Sharps 'Slant Breech' Model 1853 Sporting Rifle manufactured between 1854 and 1859. Consigner notes describe the rifle as a "British Contract" Model 1853 Sporting Rifle. The rifle has a distinctive lock plate with no provision for a mechanical priming device, modified hammer and modified breechblock. The lock plate appears to have some of the "improvements" of Colonel Bethal Burton. Burton eliminated the Sharps priming mechanism on his modified Sharps rifles. Examples of Sharps Carbines with Burton "improvements" are pictured and described on page 57 of "SHARPS FIREARMS" by Frank Sellers. The rifle has a blued, 60 bore, half-round/half-octagon barrel. The top of the barrel is roll-stamped with the three-line legend: "SHARPS RIFLE/HARTFORD CONN/MANUFG. CO." reading from the breech to the muzzle. The barrel legend is unusual because the position of "HARTFORD CONN." and "MANUFG. CO." is reversed from the usual Sharps format. The underside of the barrel is stamped with the serial number "20567" and the number "2". There are no other visible markings on the receiver or lock plate. The barrel is fitted with dovetail mounted front sight with large iron blade and a dovetail mounted sporting style rear sight. The hammer spur has more knurling than a typical Sharps hammer. The stock and forearm are walnut with a varnish finish. The forearm has an inlaid pewter tip. The stock has deeply cut checkering at the wrist and is inlaid with a round patch box and fitted with a curved, iron buttplate. The receiver, lock plate, breechblock hammer, lever, patch box and buttplate have color casehardened finish. This is a scarce, perhaps one-of-a-kind, Sharps rifle that is not illustrated or described in the primary Sharps reference "SHARPS RIFLES".

Very fine. The rifle retains 95% of the original blue and 75% casehardened finish, The barrel has nearly all of the original blue finish with crisp markings and a bright bore. The receiver, lock plate, hammer and other casehardened components retain 95% or more of the subdued case colors. The stock and forearm are both in very fine condition with nearly all of the original varnish finish, crisp checkering and almost no handling or storage marks. This is an exceptional example of an unusual variation of the Sharps Model 1853 'Slant Breech' Rifle.