Civil War production Sharps New Model 1863 percussion breach loading rifle converted by Sharps to chamber the .50/70 metallic cartridge circa 1868. The rifle has a blued, 30-inch barrel with block front sight that serves as a lug for a socket bayonet, The six groove barrel has a R.S. Lawrence folding rear sight with 800 yard center notch. The receiver has a metallic cartridge breech block and hammer but retains the percussion Lawrence pellet priming device. The stock has a standard New Model 1863 rifle iron patch box. The forearm cap, barrel bands, receiver, hammer, lever, patch box and buttplate have a casehardened finish. The stock and forearm are oil finished straight grain American walnut. The top of the barrel is roll stamped "SHARPS RIFLE/MANUFG. Co./HARTFORD CONN." ahead of the rear sight. "NEW MODEL 1863" is stamped between the rear sight and the receiver. The sub-inspection mark "RSL" is stamped on the left side of the barrel just in front of the receiver. The serial number "C41763" is stamped on the upper receiver tang. The side plate and right side of the receiver have the standard "C.SHARPS" and "R.S. LAWRENCE" patent markings. Faint Sharps patent markings are visible on the left side of the receiver. The stock is not stamped with the "DFC" ribbon cartouche found on most .50-70 government contract conversions. The rifle does not have the three-groove barrel liner found on the 1,086 New Model 1863 rifles converted to .50/70 C.F.by Sharps under government contract c. 1868.

Excellent. The rifle retains more than 90% of the original blue finish and shows only light handling and storage wear. The only significant wear is some thinning on the top of the barrel between the upper and lower barrel bands. The case colors on the barrel bands have a plum colored patina. The barrel markings are crisp. The receiver, hammer, breech-block and patch box have more than 70% of the casehardened finish with strong case colors. The case colors on the lever and buttplate have faded to a dark patina. The re-oiled stock and forearm are both excellent with a few very minor storage and handling marks. This is an excellent example of a post-war metallic cartridge conversion of a Civil War Sharps New Model 1863 percussion breechloading rifle.