Original Item: Only One Available. This is a superb and extremely desirable example of the Sharps Model 1853 Saddle Ring Carbine, better known as the “Slant Breech” Sharps, manufactured during the turbulent years just before the American Civil War. This model holds a unique and revered place in U.S. history, forever linked to the abolitionist movement and the dramatic John Brown raid on Harpers Ferry in October 1859.

Often called the “John Brown Sharps” or “Beecher’s Bible,” these carbines were supplied to anti-slavery settlers in Kansas and later used by John Brown’s men during the raid. Approximately 200 of these rifles were purchased by Reverend Henry Ward Beecher, a prominent abolitionist, and shipped to Kansas concealed in crates marked “Bibles” — giving rise to the now-legendary nickname “Beecher’s Bibles.”

This particular example is an excellent survivor, showing the defining features of the 1853 model, including:

- The distinctive slant breech block design (superseded in later vertical-breech models).

- The brass patch box mounted in the left side of the buttstock — a hallmark of early Sharps carbines, discontinued on later versions.

- A saddle ring bar on the left side of the receiver, indicating cavalry issue.

- Strong, crisp mechanical action and a well-aged, attractive patina across the metal surfaces.

- Solid walnut stock with rich color and only with wear consistent with age and service including scratches, dings, small gouges but overall very solid.

- The rear sight is intact, and the carbine cycles well, however, the Lawrence Pellet Primer System has been removed.

- The bore is in excellent condition, with clear lands and grooves and a bright finish, with just a tiny bit of wear. 

- The saddle ring bar shows little in the way of oxidation, and the ring is in great shape as well. Definitely a fantastic example that would be nearly impossible to improve upon.

Overall condition is very good, with a pleasing, lightly aged finish on the barrel and receiver, and sound, tight wood throughout. The carbine retains a wonderful untouched look, exactly what collectors hope to find — never over-cleaned or refinished.

The carbine still has clear markings on the lock plate that read-

The tang of the receiver is marked-

In front of the sight by the barrel band are more markings, which are still crisp:-

The large number of markings is a testament to the number of innovations that went into the creation of the sharps firing system. The breech, the pellet primer system, all were patented innovations. A clear serial number is marked on the receiver tang:-

There were approximately 10519 of this model made, serial numbers 8000 to 26,000, (or 9000 to 19000 per some sources) produced from 1854 to 1857. This example was made about half way through the production, so it was most likely made in 1856.

We have checked records, and it is not clear whether this carbine could be considered a "Beecher's Bible / John Brown" range carbine or not. We have seen ranges applied to these of 12800 to 13700, however a known and inscribed example was sold recently with serial number 15714. Sharps Firearms by Frank M. Sellers goes into some depth on these, and there were numerous possible sources of the carbines, and not all were purchased by Beecher, including the first 100 sent to the Emigrant Aid Society in Kansas. There were also later shipment with serials within the 15XXX,16XXX, 17XXX, 18XXXm and 19XXX range. So, there is a possibility that this Carbine could have been involved, though it is a very slim one, and definitely worthy of further research.

Sharps rifles and carbines are among the most iconic and historically significant American firearms ever produced, and the Model 1853 represents one of the most collectible variants due to its pre–Civil War production and direct abolitionist connection. These rarely appear on the market in such honest, original condition.

A true centerpiece for any U.S. or Civil War–era collection, representing the turbulent decade before the nation’s most defining conflict.

Specifications-

Year of Manufacture: c. 1856
Caliber: .52-caliber
Ammunition Type: Percussion Ignited Cartridge w/ pellet primer or cap
Barrel Length: 21 1/2 Inches
Overall Length: 37 5/8 Inches
Action: Lever Action Falling Block
Feed System: Single Shot

More on Beecher's Bibles-

The well known Slavery Abolitionist the New England Preacher the Reverend HENRY BEECHER, the brother of the famous author HARRIET BEECHER STOWE, had started THE NEW ENGLAND EMIGRANT SOCIETY in 1856. He raised funds from Northern sympathizers and funded the purchase of 900 Sharps Carbines and Rifles, which were supplied to KANSAS Abolitionists during the BLEEDING KANSAS ERA of 1854 to 1860. It is reported that these shipments of weapons were listed as "BIBLES" so as not to attract the attention of Pro-Slavery groups in Kansas. The famous John Browne was the most famous recipient of these weapons, which became known as "BEECHER'S BIBLES"

In 1859 John Brown raided the National Armory at HARPER'S FERRY, as an Anti-slavery gesture. He had hoped to start a widespread revolt, which failed completely. This fiasco ended with Federal Troops being involved and the great spilling of blood, which all led to John Browne's execution later in, 1859 just one year before the Civil War broke out.

