Jason Kaplan/J&J Military Antiques

It is believed that The Sharps Rifle Manufacturing Company introduced the "New Model" 1859 Carbine in late 1858 changing from a "slant-breech" design to a "straight-breech" design.  The first recorded New Model 1859 Rifle was produced for a US Navy contract issued on September 9th, 1959.  

Jason Kaplan/J&J Military Antiques

The US Navy again ordered 1500 New Model Rifles from John Mitchell, a Sharps’ sales agent in Washington, D.C. on June 4th, 1861.  Serial #s range from 39436 +/- to 42500 +/-.  

Note! The bayonets for this contract are not normally serial numbered.

The Viceroy of Egypt ordered 600 New Model 1859 Rifle Muskets with sword bayonets in late 1859.  Production was delayed and payment was not received so the arms were sold to the State of Connecticut in 1861.  Serial #s range from 36000 to 40000. 

The US Army received 100 rifles with saber bayonets with a contract dated September 12, 1861.  These rifles were surplus from the US Navy contact of 1859 that the Navy did not except. They were issued to a company of Illinois militia sharpshooters called the Sturgis Rifles, part of Major General George McClellan's headquarters bodyguard.  Serial #s range from 37000 to 38000.