Item:
ON12504

Original U.S. 19th Century Sharps Model 2A .30 Rimfire 4 Barrel Brass Frame Pepperbox Pistol - Serial 3442

Item Description

Original Item: Only One Available. This is exactly what the Mississippi gamblers carried on the River Boats after the Civil War for self protection. Featuring FOUR barrels, each in .30 Rim Fire that fired individually by way of a single action hammer with a rotating firing pin. Easy to conceal, these were very popular.

The barrel is slid forward for reloading by pushing down the button on the bottom of the frame and sliding the barrel forwards. This requires that the hammer be in the half cocked position. The underside of the barrel is marked with serial number 3442 on the dovetail, which is also marked on the bottom of the pistol grip frame. There were several variations on this pistol, including some in .22RF with a shorter barrel. This is the model 2A, with the longer 3 inch barrel assembly in .30RF, for a bit more "punch".

The pistol is also marked on both sides of the brass frame in circles around the hammer axis screw, though due to wear the top of both markings is worn away. The right side reads:

[C. SHARPS & ]Co.
PHILADA. PA.

While the left has:

C. SH[ARPS]
PATENT 1859

Overall metal finish is a nice faded blued patina on the barrels, with no rust peppering that we can see. There is a bit of the original blue finish the flutes between the barrels. The frame, as with most we see, has lost all of the nickel plating over the years, and now has a lovely patina on the exposed brass. The flat bottom grip is very nice, with two lovely walnut grip scales that look great, with no major chips or cracks. The advance lever for the rotating firing pin works very well on this example, and we did not notice any mechanical issues. The bores on the barrels are all clear, and still have clear lands and grooves, though there are areas of pitting an oxidation.

An interesting stepping stone in 19th Century American firearms. In really great condition and ready to display!

Specifications:

Year of Manufacture: circa 1865
Caliber: .30 Rimfire
Ammunition Type: Rimfire Cartridge
Barrel Length: 3 inches
Overall Length: 5 1/2 inches
Action: Single
Feed System: 4 Barrel Pepperbox. Rotating Firing Pin.

NOTE: International orders of antique firearms MUST be shipped using UPS WW Services (courier). USPS Priority Mail international will not accept these.

  • This product is not available for shipping in US state(s): New Jersey

    This product is available for international shipping.
  • Not eligible for payment with Paypal or Amazon

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