The Serial numbers of the Beecher shipments spanned 12800 and 13700 apparently ( 900 units) and it is said that in terms of 400 of these weapons have been traced. The forces that raided Harpers Ferry apparently had 300 Model 1853 Carbines. John Browne himself was carrying serial number 13211 at Harpers Ferry and Sharps serial number 12950 sold in a high end gun Auction for $34,000.00.

History of the Sharps Carbine-

The Sharps, which used a nitrated linen or paper cartridge, was available in rifle or carbine models. Approximately 3,000 New Model 1859 Carbine produced early in the production run featured brass furniture and a brass patchbox. Many of these saw service with Georgia troops during the Civil War. About 30,000 more were produced with iron furniture and an iron patchbox. All featured a pellet priming system as part of the lock plate. The New Model 1863 and New Model 1865 Carbines were essentially the same as the earlier model, the differences being confined to barrel markings. SN 32532

This popular Civil War carbine in .52 caliber fired a linen cartridge by either disc primer or percussion cap. It was manufactured by Sharps Rifle Manufacturing Company, Hartford, Connecticut. The breechblock drops down to open the chamber on lowering the trigger guard lever. Early model Sharps carbines are brass trimmed and later models are iron trimmed. The principal single-shot carbines of the Civil War were "NEW MODEL 1859" and "NEW MODEL 1863". The only noticeable difference is that many New Model 1859's, but not all, have patch boxes.

The New Model 1863's were made without patch boxes, a wartime procedure to do away with extras. It has a 21 1/2-inch barrel, measures 37 1/2 inches overall, and has a two- piece walnut stock. The barrel and, on some, the buttplate were blued. The frame, lock, and barrel band were casehardened in mottled colors. The fact that the Confederates manufactured copies of the Sharps carbine in Richmond, Virginia, in quantity testifies to its general popularity. This carbine was based on Christian Sharps' patents of 1848 and 1852 and on Richard S. Lawrence's patents of 1859.

Christian Sharps (1811-1874) was the originator of a line of sturdy, practical, and popular military and sporting rifles and handguns that were associated with several events that shaped American history in 19th century, including armed conflict in Kansas during the 1850s, the Civil War, the era of the Plains buffalo hunter, and the rise of modern long-range competition shooting during the 1870s. Sharps worked at John Hall's Rifle Works in Harpers Ferry, Virginia, where he learned the principles of arms manufacturing. His first breechloading rifle design was patented in 1848, and the toggle-linking trigger guard and vertically operating sliding wedge breechblock of later Sharps rifles and carbines date from that patent. These features are still with us today, and have seen use in both rifle and artillery breech mechanisms. The spring lever-toggle-breech mechanism of the Borchardt-Luger semi-automatic pistol also had its roots in Christian Sharps' lever-linked breech.

In 1850, Sharps moved to Mill Creek, Pennsylvania, near Philadelphia, and contracted with the firm of A. S. Nippes to manufacture two of his sporting rifle designs, which became known as the Model 1849 and Model 1850. Faced with difficulty in obtaining financing for further ventures, Sharps left the Philadelphia area in 1851 and relocated to Hartford, Connecticut, where he formed the Sharps Rifle Manufacturing Company. Lacking production facilities, he contracted with the Windsor, Vermont firm of Robbins & Lawrence to manufacture his new breechloader. This venture continued until 1855.

Among the Sharps-designed firearms manufactured under this association were the Model 1851 "Box Lock" Carbine, which featured the Maynard tape primer system, and the Model 1852 and Model 1853 "Slanting Breech" Carbines, which were equipped with the Sharps-patented pellet primer system as an integral part of its breech mechanism. Model 1853 Carbines were nicknamed "Beecher's Bibles," after noted New York clergyman and abolitionist Henry Ward Beecher. Approximately 900 of these arms were shipped in heavy crates marked BIBLES for use by anti-slavery "Free Soil" settlers who were fighting against pro-slavery forces in "Bleeding Kansas" during the 1850s. One of the most famous Free 'Soilers' was John Brown, who later used 300 Model 1853 Carbines in his ill-fated attempt to capture the U.S. Armory at Harpers Ferry, Virginia in 1859. Christian Sharps served as technical advisor to the Sharps Rifle Manufacturing Company, receiving royalties on the manufacture of their firearms. His relationship with the company was a rocky one, and in 1853, Sharps severed all connections with the firm. There is no evidence that he ever had any further association with the company that continued to bear his name.

