DESCRIPTION: Very scarce Nepalese issue Sharps breech loading percussion rifle. Caliber: .577?. The rifle is based on the 1853-type Sharps. It was manufactured locally in Nepal in 1860-s. The rifle was issued to elite Gurkha regiments, and consequently it is often called, "Gurkha Sharps". Production of the rifle in Nepal caused serious logistical problems. Information about this rifle is still insufficient, but the most common opinion is that only a very limited number of guns of this pattern were manufactured for the Government of Nepal. Sharps rifles in Nepalese army were soon replaced by Sniders. Consequently, Nepalese Sharps rifles were withdrawn from service and stored for many decades in the government warehouse. Steel receiver. Steel barrel with 3 grooves. Fixed front sight. Ramp and leaf military style rear sights. Brass buttplate and nosecap. Three steel barrel bands. Two sling swivels. The barrel of the rifle displays a "Crown", stamped just behind the rear sights. No other markings are present on the rifle. Complete with an original ramrod. Judging the features of the action and the style of rear sights, this must be a late production Nepalese Sharps rifle. The early production Nepalese Sharps rifles had slightly different configuration with a very simple rear sights. Nepalese Sharps were until recently totally unknown on the collector market. A few rifles of this type were smuggled out of Nepal before 1990-s. The first example of this rifle I have seen in 1980-s, advertised as "Confederate Production Sharps" (sic!). More rifles of this pattern were imported from Nepal, along with Sniders and Martinis, in the last ten years. CONDITION: Excellent. About 85% of original finish is still present on metal. Some finish is turning to brownish color patina. Most of the wear is on the barrel bands, lever and on the receiver. No pitting. Solid stocks with some minor handling marks. No cracks of any kind to the stocks. The bore is in excellent condition with strong and shiny rifling. Mechanically, the rifle is in fine condition with crisp, strong action. Percussion lock works fine. All the internal parts of the rifle are in fine condition, with no obvious wear. Overall length: 53 inch. Barrel length: 36.75 inch. Scarce Nepalese Sharps rifle in very collectible condition! (Ref. "Guns of the Gurkhas", by John Walter, pp. 56-59).
