Sharps Rifle Manufacturing Company
Encyclopedia
Sharps Rifle Manufacturing Company was the manufacturer of Sharps Rifle
. It was organized by Samuel Robbins and Richard S. Lawrence as a holding company in Hartford, Connecticut
on October 9, 1851 with $100,000 in capital. John C. Palmer was president, Christian Sharps an engineer, and Richard S. Lawrence as master armorer and superintendent. Samuel Robbins and Richard Lawrence each acquired 250 shares—approximately 13% of the company.
(1810 - 1874), patented his rifle in 1848. The first contract for 5,000 rifles was in 1850 and manufacturing started in 1851. The Model 1851 "box-lock" was developed Christian Sharps, Rollin White
, and Richard Lawrence at Robbins & Lawrence of Windsor, VT.
The second contract for 15,000 rifles was so large that no suitable land was available in Windsor, VT. The holding company advanced Robbins & Lawrence $40,000 to purchase 25 acres (101,171.5 m²) of land in Hartford, CT and to erect a brick factory building.
Christian Sharps
left the Company in 1853. He later formed a partnership with William Hankins in 1862, known as Sharps & Hankins. In 1855, manufacturing was moved to Hartford and continued until 1876. Operations were then moved to Bridgeport, Connecticut
.
In 1872, Sharps introduced the .50-90 Sharps
hunting cartridge. Hugo Borchardt
designed the last rifle made by the company, the Sharps-Borchardt Model 1878
. The Sharps Rifle Co. closed down in 1881.
Reproductions of the paper cartridge
Sharps 1863 Rifle, the metallic cartridge 1874 Sharps Rifle, and Sharps-Borchardt Model 1878 are manufactured today. They are used in hunting and target shooting. A number of companies, among them Shiloh Rifle Manufacturing Company
and C. Sharps Arms Inc., both of Big Timber, Montana
, and the Italian gunmaker Davide Pedersoli & Co. of Brescia, offer a line of Sharps reproductions.
Sharps Rifle
Sharps rifles were those of a series begun with a design by Christian Sharps. Sharps rifles were renowned for long range and high accuracy in their day.-History:Sharps's initial rifle was patented September 17, 1848 and manufactured by A. S...
. It was organized by Samuel Robbins and Richard S. Lawrence as a holding company in Hartford, Connecticut
Hartford, Connecticut
Hartford is the capital of the U.S. state of Connecticut. The seat of Hartford County until Connecticut disbanded county government in 1960, it is the second most populous city on New England's largest river, the Connecticut River. As of the 2010 Census, Hartford's population was 124,775, making...
on October 9, 1851 with $100,000 in capital. John C. Palmer was president, Christian Sharps an engineer, and Richard S. Lawrence as master armorer and superintendent. Samuel Robbins and Richard Lawrence each acquired 250 shares—approximately 13% of the company.
History
Christian SharpsChristian Sharps
Christian Sharps, the inventor of the first successful breech loading rifle, was born in Washington, New Jersey in 1810. He married Sarah Elizabeth Chadwick of Lower Merion Township, Pennsylvania. The couple had two children, a daughter Satella and son Leon Stewart.Sharps was issued a patent for...
(1810 - 1874), patented his rifle in 1848. The first contract for 5,000 rifles was in 1850 and manufacturing started in 1851. The Model 1851 "box-lock" was developed Christian Sharps, Rollin White
Rollin White
Rollin White was an American gunsmith who invented a revolver with a bored-through cylinder which allowed metallic cartridges to be loaded from the rear.-Early life:...
, and Richard Lawrence at Robbins & Lawrence of Windsor, VT.
The second contract for 15,000 rifles was so large that no suitable land was available in Windsor, VT. The holding company advanced Robbins & Lawrence $40,000 to purchase 25 acres (101,171.5 m²) of land in Hartford, CT and to erect a brick factory building.
Christian Sharps
Christian Sharps
Christian Sharps, the inventor of the first successful breech loading rifle, was born in Washington, New Jersey in 1810. He married Sarah Elizabeth Chadwick of Lower Merion Township, Pennsylvania. The couple had two children, a daughter Satella and son Leon Stewart.Sharps was issued a patent for...
left the Company in 1853. He later formed a partnership with William Hankins in 1862, known as Sharps & Hankins. In 1855, manufacturing was moved to Hartford and continued until 1876. Operations were then moved to Bridgeport, Connecticut
Bridgeport, Connecticut
Bridgeport is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Connecticut. Located in Fairfield County, the city had an estimated population of 144,229 at the 2010 United States Census and is the core of the Greater Bridgeport area...
.
