The New Model 1859 Military Rifles were manufactured from 1859 to 1862. Most had 30 inch barrels and nearly all of them were manufactured to fill U.S. Army and Navy contracts. This example has no Sharp's barrel markings, but the lock, receiver, and breechblock have the standard patent markings. The left side of the stock has two "TWR" (Thomas W. Russell c.1862) cartouches and an "EF" (Edward Flather c. 1862-1863)cartouche above the trigger and a "DFC" (David F. Clark c.1861-1888) cartouche on the butt. The latter is usually found on post-war metallic conversions refurbished by Sharps. An "E.P.R." (unknown) stamp is ahead of the buttplate on the comb. It is equipped with a blade front sight in a bayonet stud base, the standard Lawrence patent notch and ladder rear sight, plain trigger, military style long forearm, and a rather nicely figured buttstock with an iron patch box. A milled area behind the rear sight suggests it wore a different sight at another time.

Fine as assembled with the majority of the vibrant case colors, 25% of the blue finish, vice marks, and scattered marks and scratches. The highly figured refinished wood is also fine and has mild scrapes and dings, smooth oiled finish, and distinct cartouches. Mechanically excellent.