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PostPosted: Fri Jan 02, 2009 9:22 pm 
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Location: Bethlehem, PA
Gentleman,

I finally found some time to take some pictures of my Berdan Contract Rifle. It is Serial #56664, it has the Cartouche on the stock and a inspectors mark under one of the barrel bands. Here is a link to all of the pictures. I also include a few of the Collins & Co Bayonet.

http://www.berdansharpshooters.com/1859Sharps/

You can clearly see the Cartouche in this image, just can't make out the initials:
Image

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David Rider
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Company ā€œCā€ 2nd Regt. U.S. Sharpshooters
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PostPosted: Sat Jan 03, 2009 12:47 am 
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Location: Joint Base Lewis-McChord, WA
That's a good looking Sharps that you have there Dave!

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Joseph Edwards
The Deadeye Mess
Company C 2nd United States Sharp Shooters


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PostPosted: Wed Dec 15, 2010 5:10 pm 
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Location: KOP, PA
Dave, does your loading lever have a catch? Does that part differ from the single trigger standard model?

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PostPosted: Thu Dec 16, 2010 9:38 am 
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Location: Old Northwest (Michigan)
Jboring and fellow Sharpshooters;

A great book for Christmas would be Civil War Sharps Rifles and Carbines, written by Jerry Coates and John McAulay and published by Thomas Press out of Gettysburg. Amazon Books has 5 new from $13.99 7 used from $12.73. I have found it an indespensible guide to understand all of the variants of the Sharps arms during the War; also great photos and a listing of regiments armed with Sharps carbines and rifles.

In addition to the changes specified by Berdan to Richard Lawrence and the Sharps Rifle Mfg. Co. for his command; the set trigger system eliminated the sliding lever catch. Originally, the catch feature was designed for the Cavalry/Dragoons. This prevented the lever from lowering when the horse was at a trot or gallop, causing the powder charge to be lost. The ammunition for the first carbines was the 'cut tail' type (eventually converted to the 'flat based' cartridge after the 1860 Ordnance trials), and once the the rear of the cartridge was sheared off the powder was exposed. Interestingly-all of the rest of the New Model 1859 and 1863 Sharps rifles manufactured (Infantry Model) retained the lever catch system.

Hope this helps.

Bill Skillman
Randolph Mess-USSS


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PostPosted: Thu Dec 16, 2010 12:14 pm 
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As always Bill, you remain an source of a pleathora of knowledge. This answers my question. Thank you.

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Company B, 1st USSS Regt.


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PostPosted: Mon Jul 30, 2012 8:37 am 
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Location: Bethlehem, PA
I have decided to sell my original rifle, if anyone is interested, I will sell it for $8,000. It is currently at the Horse Soldier in Gettysburg. please let me know if you are interested.

Pictures are available here: http://www.berdansharpshooters.com/1859Sharps/ Does not include Bayonet

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David Rider
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PostPosted: Mon Aug 06, 2012 8:36 pm 
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Location: Connecticut
If that rifle could talk.... I'm sure your sad to part with it, but I also sure the next caretake of this piece of tangible history will care for it just as well as you have.



David
11th Conn Vol Regiment
www.11thcvi.org


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PostPosted: Tue Aug 07, 2012 4:05 am 
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Location: Washington State
GAH!!!! If only I had extra $8000 to spend, Id snatch that piece of history up in a heartbeat.


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