POTD: The Sharps But Short- The 1854 Sharps Pistol
Sam.S 07.27.23
Welcome to today’s Photo of the Day! Here we have a Sharps!…but it’s a tad bit short. This is a Sharps Pistol. The Sharps Pistol was a distinctive breech-loading percussion pistol manufactured from 1854-1857, with only around 500 of the early “First Type” variation being produced. Similar to the famous Sharps rifles, the pistol used a pellet primer and groove rear sight. Christian Sharps left the Hartford-based Sharps Rifle Manufacturing Co. partly due to disagreements over producing the pistol, which the company believed would be a poor seller. This prediction proved true. Tensions over unauthorized changes to Sharps’ designs were also factors in his departure to start a Philadelphia venture. Though the percussion pistol and related “pistol rifle” were unsuccessful, Sharps found more success with his rimfire four-barrel derringers and 1861 and 1862 rifles and carbines./
“Manufactured by C. Sharps & Co. in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, c. 1854-1857. This Second Type pistol has a .36 caliber round barrel and lever activated dropping block action similar to that found on Sharps rifles. The barrel has a high polish blue finish, and the frame, hammer lever, and buttcap are silver plated. The hammer and sides of the frame are engraved with well-executed Germanic style scrollwork in panels with scalloped borders. The top and spur of the hammer are engraved with a fanciful animal motif. The pistol has a pellet primer that is integral with the frame, adjustable trigger and two-piece rosewood grips. The serial number “603” is stamped on the inside of each grip panel. The pistol is complete with a fitted walnut case with brown lining. The case contains a cleaning rod, single cavity iron bullet mold, wrench and tin of percussion primers. Sharps manufactured approximately 350 Second Type Breech-Loading Single Shot pistols. Sharps expert Frank Sellers estimated that approximately 40% of these pistols were engraved. Factory cased Sharps pistols are even more rare.”
Lot 198: Engraved Sharps Breech Loading Single Shot Pistol – Rare Exhibition Quality Cased Factory Engraved Sharps Breech Loading Single Shot Pistol. (n.d.-g). Rock Island Auction Company. photograph. Retrieved July 27, 2023, from https://www.rockislandauction.com/detail/77/198/engraved-sharps-breech-loading-single-shot-pistol.
