[bcorson]

Hi folks,

I own the two antiques mentioned and I would like some help in getting an estimate of value and some advice on how to go about selling them. I have had both these guns for more then 50 years. The Sharps saddle carbine (serial number c, 15089) I found in a house in Parsonfield, ME while helping my grandmother ready the house for sale (the house belonged to her second husband). The double barrel 10 gauge 1883 Colt (serial number 8027) was given to me by a great Aunt when I was 14 or 15 thinking I could use it as a bird gun. Fortunately my Dad realized it was a Damascus barrel and so we never used it.

I will add several pictures of each and can provide any additional shots needed. The inside of the barrels on both guns are in very good shape. All parts are in good working order. The spiral markings are visible along the entire length of both barrels of the shot gun.

 

[bcorson]

more Sharp pix

 

[bcorson]

more pix

 

[bcorson]

1883 Colt shotgun pix

 

[Jim K]

The Sharps pictures are puzzling. The first ones show the gun with little finish and some rust; the later ones show what looks like a nicely blued (or REblued?) receiver and barrel. Are there two different guns, or one with work in progress, or just some trick of the light?

Jim

 

[bcorson]

No it is one gun and it is pretty well as it appears. Some of the parts the bluing is in tact and in good shape and yet most other parts have some surface rust. I had assumed that the parts had rust were what I had seen referred to as case hardened parts and I further assumed that meant they had never been blued.

As far as I know it has never had any parts reblued. Certainly not during the 50+ years I have had it. For at least 20 years before that it sat in a house virtually untouched by no one.

I just remembered that when I took off the front piece of wood under barrel to verify the serial number on the barrel was the same that the finish under there was more like the parts where the bluing was so good. I have added two pictures. Still not sure why some rusted and others didn't but perhaps this is the clue. The gun was tucked into the back of a clothes closet and perhaps something was covering some parts and not others? anyway hope this pix clarify things.

I guess one of the questions I should have asked is should it be restored and if so how should that be done?

Thanks for comment Jim.