![]() ![]() The springlever-toggle-breech mechanism of the Borchardt-Luger semi-automaticpistol also had its roots in Christian Sharps' lever-linkedbreech. These features are still with us today, and haveseen use in both rifle and artillery breech mechanisms. His first breechloading rifle design was patented in1848, and the toggle-linking trigger guard and vertically operatingsliding wedge breechblock of later Sharps rifles and carbines datefrom that patent. Sharps worked at John Hall's Rifle Worksin Harpers Ferry, Virginia, where he learned the principles of armsmanufacturing. history.Ĭhristian Sharps (1811-1874) was the originator of a line ofsturdy, practical, and popular military and sporting rifles andhandguns that were associated with several events that shapedAmerican history in 19th century, including armed conflict inKansas during the 1850s, the Civil War, the era of the Plainsbuffalo hunter, and the rise of modern long-range competitionshooting during the 1870s. However, the barrel serial number remains and is visible withthe fore end removed, substantiating the role of this gun in awatershed event in U.S. The tang serial number of this specimen has been removed,quite likely in an attempt to cover its role in Brown's abortiveraid. Sharps carbines were manufactured with identical serial numbers onboth the tang and on the underside of the barrel beneath the foreend. ![]() John Brownwas one of many anti-slavery settlers who fought againstpro-slavery 'Border Ruffians' in Kansas prior to the Civil War, andsome of these guns found their way with Brown to HarpersFerry. Itis one of 75 whose serial numbers are listed in the CONGRESSIONALRECORD for 1859 as a result of its association with that event.Over 900 of these 'Beecher's Bibles', named for abolitionistpreacher Henry Ward Beecher, were purchased by New Englandabolitionists and shipped in crates marked BIBLES for the purposeof arming Free Soil settlers in Kansas during the 1850s. ![]() This 'slant breech' specimen is attributed to use by John Brownin his 1859 raid on the U.S. ![]()
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