This nice .54 caliber percussion rifle is the popular 1859 Sharps Infantry Rifle configuration. This .54 caliber rifle has a Sharps 30" tapered round barrel, with turned raised ring at the breech, folding ladder rear sight on the barrel, and steel blade front sight. The stock is straight grain walnut, ideal for a military rifle and sling mounts are fitted to allow easy carrying in the field. The action, patchbox, and butt plate are nicely color cased hardened. This rifle is used with a few handling marks on the stock and the breech block face has been replaced by the previous owner to provide a tighter seal than the factory version. Trigger reach is 13-3/4" and this rifle weighs 9.6 pounds.

The 30" tapered round barrel is finished matte blue-black, to prevent glare and minimize mirage while sighting. The .54 caliber bore has a 1 in 48" rate of twist. The barrel is fitted with a ladder sight calibrated to 800 yards. The staff has one small bright spot on it and a scuff on the base has been touched up with blue. This rifle can be fired with loose ammunition, or with hand made paper cartridges. In fact, some shooters really enjoy making the paper ammunition as much as shooting. A variety of bullets can be used, from round balls to the conical bullets. We stock pre-cast Sharps bullets for paper cartridges.

The walnut stock is very straight grain and has a few small handling marks. The buttplate is the classic sharps military style and the buttstock is fitted with a cap box. The buttstock and middle barrel band mount the sling swivels. The barrel band springs are mounted along the lower centerline of the stock. The bottom view shows the vivid color case hardening, in a rainbow of mottled colors, on the action. The inletting is fair to good, and the walnut is well finished. The lever works very smoothly, and has a positive return, with a military style finger latch.

The action of the photo shows the blue and gray swirls on the color case hardened action. The lock plate is shaped as if it had a Lawrence pellet primer. The action operates smoothly, and big lock has a strong mainspring. The finger shaped lever, at the front of the action, may be rotated and withdrawn, to dismount the lever and breech block, for easy cleaning. Once apart, you will discover that the face of the breech block is rectangular plate, sleeved to the breech block. Called the Sharps gas check, this clever feature was patented by Christian Sharps. It works much like a modern brake cylinder. Pressure, in the larger area behind the telescoping gas check plate, push it forward, to help seal the joint to the smaller chamber. The factory plate has been replaced on this example to make it a very close fit. Remove the breech block, and nipple, and clean these in hot soapy water at the end of each day's use. Apply a tiny amount of Birchwood Casey's Choke Tube Lube, or graphite grease, or anti-seize grease, and reassemble the gas check, breech block, and lever, into your rifle. This rifle is fitted with the Lawrence patent floating chamber, and it has been maintained so it does move properly. We show one photo with the chamber moved outboard to display that is it does move.

Offered as a used this 1859 Sharps Rifle has been very well maintained. It would be ideal for your Civil War impression. Order this nice rifle today. Order it for a ten day visual inspection. You will be delighted. Else if it does not fit you, return it in unfired condition for same-day refund. Postage is your only risk, when you order any one-of-a-kind gun from Track, whether new, used, or antique.