Another One That Didn't Make It

UCVRelics · Nov 27, 2018

Here is a very interesting combination of a Roper revolving cylinder on a Sharps, chambered in 50-70, with a 30" barrel secured by three barrel bands, S/N 288. Blued and color casehardened finish, walnut stock and forend with Roper applied pewter cap at rear and original military style forend tip. Loading gate is marked in three lines: ROPER SPORTING ARMS CO / HARTFORD, CONN. / PAT. APR. 10, 1866 JULY 14, 1868. An intriguing military pattern Roper that combines the 5-shot Roper action with the barrel and forend from a Sharps military rifle. Interestingly this may be the only 5-shot Roper action extant, as shotguns were 4-shot and rifles were 6-shot. The Sharp barrel retains the original Sharps three-line address, as well as the NEW MODEL marking near the breech, without a model date. The original Sharps Lawrence patent rear sight, front sight/bayonet lug and barrel bands were retained as well. equipped with sling swivels and a military style butt. The barrel is serial numbered C51363, placing it just outside the New Model 1869 serial number range that ran nominally from C48,000 to C51,000. Almost certainly produced as a sample arm in order to try to obtain a US military contract and may have been produced for submission for the 1870 Ordnance Board Trials.