The Sharps Rifle of Berdan’s Sharpshooters

Brian Beck, of the Rock Island Auction Company, has written an comprehensive overview of the history of Hiram Berdan, the 1st and 2nd United States Sharpshooters, and a photographic smorgasbord of Berdan Contract New Model 1859 rifles, that have been put up for auction by RISC. The condition of these Berdan Sharps are in NRA Very Good to Excellent condition.

Mr. Beck introduces his article: “With a Sharps Rifle New Model 1859 that was issued to Berdan’s Sharpshooters available September 8th in our Premiere Firearms Auction, it seems only right that we get to know the elite fighting men that carried these rifles. The arms used by the legendary Berdan Sharpshooters units of the Civil War have long been desirable to collectors thanks to their use in several well-known battles, their impact on battlefield strategy, and the admirable performance of the men who carried them”

If you tap on the photograph of the featured Sharps rifles it will upload multiple images of the arm, a historical review of its use by the USSS, a description of its features and condition; lastly the opening/closing bids.
Below are the four Berdan Sharps featured in the RICA article:

Sample 1:
Manufacturer: Sharps Rifle Manufacturing Company
Model: New Model 1859
Type: Rifle
Serial number: 57298
Caliber / Gauge. 52
Barrel. 30-inch round
Finish: blue/casehardened
Stock: walnut
Bore condition: The bore is darkened with visible rifling.

Comments: “The left wrist area of the stock has the bordered inspection cartouche "JT" of John Taylor, who reportedly inspected all 2,000 of the Berdan special contract rifles between April 11 through May 24, 1862. "OWA" inspector initials on the left breech area of the barrel. Matching serial numbers marked on the receiver and underside of the barrel”.

https://www.rockislandauction.com/detail/83/1195/civil-war-berdans-sharpshooters-sharps-new-model-1859-rifle

Sample 2
Manufacturer; Sharps Rifle Manufacturing Company
Model: New Model 1859
Type: Rifle
Serial number 55015
Caliber / Gauge:52
Barrel:30 inch round
Finish: blue/casehardened
Stock: Walnut

Comments: “The underside flat of the forearm ahead of the trigger guard and the top of the stock ahead of the buttplate is marked with the inspector initials "O.W.A." (Orville W. Ainsworth). The top of the barrel is roll-stamped: "SHARPS RIFLE/MANUFG. CO./HARTFORD CONN." in three lines ahead of the rear sight and "NEW MODEL 1859" behind it. The underside of the barrel is marked with the matching serial number "55015" ahead of an "X", "2" and an "eagle". A partial "O" is stamped on the left side of the barrel below the wood line”.

https://www.rockislandauction.com/detail/4097/1182/civil-war-berdan-sharpshooters-range-sharps-new-model-1859-rifle

Sample 3
Manufacturer: Sharps Rifle Manufacturing Company
Model: New Model 1859
Type: Rifle
Serial number 56970
Caliber / Gauge: 52
Barrel: 30 inch round
Finish: blue/casehardened
Stock: walnut

Comments: “The left barrel flat at the breech is marked with the inspector initials "O.W.A." (Orville W. Ainsworth). The underside flat of the forearm ahead of the trigger guard is marked with the inspector initials "N.S.P." The top of the barrel is roll-stamped: "SHARPS RIFLE/MANUFG. CO./HARTFORD CONN." in three lines ahead of the rear sight and "NEW MODEL 1859" behind it. The underside of the barrel is marked with the matching serial number "56970"…. The serial number "56970" is stamped on the upper receiver tang. A faint circled script "JT" (John Taylor”

https://www.rockislandauction.com/detail/87/217/civil-war-us-sharps-new-model-1863-rifle

Sample 4
Manufacturer: Sharps Rifle Manufacturing Company
Model: New Model 1859
Type: Rifle
Serial number: 54576
Caliber / Gauge: 52
Barrel: 30 inch round
Finish: blue/casehardened
Stock: walnut

Comments: “Faint remnants visible (partial "O.W.") of what would have been "O.W.A" (Orville W. Ainsworth) inspection initials on the left breech of the barrel, and the left of the stock has faint remnants of a boxed inspection cartouche that was likely "JT" (John Taylor). Taylor inspected all 2,000 of the Berdan special contract rifles between April 11 and May 24, 1862, per Wiley Sword in "Sharpshooter.” Provenance: The David F. Warne Collection; ‘Property of a Gentleman’; “the receiver tang and underside of the barrel. Includes a December 5th, 1995 dated letter addressed from well noted authority/author Wiley Sword to previous owner, David F. Warne, indicating he was aware of this gun by serial number and, counting this example, knew of 79 serial numbers of surviving "Berdan" Sharps at the time of the letter…

https://www.rockislandauction.com/riac-blog/the-sharps-rifle-of-berdans-sharpshooters

I was surprised to discover that one Berdan Sharps had been sent to the Springfield Armory to be converted to 50 caliber centerfire cartridge. The firearm is an embarrassing misfit of half Sharps/half Springfield rifle musket. These arms were part of the Ordnance Department's evaluation of weapons to arm the infantry and cavalry regiments being sent west. The Erskin Allin/Springfield 'trap door' conversions of the Springfield Model 1864 was adopted. Sharps percussion arms were converted to center fire cartridges until the Sharps Rifle Company closed in 1878. So if your touring the next Civil War antique show, be sure to examine the Sharps center-fire cartridge rifles on display. You might discover a Berdan contract serial number among them. .

Bill Skillman
Berdan Sharpshooters Survivors Association