Breechldrs 1859 sharps RIFLE?

[Steveoko922]

Just purchased this 1859 sharps rifle from an antique store. Would anyone be able to tell me if this is a parts gun, reproduction or orginal? There is no SN on the tang..looks unfired. Very good fitting of the parts and no Italian marks to be seen anywhere.

 

[Steveoko922]

Bore

 

[JOHN42768]

Sorry, IMHO it is not original. It may have some original parts that have been crudely resurfaced. Barrel looks to be new replacement reproduction part.

 

[JackADriscoll]

What was the sticker price?

 

[Steveoko922]

What was the sticker price?

1600

 

[Steveoko922]

Sorry, IMHO it is not original. It may have some original parts that have been crudely resurfaced. Barrel looks to be new replacement reproduction part.

What do you mean by crude? I wouldn't say the rifle looks bad. It certainly isn't a shiloh but I've bought and sold several orginal sharps rifles and carbines that have been 2k plus and have been very dissapointed by their condition inside and out

 

[JackADriscoll]

Have you taken it apart yet?

 

[Steveoko922]

Have you taken it apart yet?

Not yet. Going to when I have time. The parts are orginal as I can see. Breech block looks unfired, has the gas check copy right stamps as well

 

[JackADriscoll]

Let us know I'll be curious

 

[Conquerordie]

You stated that brought and sold many Sharps, so what makes you question the authenticity?

 

[Steveoko922]

because it's too nice and the buttstock is a different color. Perhaps more experienced sharps collectors can locate an anomaly.

 

[Jeff in Ohio]

I'm not a Sharps expert but I can't recall seeing a mark like that M K on the side of the barrel.
The wood of that butt stock looks like those recent India made Enfield carbines and not walnut
I sure don't know

 

[Conquerordie]

You can see two cartouches on the buttstock, but I agree one of the pieces of wood are a replacement. That whole barrel has a different feel to it. Does it have New Model 1859 or 1863 stamped on it?

 

[JOHN42768]

What do you mean by crude? I wouldn't say the rifle looks bad. It certainly isn't a shiloh but I've bought and sold several orginal sharps rifles and carbines that have been 2k plus and have been very dissapointed by their condition inside and out

Any metal that might have been refreshed should still leave stamping that are readable. The barrel has what appears to be a WK in raised letters. No inspector WK. The stock could be original as I stated. Cartouches on stock are not readable, but that didn't mean anything wrong and it may very well be original. Is there any other marking on barrel? Any stock that indicated wear should be somewhat similar to wear on rest of rifle. As long as you are satisfied that is all that counts, but you asked for input. I own seven other Civil War and before variations of Sharps rifles and carbines along with a Model 1859 rifle in Berdan serial range.

 

[Baker1989]

I have a good friend who has a sharps rifle with "MK" stamped on the barrel in the same location.
If it does say MK, then at minimum the barrel is a reproduction from a company in the 1980s. MK stands for a foreign name, one that I can not pronounce nor spell.

 

[johan_steele]

At $1600 you weren't robbed even if parts are repro. The lock plate and Lawrence pellet primer are original. Pederson's repops are selling near to $2k now.

Someone may have put an original lock on a Farmingdale Sharps mashup but my gut feel is it's put together from disassociated original and repop parts. I'd be happy with it in my collection but on display would put the caveat on it that your not sure it's 100% original.

 

[JackADriscoll]

My thought is as long as it functions you did great

 

[Steveoko922]

My thought is as long as it functions you did great

What finish do people like comers gun works or lodgewood use to refinish and color the stock with? Of like to make it match.

 

[JackADriscoll]

What's the goal? Just as a shooter I wouldn't mess with it because redoing a stock can be time consuming and I can't say positively what you have. Instead id find a proper replacement stock set

 

[Steveoko922]

Its just for shooting. Does anyone recall any barrel makers in the 80s with wk as the name? All I can think of is kreiger.