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 customized, such as this example with its lovely bone grips.
Even better, it comes with a lovely custom hardwood case measuring 7 3/8" x 4 5/8 x 1 3/4"! This is lined in teal velvet, and has multiple compartments inside. It has a single die, the key, and a small screwdriver in one of the compartments, though the lock on the top no longer catches. It has felt on the bottom, and a small plaque on the top for a name, which is unmarked. This is really the full setup!
The barrel cluster on these is slid forward for reloading by pushing in the button on the bottom of the frame and sliding the barrel forwards, with extraction done by hand or with a tool. The underside of the barrel is marked with serial number 15584 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". This was the most produced version of the Model 2, with the 26,500 made representing 70% of all Model 2 production.
The pistol also has markings on both sides of the brass frame in circles around the hammer axis screw, which are still crisp and easy to make out. The right side reads:
C. SHARPS & Co.
PHILADA. PA.
While the left has:
C. SHARPS
PATENT 1859
Overall metal finish is a nice gray polished patina on the barrels, with just a bit of the original blued finish in the flutes near the breech, as well as around the dovetail. The frame was originally nickel plated, however that is now completely gone, replaced with a lovely "mustard" colored patina. The bone grips are very nice, showing a lovely "grain" pattern along with a great aged color. The advance lever for the rotating firing pin works very well on this example, and we did not notice any mechanical issues with cycling. The hammer still has a solid half cock position, and the only issue we noticed is that sometime the barrel sticks a bit when opening the breech. The bores on the barrels are all in very good condition, still showing clear lands and grooves with mostly bright finishes.
An interesting stepping stone in 19th Century American firearms. In nice matured condition, complete with a custom wood case and ready to display!
Specifications:
Year of Manufacture: circa 1868
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. International customers should always consult their country's antique gun laws prior to ordering.
- 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, and are not tested for the the ability to feed or load any type of cartridge. They are sold as collector's items or as "wall hangers" not for use, and we make no guarantees regarding functionality aside from what is stated in the description. 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, allowed to ship to almost any deliverable address across the globe. Please note that for international shipping, these MUST be shipped using UPS WW Services. International customers should always consult their country's antique gun laws prior to ordering.
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