It's a Sharps saddle ring carbine, converted from percussion to center fire, the R.S. Lawrence patent is referring to the percussion capping mechanism built into the lock plate.

What's going on with the breech? It appears to have been filled with lead and soldered shut in an effort to render it non functional.

Looking a little closer at things I believe it's a modern made non functioning replica of a Sharps saddle ring carbine, see if a magnet sticks to it.

 

What Griz said and I have the same question about the chamber. Sumthin's hunky. With all the flashing around the breech is it even a real rifle?

 

I really don’t know anything about this we just found it
I have done a little research and people are saying that records can be found if it’s from the navy something about it been a band 3 if that’s even relevant and the fact that the marking on the side of the gun rather than on the barrel is apparently worth more
As for the chamber could this just have been blocked up to prevent firing again?
Also could this affect value if real???

 

I have done a little research and people are saying that records can be found if it's from the navy something about it been a band 3 if that's even relevant and the fact that the marking on the side of the gun rather than on the barrel is apparently worth more

The "3 band" Navy issue refers to the rifle you see here in the center, in this instance a repro of the 1859 New Model. The 1863 NM was virtually identical but didn't have a patchbox. The lower item is again a repro, of the post-CW conversion of an 1863 NM from percussion to 50/70 cartridge. Your Sharps has what remains of the extractor cut at 9 o'clock on the chamber mouth, and the breech block has a firing pin (hammer nose is resting on it) rather than a percussion nipple, so it's almost certainly a conversion of an 1863 NM

 

It looks like all pewter casting. Seams and mold marks everywhere. Click on the pics and they blow up nice and big and the patent date looks like it says April 12T2. And where pray tell is the rear sight? Even the hammer screw is wrong.

 

Since you are in England, I have a feeling that the rifle has been rendered inoperable because of your laws.

 

The gun is a Denix nonfunctional replica.

Look at the breech where they didn't make the lower portion of the barrel the same diameter as the upper portion to make it easier to carve the channel in the fore stock and the solid breechblock, the firing pin and block are one solid piece cast with a pretend parting line where the two separate parts of a real one would slide past one another as the pin is struck by the hammer.

Close up of the barrel and action of my sharps, notice that the barrel is the same diameter top and bottom.

Here is a listing from Denix showing the infantry version of their Sharps replica, notice the same features in the picture of their action as your rifle.

Your gun is made from cast zinc.

 

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Nice catch!

 

Stop it Mac, you’re making me drool.

 

Crap! I forgot to post the link to the Denix. ;P

http://www.sofmilitary.co.uk/sharps-new-model-1859-rifle-by-denix-product,18393

 

Most definitely a replica. Something here to be learned that is often overlooked by many is the font ( style ) of the lettering. This font did not exist at the time the gun is supposed to be from. This is especially valuable to know when looking at old knives. Fake markings using the wrong lettering font is a dead give a way to a fake.

 

After checking the gun with all you guys info I now sadly believe it is a replica and you lot clearly know what you’re talking about. Thanks for everything guys