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 .50-70 centerfire metallic cartridges. This example features a sleeved barrel with three-groove rifling done at the time of alteration and standard markings and features. Boxed script "EF" inspection cartouche stamped on the left of the stock wrist with two faint cartouches visible beneath, and a script "DFC" (David F. Clark) ribbon inspection cartouche stamped on the left center of the buttstock as well as absent primer feed mechanism (does not affect function of the gun), as typical on these metallic cartridge conversion carbines. Provenance: The Bob Howard Collection; The Greg Lampe Collection