"ADDRESS SHARPS & HANKINS PHILADELPHIA PENN" in the flute on top of the barrels. The right side of the frame is marked "C. SHARPS PATENT / JAN. 25 1859". Although only about two thousand of this model were made there were many variations. Christian Sharps and William Hawkins were both tinkerers, trying new ideas at the drop of a hat. The Model 3B has no side plate but otherwise is like the Model 3A which also had many variations. This one, classified as variation 4, had the firing pin mounted on the hammer and the early wedge shaped barrel stop. Both are now missing, but the type is obvious from the machine cuts. It has an interlock between the barrel release and the hammer, and an extractor mounted vertically between the barrels. The gutta percha grips are smooth instead of checkered.

Good with faint traces of blue in the flutes of the barrels. The grips show some wear at the high points at the base and have faded to a dark olive color. PROVENANCE Griffin & Howe