This Sharps New Model 1863 rifle was manufactured in 1865. The Ordnance Department purchased a number of Sharps rifles to arm the U.S. Veteran Volunteer Infantry regiments formed in 1865 to serve as an elite infantry corps. The U.S. Veteran Volunteer Infantry regiments were armed with Sharps, Spencer and Henry rifles; as an incentive to enlistment volunteers were allowed to retain their weapons when they were discharged. The Civil War ended before the U.S. Veteran Volunteer Infantry regiments saw action. The rifle has a one inch rib on the underside of the barrel for a saber bayonet, 900 yard R.S. Lawrence patent folding rear sight, Lawrence pellet primer and stock with casehardened patch box. The barrel is blued and the forearm cap, barrel bands, receiver, hammer, lever, patch box and buttplate have a color casehardened finish. The screws, band springs, rear sight base, breechblock and pellet primer have a fiery niter blue finish. The stock and forearm are straight grain black walnut with an oil finish. The top of the barrel is roll-stamped "SHARPS RIFLE/MANUFG. CO./HARTFORD CONN." in three lines ahead of the rear sight. "NEW MODEL 1863" is roll-stamped between the rear sight and the receiver. R.S. Lawrence patent markings are stamped on the upper right side of the receiver below the pellet primer and Sharps patent markings are stamped on the side plate and the left side of the receiver. The serial number, "C.39309", is roll-stamped on the upper receiver tang. The left side of the stock wrist is stamped with two Ordnance sub-inspection/final inspection marks at right angles to each other. Each stamp consists of the script initials "TWR" in a rectangle with rounded ends. The Ordnance inspector's initials "T.W.R." are stamped on the left barrel flat. The stock is stamped with the sub-inspection marks "M.N.M." near the heel and the bottom of the forearm is stamped with a "N.S.P." sub-inspection mark.

Excellent plus, as issued. The rifle appears to be as-issued and retains 99% of the original military blue and color casehardened finish. The case colors are vivid. The band springs, rear sight base, pellet primer, breechblock and screws retain at least 95% of the fiery niter blue finish. The barrel and receiver marks are extremely sharp. The Ordnance final inspection and sub-inspection marks on the stock are nearly perfect. There is no flash pitting on the percussion nipple or breechblock. The stock and forearm are both near mint with raised, "feathered" grain which shows no sign of handling; wear is limited to a single old storage scratch in the right side of the forearm between the first and second barrel band. This is an exceptional example of a New Model 1863 Sharps rifle in almost new condition. This is the best New Model 1863 Sharps rifle offered for sale by the RIA Auction Co., and most likely the best Civil War New Model 1863 Sharps rifle extant!