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 .32 Short Rimfire that fire individually by way of a single action hammer with a rotating internal firing pin. Easy to conceal due to the size and small "spur" style trigger, these were very popular. Most examples that we have seen are blued, but this pistol is nickel plated, possibly post manufacture.
The barrel easily removed by pulling down the button on the left side of the frame and sliding the barrel off forwards for reloading, which also ejects the spent cartridges. The hammer must be pulled back slightly for the barrels to unlock and slide forward. The underside of the barrel is marked with serial number 5562 on the dovetail, which is also marked on the bottom of the grip. This is a all-matching example of the rare Sharps & Hankins Model 3C Pistol, a predecessor to the later Sharps 4A "Bulldog".
The top of the barrel assembly has the correct Sharps & Hankins address, which is mostly clear:
ADDRESS SHARPS & HANKINS PHILADELPHIA PENN.
The pistol is also faintly marked on the side of the lower frame:-
C. SHARPS PATENT
JAN. 25. 1859
Overall metal finish is still quite nice, with the nickel plate well retained, probably above 90%, with some flaking and areas of oxidation and wear. The flat bottom grip is very nice, with two lovely checkered "gutta percha" grip scales that look great. The rotating internal firing pin works well on this example, though the action can be finicky, which sometimes prevents the pistol from holding at full cock or firing. Most likely one of the internal springs is sticking. The bores on the barrels are all clear, and still have clear lands and grooves, showing wear and oxidation..
An interesting stepping stone in 19th Century American firearms. Nice matured condition ready to display.
Specifications:
Year of Manufacture: circa 1860
Caliber: .32 Short Rimfire
Ammunition Type: Rimfire Cartridge
Barrel Length: 3 1/2 inches
Overall Length: 6 1/8 inches
Action: Single
Feed System: 4 Barrel Pepperbox. Rotating Internal 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.
IMA considers all of our antique guns as non-firing, inoperable and/or inert. Title 18, U.S. Code, Section 921(a)(16) defines antique firearms as all guns made prior to 1899. This law exempts antique firearms from any form of gun control or special engineering because they are not legally considered firearms. No FFL, C&R or any license is required to possess, transport, sell or trade Antique guns. All rifles and muskets sold by IMA that were manufactured prior to 1899 are considered Antiques by the US BATF (United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms). Therefore, all of IMA's Antique guns may be shipped to all US States and most nations around the world.
These antique guns are not sold in "live" condition. They are sold as collector's items or as "wall hangers". Any attempt at restoring an antique gun to be operational is strongly discouraged and is done so at the risk of the customer. By purchasing an antique gun from IMA you thereby release IMA, its employees and corporate officers from any and all liability associated with use of our Antique guns.
Pre-1899 Manufacture, no licenses required
Stored and shipped from our PA location; not available in Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Oregon, Utah, and Washington. Please check all local laws before ordering.
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