In 1872, Sharps introduced the .50-90 Sharps
.50-90 Sharps
The .50-90 Sharps rifle cartridge is a black powder cartridge that was introduced by Sharps Rifle Manufacturing Company in 1872 as a buffalo hunting round...
hunting cartridge. Hugo Borchardt
Hugo Borchardt
Hugo Borchardt was a firearms inventor and engineer, born in Magdeburg, Germany. He is known for his inventions of the Borchardt C-93 pistol and the Sharps-Borchardt Model 1878 rifle....
designed the last rifle made by the company, the Sharps-Borchardt Model 1878
Sharps-Borchardt Model 1878
The Sharps-Borchardt Model 1878 is a single shot hammerless falling block action rifle designed by Hugo Borchardt and made by the Sharps Rifle Manufacturing Company. It closely resembles older Sharps Rifles but has a firing mechanism that uses a hammerless striker rather than a hammer and firing...
. The Sharps Rifle Co. closed down in 1881.
Reproductions of the paper cartridge
Paper cartridge
Paper cartridge refers to one of various types of small arms ammunition used before the advent of the metallic cartridge. These cartridges consisted of a paper cylinder or cone containing the bullet, gunpowder, and, in some cases, a primer or a lubricating and anti-fouling agent...
Sharps 1863 Rifle, the metallic cartridge 1874 Sharps Rifle, and Sharps-Borchardt Model 1878 are manufactured today. They are used in hunting and target shooting. A number of companies, among them Shiloh Rifle Manufacturing Company
Shiloh Rifle Manufacturing Company
Shiloh Rifle Manufacturing Company is a firearms manufacturer located in Big Timber, Montana, United States.The company produces a line of reproductions of various historical black powder rifles, including the legendary 1874 Sharps Rifle, featured in the 1990 Western film Quigley Down Under,...
and C. Sharps Arms Inc., both of Big Timber, Montana
Big Timber, Montana
Big Timber is a city in and the county seat of Sweet Grass County, Montana, United States. The population was 1,650 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Big Timber is located at ....
, and the Italian gunmaker Davide Pedersoli & Co. of Brescia, offer a line of Sharps reproductions.
| Production | Sharps Model | Type | Caliber |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1849 to 1850 | Model 1849 | Rifle | 0.44 |
| 1850 to 1850 | Model 1850 | Rifle | 0.44 |
| 1852 to 1855 | Model 1851 | Carbine | .36, .44, .52 |
| 1853 to 1855 | Model 1852 | Rifle | 0.52 |
| 1853 to 1855 | Model 1852 | Carbine | 0.52 |
| 1853 to 1855 | Model 1852 | Shotgun | Various |
| 1854 to 1857 | Model 1853 | Carbine | Various |
| 1856 to 1857 | Model 1855 | 0.52 | |
| 1856 to 1857 | Model 1855 | U.S. Navy Rifle | 0.52 |
| 1855 to 1857 | Model 1855 | British Carbine | 0.52 |
| 1859 to 1866 | Model 1859 | Carbine | 0.52 |
| 1859 to 1866 | Model 1863 | Carbine | 0.52 |
| 1859 to 1866 | Model 1865 | Carbine | 0.52 |
| 1859 to 1866 | Model 1859 | Rifle | 0.52 |
| 1869 to 1871 | Model 1869 | Carbine | 0.52 |
| 1869 to 1871 | Model 1869 | Military Rifle | 0.50-70 |
| 1869 to 1871 | Model 1869 | Sporting Rifle | .44-77, .50-70 |
| 1871 to 1881 | Model 1874 | Various | |
| 1877 to 1878 | Model 1877 | 0.45 | |
| 1878 to 1881 | Model 1878 Sharps-Borchardt Model 1878 The Sharps-Borchardt Model 1878 is a single shot hammerless falling block action rifle designed by Hugo Borchardt and made by the Sharps Rifle Manufacturing Company. It closely resembles older Sharps Rifles but has a firing mechanism that uses a hammerless striker rather than a hammer and firing... |
Various |
See also
- Sharps RifleSharps RifleSharps rifles were those of a series begun with a design by Christian Sharps. Sharps rifles were renowned for long range and high accuracy in their day.-History:Sharps's initial rifle was patented September 17, 1848 and manufactured by A. S...
- Sharps-Borchardt Model 1878Sharps-Borchardt Model 1878The Sharps-Borchardt Model 1878 is a single shot hammerless falling block action rifle designed by Hugo Borchardt and made by the Sharps Rifle Manufacturing Company. It closely resembles older Sharps Rifles but has a firing mechanism that uses a hammerless striker rather than a hammer and firing...
- Coach GunCoach gunA coach gun is a double-barrel shotgun, generally with barrels approximately 18" in length placed side by side . The name comes from the use of such shotguns on stagecoaches by shotgun messengers in the American Wild West and during the Colonial period of Australia.-History:The term "Coach gun"...
- Enciclopedia delle armi di Edoardo Mori
- Rifle, pistol, ammunition, ballistic