This is an example of a scarce Sharps Model 1853 Sporting Rifle that was manufactured circa 1855. The rifle has a heavy full octagon barrel, double set triggers and staple mounted sling ring on the lower tang. The barrel has a standard dove tail mounted brass blade front sight and folding leaf rear sight. The slant breech receiver has an integral Sharps pellet primer. The stock and forearm are straight grain American walnut. The forearm has a casehardened iron tip, and the stock has a casehardened patch box and buttplate. The barrel is browned, and the receiver, hammer and lever are nickel plated. The top of the barrel is roll stamped "SHARPS RIFLE/MANUFG. CO./HARTFORD, CONN." ahead of the rear sight facing the muzzle. "SHARPS/PATENT/1852" is roll-stamped in two lines on the receiver side plate, and "SHARPS/PATENT/1848" is roll stamped on the upper tang. The serial number "13366" is stamped on the upper tang behind the patent marking, the inside of the patch box door, the underside of the barrel and on the rear face of the forearm. The consignor notes state that this rifle was shipped from the Sharps factory on September 29th, 1855.

Good. The barrel has a smooth silver gray patina with the original brown finish visible on the underside of the barrel beneath the forearm. The case colors on the forearm tip, patch box and buttplate have faded to a mottled silver-gray patina. The receiver, breechblock, and lever retain considerable nickel plated finish with scattered patches of age discoloration. The nickel plating is period but may not be original to the rifle. Most of the markings are sharp. The stock and forearm are both fair. The forearm has numerous handling marks, several age cracks, and is splintered on the left side near the tip. The stock has numerous dents and minor handling marks primarily on the left side. Some period illegible script markings are lightly scratched on the left side of the stock. This is a solid example of a pre-Civil War Sharps Model 1853 Slant-Breech Sporting Rifle. Total production of the Model 1853 Sporting Rifle was only approximately 3,000 guns. Surviving examples are scarce.