SHARPS 1863 UNKNOWN

This 1863 Sharps Percussion carbine is an interesting look into post Civil War custom gunsmithing, as what was once a rifled carbine has been converted into a breech loading percussion shotgun. This conversion consisted of boring the rifling away into what is roughly a 20 Gauge bore with .043 of choke and boring the chamber away to roughly 12 gauge to remove black powder corrosion, likely to be re sleeved. It would appear that this conversion wasn’t taken to completion, as the chamber sleeve has not been installed and a rough lip is remaining in the chamber throat. Overall condition aside from the conversion is fair to good, no original finish remains, but the firearm is free from serious pitting, with only a few signs of superficial corrosion.