For its type, this is a sound, solid condition Confederate Sharps Carbine. The barrel marking of "RICHMOND, VA," and serial range of this Confederate Carbine identifies this as one of the Sharp's carbines made by the Confederate government after it took over the Richmond factory of Samuel Robinson, who made the first 1900 of them. Its features are the thin lock plate without the Sharp's pellet priming mechanism and the full length plate for the sling ring on the left side of the stock. Most of these also had a sling swivel on the bottom of the stock near the butt and the brass barrel band, as is the case with this particular carbine. Serial number 2785, it exhibits heavy use as most do and retains an over-all brown patina mixing with dark grey.