This New Model 1859 Sharps rifle was manufactured in 1862, and is in the proper configuration of the 2,000 special ordered rifles produced in 1862 for the 1st and 2nd U.S. Sharpshooter regiments (U.S.S.) organized and recruited by Colonel Hiram Berdan, known as Berdan's Sharpshooters, and falls within the correct approximate serial number range 54000-57000 of Berdan Sharps rifles, per known surviving examples listed on pages 97-99 of "Sharpshooter" by Wiley Sword. Berdan's two regiments were composed of experienced marksman from Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New York, Pennsylvania, Vermont, and Wisconsin. Berdan's Sharpshooters became one of the most feared units of the Civil War, and played an important role in many of the biggest battles including Gettysburg, Spotsylvania, Chancellorsville, and the Second Battle of Bull Run. The two U.S.S. regiments were intended to serve as skirmishers and light infantry modeled on the famous British Rifle Brigade. Like their British counterparts, the U.S.S. were issued dark green uniforms with non-reflective black buttons. Berdan selected the New Model 1859 Sharps rifle to arm the Sharpshooters, replacing the originally issued Colt Model 1855 rifles. The Ordnance Department's initial order was for standard New Model 1859 rifles, but Colonel Hiram Berdan contacted the factory and requested a dull barrel finish and double set triggers. The factory assumed Berdan had permission for the changes and began producing rifles for the unit to his specifications, but once the Ordnance Department got word, they insisted that they would not pay for additional rifles in the altered configuration. However, given that the specifications Berdan requested did not actually cost more due to the use of a socket bayonet rather than a sword bayonet, Sharps may have just continued making the rifles as Berdan requested. Many of the rifles were used by the Sharpshooters, and some others were diverted and used by other units such as the Bucktails (13th Pennsylvania). This rifle has a nickel-silver blade front sight correctly in a fixed block mount that doubles as a socket bayonet lug, Lawrence patent notch and ladder rear sight, standard markings including the Sharps Hartford address on top of the barrel ahead of the rear sight and "NEW MODEL 1859" at the breech, adjustable double set triggers, long military style forearm, sling swivels on the middle barrel band and buttstock, an iron patch box, and is correctly not fit with a lever latch. The matching serial number "54790" is marked on the upper receiver tang and underside of the barrel. "W.C." inspection initials on the left breech of the barrel of William Chapman who worked at the Sharps plant under Charles Hartwell from August of 1861 to April of 1862. The left wrist area of the stock has a very faint outline of a bordered inspection cartouche that was likely "JT" of John Taylor, who reportedly inspected all 2,000 of the Berdan special contract rifles between April 11 and May 24, 1862. Most of these rifles saw hard use in some of the most significant major battles of the Civil War in a specialized role similar to a modern day sniper rifle, with many dropped in battle; surviving examples are highly sought after today!

Very good, exhibiting signs of genuine use and wear acceptable for a Civil War used Berdan Sharps, with smooth gray and brown patina, scattered brown spotting, some mild pitting on the breech block, some original blue finish showing on the band springs, and defined markings in the metal. Wood is also very good as re-oiled, with mild wear, scattered dings, edge wear, and faint outline of the cartouche. Mechanically excellent. A solid representative example of a historic Berdan Sharps rifle, with desirable signs of period use!