Manufactured in the 1860s and 1870s, Tipping & Lawden of Birmingham, England, were one of only two foreign firms licensed by Sharps to manufacture these pistols in Europe and produced only around 6,000 of them mixed between several calibers. Since they were designed to be readily carried, most are well-worn and often found with little or no finish remaining, while this example still retains a good portion of its original finish. The grips are the standard acanthus scrollwork patterned gutta percha type commonly found on their pistols. The barrel group is finished blue and has a post front sight and Birmingham proofs on the sides. The silver-plated frame at the breech has a groove for a rear sight and is marked "TIPPING & LAWDEN/SHARPS PATENT" around the hammer screw on the left. It comes in a highly figured hardwood case with brass escutcheon on the lid and fitted interior. This Christian Sharps design was easily one of the most concealable weapons of the period and has also become somewhat of a cultural icon of the era thanks to Hollywood.

Fine, retains 50% of the original blue and silver finishes with mild wear on the barrels and minor flaking on the frame, showing either a smooth grey patina or attractively aged brass, and a couple scattered patches of light pitting. The grips are very fine with a few light handling marks. Mechanically fine. The case is very good with some scattered minor handling/storage marks.