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, and often outfitted with custom options, such as the silver plated frame and lovely decorative grips on this example.
The barrel is slid forward for reloading by pushing down the button on the bottom of the frame and sliding the barrel forwards. The underside of the barrel is marked with serial number 8726 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 .32RF with a longer barrel. This is the model 1A, with the shorter 2 1/2 inch barrel assembly in .22RF Short, light and very concealable.
The pistol is also marked on both sides of the plated brass frame in circles around the hammer axis screw. The right side reads:
C. SHARPS & Co.
PHILADA. PA.
While the left has:
C. SHARPS
PATENT 1859
Overall metal finish is very good, with a lot of the original blued finish on the barrel assembly. The frame still has much of the original silver plating, with wear through in the usual spots that see the most wear. There is some lovely tarnishing and patination on the plating that remains. The flat bottom grip is very nice, with two lovely decoratively molded "gutta percha" grip scales that look great, with no major chips or cracks. They display foliate designs and flowers, nicely embossed, looking great while making the pistol easier to hold onto.
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, with partly bright finishes.
An interesting stepping stone in 19th Century American firearms. In really great condition and ready to display!
Specifications:
Year of Manufacture: circa 1865
Caliber: .22 Rimfire Short
Ammunition Type: Rimfire Cartridge
Barrel Length: 2 1/2 inches
Overall Length: 5 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.
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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