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I'm not sure if this is the right spot and I don't know if the SRS books have any serial number information on sharps rifles but I have a 1859 Sharps Infantry Rifle with serial number 42409. I'd also be grateful if any could point me in the right direction on a good resource for the Sharps.
Not there. Here are some close ones.
42228 C 06/01/64 Co K 19th PA Vol Cav
42835 C 02/03/65 Co K 3rd NJ Vol Cav
Thank you for taking a look and finding the data.
Those are most likely carbine serial numbers.Additionally there were about 7000 M1859 rifles manufactured between serial numbers 36,000 and 60,000.Sharps switched entirely to Carbine production sometime in or around 1862.In 1863 at serial 100,000 they started a new series of serial numbers with the "C" in the serial number.
Best resources on Sharps -Sharps Firearms by Frank Sellers and Civil War Sharps Carbines and Rifles by Earl J. Coates & John D. McAuley.
Edit-An attributed rifle,serial number 56535,was made in March/April/1862.Given that your rifle was most likely made in 1860-61.In case you are wondering it is too early to fall into a Berdan Sharpshooters rifle range.
Great information and I tracked down a copy of the Coates & McAuley Book.