Hand gun
Christian Sharps
Category
Arms and armour
Date
1859
Materials
Iron barrels; brass frame; gutta percha grips
Measurements
16.5 cm (length)
Place of origin
Philadelphia
Order this imageCollection
Dyrham, Gloucestershire
NT 452160
Summary
Small 4 barrelled pistol by Christian Sharps & Co., Philadelphia, USA, c1860
Full description
Four barrelled derringer pistol, c1860, by Christian Sharps (1810-1874) of Philadelphia, USA. Square iron barrel block drilled with 4 rifled barrels, the block fluted and the top with a bead foresight. Stamped on the underside with the serial number 5588. The barrel section is mounted on frame and slides forward for breech-loading by pressing a small button on the underside of the frame. Barrel length 7.5cm. Calibre 7.64mm (.30 inch rimfire cartridge) One-piece moulded gutta-percha grips with chequered surface Brass frame with integral extension forming a handle to hold the one-piece grip. The body of the frame contains the lock components including the hammer and stud trigger; also the barrel release button. The hammer has a rotating striker which automatically rotates one quarter turn as the hammer is cocked. The left side of the frame is stamped C.Sharps Patent 1859; the right side stamped C.Sharps & Co., Philada, P.A. The base of the grip is stamped with the Serial Number 5588. Overall length: 16.5cm Source/Reference: E. Heer, Der Neue Stockel, Switzerland 1978 R.E.Gardener, Small Arms Makers, USA 1953
Provenance
Indigenous collection purchased by Ministry of Works in 1956 and given to Dyrham Park in 1961.
Marks and inscriptions
Pistol frame right and left sides Grip frame base: Right side: C.Sharps & Co., Philada, P.A. Left side: C.Sharps, Patent 1859 Grip base: 5588
Makers and roles
Christian Sharps, gunsmith
References
Heer, 1978: Eugene Heer, Der Neue Stockel: 3 Volumes