Welcome to at this time’s Photo of the Day! In 1864-65, Lt. Col. Walter King of the 4th Missouri Cavalry devised a novel modification to the Sharps New Mannequin 1863 carbine – a hand-cranked mill constructed into the buttstock. Although generally known as the “espresso grinder” Sharps, the mill was truly designed to grind grain for cavalry horse feed throughout lengthy raids. The modification featured a removable crank deal with and a gap within the inventory for grain enter. Regardless of its revolutionary idea, fewer than 100 carbines have been transformed through the Civil Warfare, with solely about 12 genuine examples identified to outlive at this time. Checks by the Nationwide Park Service proved the mill unsuitable for grinding espresso beans, debunking the favored false impression about its supposed use. The gun grew to become a frequent goal for counterfeiters, significantly after spare mill elements from the St. Louis armory have been used within the Nineteen Twenties to create faux examples. As Springfield Armory notes, there are possible extra reproductions in circulation at this time than unique transformed carbines ever produced. Unique examples might be recognized by period-correct markings and manufacturing particulars.
“This New Mannequin 1863 is fitted with a replica “Espresso Mill” with the removable deal with hooked up on the left aspect. (Recognized examples have deal with on the correct). This mill was invented by Lieut. Col. Walter King of the 4th Missouri Cavalry and was truly supposed to grind grain to feed the cavalry throughout raids. Fewer than 100 Sharps are believed to have been fitted with the machine; some sources point out that solely twelve are identified to have survived.”
Lot 3135: Sharps Rifle Manufacturing Firm New Mannequin 1863 Carbine 52 – Civil Warfare Sharps New Mannequin 1863 Percussion Saddle Carbine with “Espresso Mill” Inventory. (n.d.). Rock Island Public sale Firm. {photograph}. Retrieved December 3, 2024, from https://www.rockislandauction.com/element/63/3135/sharps-rifle-manufacturing-company-new-model-1863-carbine-52-per.
