This Sharps Model 1853 sporting rifle was factory engraved at the Sharps Rifle Manufacturing Co. in Hartford, Connecticut, and is chambered in 60 bore (.44 caliber), with a 26 inch round barrel, double triggers, globe and ladder sights, and factory drilled and tapped for a tang peep sight (absent). Consignor states that he shot .488 lead balls out of this rifle. The distinctive Hartford factory Germanic scroll engraving, consisting of tight circular scrollwork on a punch-dot background, covers the top of the barrel between the rear sight and receiver, the receiver, lock plate, hammer, upper and lower tang, lever, patch box and buttplate tang. This style engraving is also found on factory engraved Colt revolvers manufactured in the mid-1850s. The forearm has a pewter tip. The rifle has the distinctive "slant breech" receiver with Lawrence pellet primer. The stock and forearm are straight grain American walnut with an iron patch box and buttplate. The barrel is blued and the receiver, lock plate, patch box, buttplate and lever are color casehardened. The top of the barrel is roll-stamped "SHARP'S RIFLE/MANUFG.CO./HARTFORD CONN" in three lines. The lock plate is roll-stamped "SHARPS/PATENT/1852" in three lines in a panel surrounded by scrollwork. A scene of a hunting dog taking down a stag is engraved on the patchbox, a stag is engraved on the left of the receiver and a hunter on the right. "SHARPS/PATENT/1848" roll-stamped on the upper receiver tang in a panel surrounded by scrollwork ahead of the serial number "11043". The matching serial number is located on the underside of the barrel, rear flat of the forearm, underside of the patchbox door and underside of the buttplate.