Sharps Rifle Manufacturing Company

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, Connecticuton 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 Sharps (1811 - 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 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 1875, 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.

Reproduction of the paper cartridge Sharps 1853 Rifle, the metallic cartridges 1874 Sharps Rifle, and Sharps-Borchardt Model 1878 are being manufactured today. They are used in hunting and target shooting. Shiloh Rifle Manufacturing Company in Big Timber, Montana offers 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	0.52
1869 to 1871	Model 1869	Sporting Rifle	.45-70, .50-70
1871 to 1881	Model 1874		Various
1877 to 1878	Model 1877		0.45
1878 to 1881	Model 1878		Various