Original Excellent U.S. 19th Century Sharps Model 2C .30 Rimfire 4 Barrel Brass Frame Pepperbox Pistol – Serial 15637 Original Items

Original Item: Only One Available. This is exactly what the Mississippi gamblers carried on the River Boats after the Civil War for self protection. Featuring FOUR barrels, each in .30 Rim Fire that fired individually by way of a single action hammer with a rotating firing pin. Easy to conceal, these were very popular.

The barrel is slid forward for reloading by pushing in the button on the bottom of the frame and sliding the barrel forwards. The underside of the barrel is marked with serial number 15637 on the dovetail, which is also marked on the bottom of the pistol grip frame. There were several variations on this pistol, including some in .22RF with a shorter barrel. This is the model 2C, with the longer 3 inch barrel assembly in .30RF, for a bit more “punch”.

The pistol is marked on both sides of the brass frame in circles around the hammer axis screw, with the markings struck well and still fully legible, which is somewhat of a rarity. The right side reads:

C. SHARPS & Co.
PHILADA. PA.

While the left has the complete crisp markings:

C. SHARPS
PATENT 1859

Overall metal finish is great, with lots of the original bluing present on the barrel assembly, especially on the bottom, top, and in the flutes between the barrels. The frame was originally nickel plated, however as with almost all we see this is now completely worn away from cleaning, replaced with a lovely “mustard” patina on the brass. The flat bottom grip is lovely, fitted with two checkered “gutta percha” composite grip scales. The checkering is still retained quite well, though there is a repaired crack on the right grip scale.

The breech opens correctly when the lock button is depressed, stopping once it is in the loading position. This version does not have any provision for an extractor / ejector. The advance lever for the rotating firing pin works very well on this example, though it sometimes does fail to advance. The hammer works well with a strong dry fire, however the tumbler is worn, so there is no half cock position. The bores on the barrels are all clear, and still have clear lands and grooves, with mostly bright finishes. There are just a few small areas of oxidation, so the pistol does not look to have seen much use.

An interesting stepping stone in 19th Century American firearms. In lovely matured condition ready to display!

Specifications: 

Year of Manufacture: circa 1870
Caliber:  .30 Rimfire
Ammunition Type: Rimfire Cartridge
Barrel Length: 3 inches
Overall Length: 5 1/2 inches
Action: Single
Feed System: 4 Barrel Pepperbox. Rotating Firing Pin.

NOTE: International orders of antique firearms MUST be shipped using UPS WW Services (courier). USPS Priority Mail international will not accept these. International customers should always consult their country’s antique gun laws prior to ordering.