Over 900 of these 'Beecher's Bibles', named for abolitionist preacher Henry Ward Beecher, were purchased by New England abolitionists and shipped in crates marked BIBLES for the purpose of arming Free Soil settlers in Kansas during the 1850s.
It is one of 75 whose serial numbers are listed in the CONGRESSIONAL RECORD for 1859 as a result of its association with that event. This 'slant breech' specimen is attributed to use by John Brown in his 1859 raid on the U.S. This includes the number of website visits. Sharps Rifle was used by both sides during the Civil War.
The Sharps Rifle was one of the finest rifles ever. #4836 Sharps 1859/63 New Model Carbine, post-Civil War, 50XXX serial range, 50/70 conversion Description: #4836 Sharps 1859/63 New Model Carbine, post-Civil War, 50XXX serial range, 50/70 conversion with the original percussion six-groove 52cal barrel having been sleeved with the 50/70 three groove barrel for use in the post war Indian.
