Skip to main content
Rock Island Auction Company
AuctionsConsignmentBlogFAQNewsAbout Us
Create Account
Login
AuctionsConsignmentBlogFAQNews & EventsAbout Us
Login
Create Account

History Lives Here

Rock Island Auction Company
1-309-797-15001-800-238-8022[email protected]
RIAC Rock Island
7819 42nd Street West
Rock Island, Illinois 61201, USA
8:00am - 5:00pm, Mon - Fri
RIAC Bedford
3600 Harwood Road
Bedford, Texas 76021, USA
8:00am - 5:00pm, Mon - Fri
Navigation
  • Auctions
  • Consignment
  • Blog
  • FAQ
  • News
  • About Us
More Info
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Job Postings & Careers
  • Contact
  • Order a Catalog
© 2025 Rock Island Auction Company. RIAC believes that this website is accessible to the widest possible audience pursuant to the guidelines of the Americans with Disability Act. Click here for more information.
Healthcare Transparency in Coverage.
  • Auction Catalog #89
  • Lot #3086
Lot #3085
Lot #3087

Lot 3086: Documented Civil War U.S. Berdan Sharpshooter Sharps 1859 Rifle

Documented Historic Civil War U.S. Martially Inspected Berdan Sharpshooter Double Set Trigger Sharps New Model 1859 Percussion Military Rifle with Sling

Auction Location: Rock Island, IL

Auction Date: August 27, 2023

Lot 3086: Documented Civil War U.S. Berdan Sharpshooter Sharps 1859 Rifle

Documented Historic Civil War U.S. Martially Inspected Berdan Sharpshooter Double Set Trigger Sharps New Model 1859 Percussion Military Rifle with Sling

Auction Location: Rock Island, IL

Auction Date: August 27, 2023

Estimated Price: $18,000 - $27,500
Price Realized:
Login to view
Login to view

Documented Historic Civil War U.S. Martially Inspected Berdan Sharpshooter Double Set Trigger Sharps New Model 1859 Percussion Military Rifle with Sling

Manufacturer: Sharps Rifle Manufacturing Company
Model: New Model 1859
Type: Rifle
Gauge: 52
Barrel: 30 inch round
Finish: blue/casehardened
Grip:
Stock: walnut
Item Views: 2338
Item Interest: Very Active
Serial Number:
Catalog Page: 78
Class: Antique
Description:

This New Model 1859 Sharps rifle is in the correct configuration of the 2,000 special ordered rifles produced in 1862 for the 1st and 2nd U.S. Sharpshooter regiments (U.S.S.) organized and recruited by Colonel Hiram Berdan (Berdan's Sharpshooters) and falls within the correct serial number range 54390-57574 of Berdan Sharps rifles. Berdan's two U.S. Sharpshooter regiments (U.S.S.) were composed of experienced marksman from Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New York, Pennsylvania, Vermont and Wisconsin. The regiments were intended to serve as skirmishers and light infantry modeled on the famous British Rifle Brigade. Like their British counterparts, the U.S.S. were issued dark green uniforms with non-reflective black buttons. Berdan selected the New Model 1859 Sharps rifle to arm the Sharpshooters, replacing the originally issued Colt Model 1855 rifles. The Ordnance Department's initial order was for standard New Model 1859 rifles, but Colonel Hiram Berdan contacted the factory and requested a dull barrel finish and double set triggers. The factory assumed Berdan had permission for the changes and began producing rifles for the unit to his specifications, but once the Ordnance Department got word, they insisted that they would not pay for additional rifles in the altered configuration. However, given that the specifications Berdan requested did not actually cost more due to the use of a socket bayonet rather than a sword bayonet, Sharps may have just continued making the rifles as Berdan requested. Many of the rifles were used by the Sharpshooters, but others were diverted and used by other units such as the Bucktails (13th Pennsylvania). This rifle has a nickel-silver blade front sight, Lawrence patent notch and ladder rear sight with readings graduated to 800 yards and a 900 yard center notch at the top, standard markings including "NEW MODEL 1859" on top of the barrel at the breech, adjustable double set triggers, long military style forearm, sling swivels on the middle barrel band and buttstock, an iron patch box, and is correctly not fit with a lever latch. The matching serial number "54576" is marked on the upper receiver tang and underside of the barrel. Includes a December 5th, 1995 dated letter addressed from well noted authority/author Wiley Sword to previous owner, David F. Warne, indicating he was aware of this gun by serial number and, counting this example, knew of 79 serial numbers of surviving "Berdan" Sharps at the time of the letter. Also includes a scanned copy of the article "The Uniforms & Field Equipment of the Berdan U.S. Sharpshooters" by Roy M. Marcot, scanned copies of various handwritten period letters of correspondence related to Berdan's Sharpshooters, and a period brown leather sling. Faint remnants visible (partial "O.W.") of what would have been "O.W.A" (Orville W. Ainsworth) inspection initials on the left breech of the barrel, and the left of the stock has faint remnants of a boxed inspection cartouche that was likely "JT" (John Taylor). Taylor inspected all 2,000 of the Berdan special contract rifles between April 11 and May 24, 1862, per Wiley Sword in "Sharpshooter." Page 82 of the aforementioned book states, "...a detail of sharpshooters cut small sticks to fit to the sight in order to increase the elevation while at the Po River in 1864. Their shots at an estimated 1,500 yards distance caused a Confederate signal station to be abandoned, reported an observer." Most of these rifles saw hard use in some of the most significant major battles of the Civil War in a specialized role similar to a modern day sniper rifle, with many dropped in battle; surviving examples are highly sought after today! Provenance: The David F. Warne Collection; Property of a Gentleman

Rating Definition:

Very good plus, exhibiting signs of genuine use and wear acceptable for a Civil War used Berdan Sharps, with smooth gray patina overall, scattered light pin-prick pitting and traces of original blue finish on some of the small parts. The wood is also very good with mild wear, scrapes and scratches, some edge wear and a lightly visible boxed cartouche. Mechanically excellent. Included period leather sling is fine with some light age related cracking. A solid representative example of a historic Berdan Sharps rifle with desirable signs of period use indicating it was very likely involved in some of the most important historical battles of the U.S. Civil War!



Customer Product Questions

There are currently no customer product questions on this lot

    Related Items

    Lot #612: Sharps New Model 1859 Breech Loading Percussion Military Rifle

    Lot #102: Civil War Era Sharps New Model 1859 Saddle Ring Carbine

    Lot #1084: Civil War Era U.S. Remington New Model Army Percussion Revolver

    Lot #626: Civil War Era. U.S. Colt Model 1860 Army Percussion Revolver

    Lot #1108: Civil War Era U.S. Starr Falling Block Percussion Carbine

    Lot #1072: Civil War Era U.S. Colt Model 1860 Army Percussion Revolver