Samuel C. Robinson was a prominent businessman in Richmond, Virginia who for personal, patriotic and lucrative reasons entered into a contract to produce a breech loading Cavalry Carbine for the Confederate Government. He then set up his arms manufactory at Ninth and Arch Streets in Richmond. In the three months between December 1862 and March of 1863 when the Confederate Government took over the manufactory, Robinson produced just over 1900 breech loading Cavalry Carbines. For him to have produced 1900 high quality carbines in three months is remarkable by Confederate standards. Only 79 of the original 1900 are known to survive.

The early S.C. Robinson Carbine shown here is serial # 371. It is so complete that every piece, part, and even screw is original to the gun, and is well marked. Finding a gun this complete is uncommon, but to also find it in exceptional condition is even more rare. The gun remains in fine condition.

The wood remains in fine condition save for a dent and two small chips in the stock. The black walnut stock has a dark natural patina. The metal is in absolutely beautiful condition with barely a ding and no burnout at the nipple, no pitting anywhere, not even on the face of breech block.

The right side plate is stamped: "S. C. ROBINSON ARMS MANUFACTORY RICHMOND VA 1862”, in four lines, along with the serial number, 371. The same serial number is found stamped into the underside of the barrel, the backside of the sling swivel bar, and into the frame tang.

The breechblock is original and is numbered correctly for a CS Sharps breechblock; these numbers are important because they differentiate it from a US block which do not have these numbers. However, they are not serial numbers and should not match the serial number. The action functions correctly and smoothly in all regards.

The barrel is stamped "S. C. ROBINSON ARMS MANUFACTORY RICHMOND, VA 1862” in two lines which break in the middle to accommodate the placement of the rear sight. The barrel retains strong, but not bright rifling, and it has the correct. The barrel is 100% correct, with its hallmark pinched front sight.

The gun still has its original, correct walnut forearm with brass washer. It was never cut to allow for the powder to drop out. This is probably for the same reason the gun is in such fine condition; it was captured when it was virtually new.

The carbine has a gorgeous plum patina on the metal parts, and though you would never know it, if I did not disclose it, the patina is not natural. The gun is in such fine condition, that a previous owner thought to make it like new by cleaning the metal… ooooch. However, this can redound to your benefit, because it will save you around six thousand dollars and you will still have one of the finest S.C. Robinson Sharps in existence.