Carbine
Object number2018.42.1 a,b
Manufacturer
Sharps Rifle Manufacturing Company
Manufacturer
Ames Manufacturing Company
Date1856
OriginBridgeport, CT
OriginChicopee, MA
MediumWood; Metal; Brass
Credit LineHeinz History Center Collection
DescriptionSharps Model 1853 carbine with Ames saber bayonet.
Sharps Model 1853 carbine. Dark brown wood stock with slanting breech and brass buttplate, patchbox (on proper right side), and muzzle band. Dual sights along top of cylindrical barrel: one above forestock that folds up/down and one above muzzle. Barrel has roughly hexagonal interior channel. Underside of barrel has bayonet slide mount near front. Proper left side of forestock has sling bar and ring.
Ames saber bayonet. Brass hilt with ribbed grip. Base of hilt curves downward and has release button on proper left side. Guard has barrel hole at top. Gray metal blade. Bayonet slides onto mount on underside of carbine (a) barrel with the rifle barrel fitting into the barrel hole on the top of the bayonet's guard; releases via push button on side of bayonet.DimensionsHeight x Width x Length (a-b together): 8 x 2.5 x 58.5 in. (20.3 x 6.4 x 148.6 cm)Height x Width x Length (a): 8 x 2.5 x 37.75 in. (20.3 x 6.4 x 95.9 cm)
Height x Width x Length (b): 3.625 x 1.188 x 25.875 in. (9.2 x 3 x 65.7 cm)
Marks(a)
Top of carbine behind trigger is imprinted text "SHARPS / PATENT / 1852 / 17721"; date is difficult to decipher and may not be accurate.
Proper right side of trigger plate has imprinted text "C.SHARPS / PATENT / 1852."
Interior of patchbox door has imprinted text "14".
(b)
Top of hilt has imprinted number "354".
Historical NotesIn 1856, this Sharps carbine was part of a shipment of firearms that was being sent to the Kansas territory on the Steamboat Arabia. Abolitionist David Starr Hoyt and members of the New England Emigrant Aid Company attempted to smuggle Sharps rifles and carbines into Kansas territory. The shipment was seized and never arrived in Kansas. The Model 1853 Sharps carbine was made by the Sharps Rifle Manufacturing Company between 1854-1857. The company headquarters was in Bridgeport, Connecticut. The saber bayonet was made by the Ames Manufacturing Company of Chicopee, Massachusetts.Label TextIn March 1856, abolitionist David Starr Hoyt and members of the New England Emigrant Aid Company attempted to smuggle Sharps rifles and carbines into Kansas Territory. Hoyt sent some of the guns overland by stage, but he was waiting in St. Louis with the remaining 90 carbines, ten rifles and two cannons. When spring ice on the Missouri River suddenly cleared, Hoyt took advantage of the “exceedingly favorable” conditions. He placed his cargo on the first boat headed west. The guns and Hoyt ended up on the Steamboat Arabia. This Sharps carbine was one of the guns that was on the Steamboat Arabia. It was seized with Hoyt's Arabia shipment. Sharps Model 1853 carbine with Ames saber bayonet, serial # 17721 c. 1855 This rare Sharps carbine was one of twenty special guns fitted with saber bayonets from the Ames Manufacturing Company. To lessen the chance that these weapon sets would all fall into enemy hands, the order was split into two lots—half were sent overland, and half placed on the Arabia. This gun was seized with Hoyt’s Arabia shipment.
Previous owner
Guy Ferro
Related person
David Starr Hoyt
Related institution
New England Emigrant Aid Company
On View
Not on view
1835-1845
