Sharps Rifle Manufacturing Company

Sharps Rifle Manufacturing Company
Company typePrivate
IndustryFirearms
FoundedOctober 9, 1851 (1851-10-09) in Hartford, Connecticut, United States
FounderSamuel Robbins and Richard S. Lawrence
Defunct1881 (1881)
FateDissolved
Headquarters
Bridgeport, Connecticut
,
United States
Area served
United States
Key people
John C. Palmer, Christian Sharps, Richard S. Lawrence
ProductsSingle-shot rifles
Early tape priming system developed by Richard Lawrence integrated on a Sharp's model 1859 Carbine.
Side view of a Sharps model 1859 carbine with the action open.

Sharps Rifle Manufacturing Company was the manufacturer of the Sharps Rifle. The company was organized by Samuel Robbins and Richard S. Lawrence as a holding company in Hartford, Connecticut, on October 9, 1851 with $100,000 in capital. Despite Sharps departing from the company bearing his name, Sharps Rifle Manufacturing Company produced over 100,000 rifles, but it dissolved in 1881 with the widespread use of repeating rifles.[1]

  1. ^ Foster-Harris, William (2007). The Look of the Old West: A Fully Illustrated Guide. Skyhorse Publishing Inc. pp. 67–69. ISBN 978-1-60239-024-9.