This carbine must have had a colorful and interesting life. It was originally manufactured in percussion for use during the Civil War and was then converted to .50-70 c. 1869. It was subsequently modified and decorated for frontier use, including being changed to .28 gauge smoothbore. The front sight blade has been replaced with a larger brass blade, and the Lawrence patent folding ladder rear sight has a period added taller buckhorn notch added and the elevator bar removed. The action has the usual Sharps patent markings. There is also a "C" on the left and on the lever pin, "H.D.H." on the saddle ring bar base, and a "P" on the hammer. The original carbine wood has a row of brass tacks down the forearm and a triangle pattern of brass tacks on left side of the buttstock. The right side of the buttstock has nine grooves cut diagonally into wood and a finger-woven strap attached with additional brass tacks to hold cartridges.

Good with an authentic "frontier issued" look overall. The metal displays a dark gray/brown patina along with some light oxidation and pitting. The wood is also good and has raised grain, some nicks and divots, some cracking in the tip of forearm, overall heavy wear, and a hand polished old patina. One of the tack tips on the strap is absent. Mechanically fine. An outstanding example of frontier Sharps carbine with a ton of "Old West" character.