for 38 serial numbers could cause his number to be incorrect) and the balance were carbines. Of the carbines 150 were delivered on a US Army contract and another 60 were delivered on a Navy contract. The guns were serial numbered sequentially from 1 to 2,050 and were produced from November 1 of 1852 through April 1 of 1855. The Model 1851s were produced in three calibers or rather bore sizes. Sharps rated the guns by bore size, or the number of lead round balls that could be cast from a pound of lead for that size of bore. Under that system the larger the “bore” number, the smaller the caliber, and vice versa. The guns were offered in 32 bore (nominally about .52 caliber), 60 bore (about .43 caliber) and 90 bore (about .38 caliber). The sporting rifles were offered with either round or octagonal barrels in lengths ranging from 18” to 34”, with 27” being the “standard” and most commonly encountered length. The carbines were produced with 21” round barrels. Most carbines were mounted with some variant of a sling bar for mounted carry. All Model 1851s were brass mounted with brass patchboxes and buttplates standard, and with brass barrel bands on most of the carbines. While some Model 1851s were produced without patchboxes, this was a rare exception, rather than the rule and nearly all were equipped with the storage compartment in the butt. The rifles typically had pewter forend caps, but some were made without them as well. The standard sights were a fixed dovetailed front blade and a folding “squirrel ear” shaped rear sight, mounted on the barrels of both rifles and carbines. On the carbines a fixed brass blade was the standard front sight, and a fixed globe front sight was standard on the rifles. An additional folding long-range sight was typically mounted on the receiver tang of the rifles as well. Of course, special order sights were available for the sporting arms, and both sporting rifles and carbines were available with factory embellishments like high grade wood, standard engraving, “extra” engraving, etc. Factory records indicate that only 193 Model 1851 Sporting Rifles were produced, and of these the large majority were plain (not engraved) octagonal barrel guns. Sharps produced 66 round barreled Sporting Rifles, as well as 126 octagon barrel Sporting Rifles, and one lone oddity; a half-octagon half-round 60 bore Sporting Rifle. Of the 126 Model 1851 Sporting Rifles manufactured with octagonal barrels, the production distribution was as follows: 10 were 32 bore (all plain), 66 were 60 bore (of which 53 were plain, 6 were engraved and 7 were “extra” engraved) and 47 were 90 bore (of which 41 were plain, 2 were engraved and 4 were “extra” engraved). Only 66 Sporting Rifles were listed as being produced with round barrels, 10 were 32 bore plain, 30 were 60 bore plain, 24 were 90 bore plain, and 2 were 60 bore engraved. Even though the Model 1852 and Model 1853 series of arms had been introduced during the latter part of Model 1851s production life, the Model 1851 was manufactured in limited quantities through the first quarter of 1855, at which time the production of the “box lock slant breech” came to an end.

Offered here is a rare Sharps Model 1851 Sporting Rifle. The gun is a plain (not engraved) rifle with a 27” round barrel and is in the rare 60 bore chambering. That makes it one of only 30 such rifles produced by Sharps in 60 bore between late 1852 and early 1855. The gun is serial number 2011, placing it in the latter portion of Model 1851 Sharps production. The gun is brass mounted with a patchbox, was made without a forend cap and has an early production Sharps long-range tang sight, mated with a simple dovetailed front sight, rather than the more commonly encountered globe front sight. 

The gun is in about VERY GOOD overall condition. As noted, the rifle is serial number 2011 and this number is found on upper the tang of the receiver, as well as the bottom of the barrel, inside the forend, inside the patchbox door and inside the Maynard Tape Primer door. The rifle was not further disassembled to look for additional numbers.  The receiver tang of the rifle is marked in three lines: 

C. SHARPS

PATENT

1848

and is clear and fully legible. As was common on most Model 1851 rifles and carbines, the barrel is unmarked. The exterior of the tape primer door is marked in three lines 

EDWARD MAYNARD

PATENTEE

1845

and is stamped with the serial number inside. The markings are mostly legible on the exterior, but are slightly worn due to erosion from the caustic, mercuric primer residue. The barrel has a somewhat mottled brownish grayish patina with some lightly scattered etched roughness and has the appearance of being the traces of a faux Damascus patterned finish. This is similar to the etched patterns that appears on the barrels of Henry Deringer made derringers that had the copper patterning as part of the barrel finish. There are some minor traces of weak, faded finish on the barrel, which is more visible under the barrel where the forend protected it. As noted, some surface roughness is present on the barrel. The receiver shows some scattered light pitting and shows indications of an old cleaning, leaving most of the receiver a dull pewter gray color, with some freckles of discoloration, oxidation and thin, brownish age patina. Some minor traces of color casehardening are present on the operating lever and lever lock in protected areas, with most of the metal on these parts having a smoky pewter gray color as well. The bore of the rifle remains in VERY GOOD condition. The bore measures about .44” from land to land and about  .45” groove to groove. Even though the gun is a 60 bore rifle, which is nominally about .425 caliber, variations in bore size are quite common in Sharps rifles of the era. The 6-groove rifling is deep and remains very crisp and sharp the entire length of the bore. The bore is partly bright with some areas of darker oxidation and with some scattered light pitting along its entire length. The lock mechanism functions well, and all of the components for the Maynard Tape Priming system are present and the system works as it should. The hammer locks crisply into both the half-cock and full-cock notches and the hammer responds to the trigger as it should. The lever operates smoothly and the block opens and closes as it should. The lever catch at the rear of the triggerguard plate operates smoothly and correctly as well. The original dovetailed blade front sight is in place on the end of the barrel near the muzzle, along with the small “squirrel ear” shaped hinged rear sight on the barrel, forward of the breech. The original Sharps’ factory long-range tang sight is in place on the receiver tang and is complete and functional. The brass buttplate and patchbox cover both have a very nice, rich golden patina. Both parts show an accumulation of dark green verdigris where they have contacted the wood for such a long period of time. Interestingly, the screws that secure the patchbox and buttplate are of brass, rather than blued steel. I have never encountered this on one of these rifles before, and it is unclear if this was a factory “option” or if these screws are old replacements. The fact that all five screws are brass makes it appear quite intentional, rather than some random modification. The wood of the rifle is in fairly nice condition, showing real world use and no abuse and remains fairly attractive. The wood rates about VERY GOOD overall. The butt has been lightly sanded at some point and may have had some oil added to it over its lifetime. These guns are notorious for chipped toes in the stock, with the damage often being a larger crack or break and an area that is usually repaired. This gun shows a small, old chip at the toe, but no restoration or repair in that area. The butt shows the usual assortment of scattered bumps, dings and mars from years of carry, use and storage. The forend is in similar condition to the butt and is also free of any breaks or repairs. There is some minor chipped loss along the upper edge of the forend on the reverse, and some minor chipped surface loss around the rearmost forend screw escutcheon.

Overall, this is a very nice example of a rather scarce Sharps Model 1851 Round Barrel 60 Bore Sporting Rifle. Only 66 round barrel rifles were produced in this model,  of which only 30 were produced in 60 bore. The gun is a solid example that shows moderate wear and real-world use but not real abuse and is free of repairs or major restorations. For any serious Sharps collector, a Model 1851 is a must have item, as it is the first really attainable of the Sharps firearms, as the Model 1849s and Model 1850s simply do not come up for sale very often at all. These are rare guns and historically important guns as well. This is a solid example you will be proud to add to your collection, and which is priced at a realistic lever for its rarity and condition.