This Sharps was originally manufactured in 1863-1865 as a percussion carbine for use in the Civil War, and was one of 31,098 carbines returned by the U.S. Government to Sharps Rifle Manufacturing Co. in 1867, who received a contract for refurbishment and alteration of their rifles for use with metallic cartridges. This example features a sleeved barrel with three-groove rifling done at the time of alteration. Script "DFC" (David F. Clark) ribbon inspection cartouche stamped on the left center of the buttstock and absent primer feed mechanism (does not affect function of the gun), as typical on these metallic cartridge conversion carbines. It has a blade front sight and Lawrence patent notch/folding ladder rear sight.