Serial number 24003. Made circa 1857. 36 caliber with a 22” barrel. This is a nice sharp gun with light gray to brown patina. All markings are sharp and clear. The tang Is marked “SHARPS/PATENT/1848-24003-CROWN/2”.The tape primer door is marked “EDWARD-MAYNARD/PATENTEE-1845” The Brass patch box is marked with “I/SCR/1857” This is the inspector mark for Commander Steven C. Rowan, who inspected roughly 100 Model 1855 sharps in 1857 for the Navy. These were special guns with no barrel markings and a 2.5” sling bar. All of these guns were in the British 577 caliber. This gun is possibly a prototype as it is in 36 caliber which is not listed as a caliber this particular carbine was made in. The barrel is serialized to the gun and the patina matches and there is absolutely no evidence of a replacement. Very interesting possibly one of a kind Sharps carbine!