[John Zephir]

I am trying to identify a rifle recently acquired. It is a falling block action activated by a thumb hole type lever under the action. The bore appreas to be in the 35 to 38 cal range. It has a 1" diameter octogon barrel, 24" long, and is a breech loading cartridge gun.
On the top of the barrel is the name R or P. LAWRENCE, with a pat date of FEB, 15, 1859. There is a tang target type peep sight, a sliding scale sight on the top of the barrel, and an adjustable, for windage, front sight with a hood. It has a pistol grip and a steel butt plate. There is no serial number.
If anyone could provide any info on this rifle, I would be very appreciative.. I can be reached at 203-484-2667 if anyone has any additional questions. Thanks.

 

[jamullins]

R.S.Lawrence made rifles under a patent agreement for Sharps in the 1850's. Your's sounds like it could be a Lawrence barrel or rifle of the 1859 Model Sharps New Model Carbine.

 

[John Zephir]

JA. many thanks for the response to my inquiry. I had no idea that this could be a part of the Sharps line. I do appreciate the information. John.

 

[jamullins]

np, i hope it is a Sharps, but there were very many offshoots of those older guns especially due to civil war. reguardless it is an historical firearm and good luck with it.

 

[John Zephir]

JA, I have carefully looked at this rifle and there are no other markings, either numbers or any other names or manyufacturer marks. The reciever has the same basic configuration as the Sharps but the lever on the Sharps is on the side while this gun has the lever in the center of the reciever just forward of the trigger guard. I have reviewed Sharps info in Flayderman's, the Blue Book, and the Standard Catalog of Firearms. I find reference to Lawrence having made the very early Sharps but nothing on either the Lawrence Company, or the guns they may have manufactured. Do you perhaps have any leads of where I can look further to locate any info on the Lawrence Company?? I do appreciate your help and assistance in this matter. If I can get some digital photos, I will send some to you to see if they could help. Again, many thanks for your kind help. John Zephir.

 

[jamullins]

hey john, couldn't find anyhting solid on the Lawerence company. i do believe there is some sort of hisory site for the C. Sharpes company on the internet somewhere. maybe that could help. If it was produced for use during the civil war or just before for civilian sale then there may not be any record of who made it. good luck.

 

[John Zephir]

Lawrence

JA, many thanks for the recent reply. I have sold this gun just this past day . I had a good friend do some checking and as far as we can determine, someone took a black powder barrel and affixed it to this action. There were no markings and another person who has copies of all period patent design could find no recoed of this particular gun. This supports the pieceing together of parts rather than an original gun. Got $ 2300.00 for it which appears to be a good price. I just hope I don't later learn it was worth 5-10 grand!!!!!!!. Thanks for your help. John.