In 1855, the Sharps Company introduced the Model 1855 Carbine. These arms retained the slanting breech and buttstock patch boxes of earlier models, but featured the Maynard tape primer system. Approximately 800 .54 caliber carbines were manufactured for the U.S. government, and an additional 6,000 Model 1855s in .577 caliber were purchased by Great Britain. While these carbines were in production, both Robbins & Lawrence and Sharps suffered serious financial losses. The latter corporation went bankrupt, and their operations were taken over by Sharps and moved to Hartford. The Sharps New Model 1859, introduced in that year, was available as a carbine, and in round-barrel military rifle or octagonal-barrel sporting rifle versions.

Its straight-breech design is credited to Richard S. Lawrence, formerly of Robbins & Lawrence, who had become the superintendent of the Sharps Rifle Company. This design, in conjunction with a breechblock-mounted plate capable of slight rearward movement when under pressure, created a moderately effective gas seal. New Model 1859 arms also employed an improved version of the Sharps pellet primer system which allowed the pellet feed mechanism to be disengaged. Ordinary percussion caps could then be used, with the supply of pellet primers held in reserve. Like earlier Sharps designs, the Model 1859 fired a glazed linen combustible .52 caliber cartridge. When closed, the breechblock sheared off the rear of the cartridge, exposing the propellant.

During the Civil War, the Federal government bought over 80,000 Sharps carbines and nearly 10,000 Sharps Rifles. These arms were highly regarded by the troops who used them. Sharps Carbines found favor with Federal cavalry troopers, and New Model 1859 Rifles were used with great success by famous infantry units such as Colonel Hiram Berdan's U.S. Sharp Shooters, perhaps the first specialty troops in the history of modern warfare, as well as the 5th New York (Duryea's Zouaves) and the 13th Pennsylvania Reserves (Bucktails). Even the Confederate government recognized the superiority of the New Model 1859 Carbine, contracting with the Richmond firm of S.C. Robinson for the production of 5,000 copies.

The New Model 1859 was followed by the New Model 1863 and New Model 1865 Carbines and Rifles. These were nearly identical to the New Model 1859, differing primarily in barrel stampings, the omission of buttstock patchboxes, and in the design or absence of bayonet lugs. Many versions of all three arms were later converted for use with .50-70 and .52-70 caliber metallic cartridge ammunition in the years following the Civil War. The New Model 1869 Carbine and Rifle, available in .44-77, .50-70, and .60 calibers, were the first Sharps arms designed for use with metallic cartridges. In 1874, the firm was reorganized as the Sharps Rifle Co., with operations remaining in Hartford.

In 1876, manufacturing was moved to Bridgeport, Connecticut, where it remained until 1881. This period saw the manufacture of some of the more notable of Sharps longarms, beginning with introduction of the Model 1874 Rifle. Nicknamed "Old Reliable," this arm, available in a variety of calibers, barrel lengths, sights, and other features, became a favorite with both Plains buffalo hunters and competition shooters. Many Fancy-Grade models featured engraving which ranged from simple scrollwork to elaborate hunting or western scenes on their surfaces. The Sharps Model 1877 shared in the popularity of its predecessor. These deluxe-grade heavy-barreled .45 caliber rifles were designed specifically for Creedmoor and other long-range target shooters. Only 100 of these were produced, and they are as sought-after today by collectors as they were by competitors at the time of their introduction.

The last rifle to be produced by the Sharps Rifle Company was the Model 1878 Sharps-Borchardt Rifle. This arm was developed by Hugo Borchardt, who later became famous for his automatic pistol designs. These rifles, with their flat-sided frame and hammerless appearance, differ notably from earlier Sharps designs. Like the Model 1874, the Sharps-Borchardt was available in a variety of stocks, barrel lengths and weights, sights, calibers, and other features, including deluxe grade models. These popular rifles were produced until 1881, when the Sharps Rifle Company went bankrupt and ceased operations.

Although his association with the Sharps Rifle Manufacturing Company ended in 1853, Christian Sharps continued to work as a designer and manufacturer of firearms. He returned to Philadelphia and formed C. Sharps & Co., a manufacturer of percussion revolvers, breechloading single-shot pistols and pistol-rifles, and four-shot pepperbox pistols. In 1862, Sharps entered into a partnership with William Hankins. Their new company, known as Sharps & Hankins, continued to produce pepperbox pistols, as well as the single-shot .52 caliber Model 1861 Navy Rifle and the Model 1862 Carbine, both of which featured sliding breech actions. The partnership was dissolved in 1866, and Sharps reverted to the C. Sharps & Co. name. This firm ceased operations in 1874 with the death of Christian Sharps on March 12 of that year.

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