Several thousand Sharps pepperbox pistols were manufactured in a variety of variations in 1859 to 1874 by C. Sharps & Co. and Sharps & Hankins, but relatively few of them remain in very high condition. This extraordinarily fine example has the C. Sharps & Co. marking on the right, the patent marking on the left, matching serial numbers on the barrel and butt, blued barrel group, silver plated frame, casehardened hammer with the innovative automatically rotating striker, and a varnished grip. It comes in a very rarely seen pasteboard box with "DIRECTIONS FOR USE OF/SHARPS' PATENT REPEATER." inside the lid and noting "MANUFACTURED BY/SHARPS & HANKINS." The box also contains a wooden rod. Includes a copy of George Gamble and R.L. Wilson's "A Life's Tapestry of a Collector, The Gamble Collection" where this pistol is pictured and identified on pages 350-351. Provenance: The George F. Gamble Collection

Excellent with 95% plus original silver plating remaining on the frame and exhibiting attractive naturally aged patina, 90% plus bright original high polish blue remaining with some minor loss at the muzzles, traces of silver and aged patina on the brass strap at the butt, and very minor handling and storage wear overall. The grip is also excellent and has essentially all of the original varnish and minimal handling and edge war. Mechanically excellent. The box is very good with moderate age and storage related wear mostly at the corners, some of which are separated, and a tear and piece of tape on one end. This is truly an extraordinary Sharps pepperbox complete with a rare factory box that most likely cannot be improved upon!