The gun is a rimfire .52 caliber and was made in Philadelphia in a quantity of about 8,000.
[1] This firearm, patented on July 9, 1861 by Christian Sharps.
The Navy version had a 24-inch barrel with a leather cover to protect the shooters hand from excessive heat caused by continuous firing.
The short cavalry version had a 19-inch blued barrel.
This article relating to rifles is a stub.