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.
Last edited by JBinIll; 08-20-2014 at 02:53.
A man with a sword may talk of peace.A man with out a sword may talk of peace,but he must talk very fast indeed.