vmicraig
Sergeant
- Joined
- Mar 12, 2018
- Location
- Midlothian, VA
Anyone else collect Pepperboxes? My favorite is the Sharps series. Which manufacturer is your favorite?
The four-shot, breech loading, pepperbox pistol was a true gun of the Old West. It is associated with the gamblers, ladies of the evening, and as a hide-out gun of the outlaws and lawmen of the time. It's use during the ACW is questionable, but invariably was subtly carried by more than one soldier on either side.
It was produced in .22, .30, .32 short, and .32 long calibers. Barrel lengths varied from 2-1/2" to 3-1/2", although it is estimated that only approx. 25 were made in the 3-1/2" length. The 4-barrel cluster slides forward for opening, the firing pin rotates, mounted in either the hammer or on the frame, depending on the model. Frames were case hardened iron, brass, or silver-plated brass. Grips were usually walnut or gutta-percha.
Many thousands of these breech-loading, 4-shot pepperbox pistols were made by the C. Sharps Company and the Sharps & Hankins Company, beginning in 1859. Production of the Sharps 4 shot Pepperbox Pistols ended in 1874.
So far, Ive acquired a couple versions.
Model 1A (S/N 58885): Caliber .22 short rimfire, straight standing breech and straight grip to frame juncture; gutta-percha grips. Barrel release on underside at front of frame. Serial numbered 1 to 60,000 and 1 to 5,000 (when number 60,000 was reached, numbering commenced with '1'), thus later features may be found with low serial numbers; over 60K produced.
Model 2A (S/N 12167): Caliber .30 rimfire with medium size brass frame; markings same as model 1. Variations on model 2A include straight standing breech and straight grip to frame juncture. Serial numbered 1 to 30,000 and 1 to 5,000. Normally with checkered gutta percha grips; this model appears to bear grips from model 2B or C.
Model 3C (S/N 9973): Caliber .32 short rimfire marked ADDRESS SHAPRS & HANKINS, PHILADELPHIA, PENN. On top of barrel and C. SHARPS PATENT/JAN. 25 1859 on right side of frame. Smooth gutta-percha grips. Four major types, 3A-D; serial numbers run from 1 to 15,000. 3C models were generally found with a shell extractor mounted vertically between the barrel grooves at the breech. Approx 9000 made
Model 4B (S/N 10360): Caliber .32 long rimfire marked C. SHARPS PATENT JAN 25, 1859 on right frame. 2.5" barrel retained by a pivoting barrel catch mounted at front of frame. Serial numbers range from 1000 – 11000, with approx. 9,000 manufactured.
The four-shot, breech loading, pepperbox pistol was a true gun of the Old West. It is associated with the gamblers, ladies of the evening, and as a hide-out gun of the outlaws and lawmen of the time. It's use during the ACW is questionable, but invariably was subtly carried by more than one soldier on either side.
It was produced in .22, .30, .32 short, and .32 long calibers. Barrel lengths varied from 2-1/2" to 3-1/2", although it is estimated that only approx. 25 were made in the 3-1/2" length. The 4-barrel cluster slides forward for opening, the firing pin rotates, mounted in either the hammer or on the frame, depending on the model. Frames were case hardened iron, brass, or silver-plated brass. Grips were usually walnut or gutta-percha.
Many thousands of these breech-loading, 4-shot pepperbox pistols were made by the C. Sharps Company and the Sharps & Hankins Company, beginning in 1859. Production of the Sharps 4 shot Pepperbox Pistols ended in 1874.
So far, Ive acquired a couple versions.
Model 1A (S/N 58885): Caliber .22 short rimfire, straight standing breech and straight grip to frame juncture; gutta-percha grips. Barrel release on underside at front of frame. Serial numbered 1 to 60,000 and 1 to 5,000 (when number 60,000 was reached, numbering commenced with '1'), thus later features may be found with low serial numbers; over 60K produced.
Model 2A (S/N 12167): Caliber .30 rimfire with medium size brass frame; markings same as model 1. Variations on model 2A include straight standing breech and straight grip to frame juncture. Serial numbered 1 to 30,000 and 1 to 5,000. Normally with checkered gutta percha grips; this model appears to bear grips from model 2B or C.
Model 3C (S/N 9973): Caliber .32 short rimfire marked ADDRESS SHAPRS & HANKINS, PHILADELPHIA, PENN. On top of barrel and C. SHARPS PATENT/JAN. 25 1859 on right side of frame. Smooth gutta-percha grips. Four major types, 3A-D; serial numbers run from 1 to 15,000. 3C models were generally found with a shell extractor mounted vertically between the barrel grooves at the breech. Approx 9000 made
Model 4B (S/N 10360): Caliber .32 long rimfire marked C. SHARPS PATENT JAN 25, 1859 on right frame. 2.5" barrel retained by a pivoting barrel catch mounted at front of frame. Serial numbers range from 1000 – 11000, with approx. 9,000 manufactured.
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