This rifle was modified from a Model 1852 carbine. It has the retailer marking: "J A MALTBY/GALENA" on the bottom of the barrel just ahead of the forearm. Jasper A. Maltby (1826-1867) was born in Ohio and was wounded during the Battle of Chapultepec in the Mexican-American War and moved to Chicago after receiving an honorable discharge. He then moved on to Galena, Illinois, where he opened up a gunsmith and sporting goods shop on Main Street where he lived with his family. He developed one of the first telescopic sights and advertised the quality of his custom target rifles. During the Civil War, he rose through the ranks starting as a private and ending the war as a brigadier general. He was wounded in the elbow and thighs during the fighting at Fort Donelson and died in 1867 shortly after resigning as the military mayor of Vicksburg. His brother fought with the Confederacy during the war, but the two luckily never met in battle. After the war, he used his position in Vicksburg to have his brother transferred after he was captured on the Texas coast. The Sharps Model 1852 was the earliest Sharps with the distinctive "slanting breech." Another key feature of the 1852 is the retaining spring on the right rear section of the forearm securing the lever hinge pin. This example is not one of the standard calibers; the barrel may have been special ordered or altered by Maltby. It is equipped with a brass post front sight, adjustable notch rear sight, smooth forearm without a barrel band or forend cap, plain trigger, and a straight grip stock with iron patch box and rifle buttplate (introduced in January of 1855). The barrel has the three-line Hartford address on top at breech in addition to the Maltby marking. The lock is marked "C.SHARPS/PATENT/1852," and the upper tang has "C.SHARPS/PATENT/1848." The matching serial number is on the tang, back side of the pellet primer, and bottom of the barrel.

Fair. The metal surfaces display brown patina, tool marks, and some light oxidation and pitting. The wood has chipping and a hairline crack around the lock, some dings and chips throughout, a deep gouge on the left side of the butt, a repair at the rear of the forend, and a small hairline crack at the forend tip. It is mechanically excellent and has crisp markings. This is a very interesting and rare Maltby Galena retailer marked Sharps.