Patrick Harper 1809 vs Richard Sharpe 1809: Which Figure First?
By Wargames Atlantic | Published: 2026-11-01
Category: Comparisons
Compare the Patrick Harper 1809 and Richard Sharpe 1809 miniatures on scale, display value and price, and decide which Sharpe's Rifles character to paint first.
Quick answer
Start with Richard Sharpe 1809 if you want the central character and the lower price; choose Patrick Harper 1809 first if you prefer a larger-than-life companion figure and don't mind paying a little more. Both are 54mm display pieces with a 28mm version, so the real decision is character priority and budget.
What the two figures share
Both Patrick Harper 1809 and Richard Sharpe 1809 are hard plastic sets from the officially licensed Sharpe's Rifles range. Each includes one 54mm display piece with a scenic base and a 28mm version, so you get two ways to use the same character. That makes them equally flexible for display or skirmish games, and neither is a single-scale purchase you might regret later.
Where the choice actually differs
The main practical difference is price: Richard Sharpe 1809 is listed at USD 16.97 against a comparison price of USD 24.95, while Patrick Harper 1809 is USD 17.47 against USD 24.95. That 50-cent gap is small, but it matters if you are buying multiple figures or building a unit on a budget. The other difference is character role: Sharpe is the officer at the center of the stories, while Harper is the larger-than-life Irish sergeant who supports him. If you plan to collect both eventually, buy Sharpe first to anchor the range, then add Harper as a companion piece.
Trade-offs to weigh
- Price vs. character priority: Sharpe costs USD 16.97 and Harper USD 17.47, both against a USD 24.95 comparison price. If you want the main character and the lowest entry cost, pick Sharpe; if you prefer Harper as a personality piece, the extra 50 cents is negligible.
- Display vs. gaming use: Both sets give you a 54mm display piece and a 28mm version. If you mainly display, the 54mm scenic base is the draw; if you mainly game, the 28mm version is the working figure. Neither set forces you to choose one scale over the other.
- Collecting order: If you intend to own both, start with Sharpe to establish the range's central figure, then add Harper to complete the pair. If you only want one, decide whether you value the officer or the sergeant more as a painting subject. Buying both later costs the same total; buying one first only delays the other.
Product facts
- Patrick Harper 1809: Hard plastic set with one 54mm display piece on a scenic base and a 28mm version. You can paint and display the 54mm figure while using the 28mm version in games, so one purchase covers both interests.
Patrick Harper 1809 - Richard Sharpe 1809: Hard plastic set with one 54mm display piece on a scenic base and a 28mm version. Same two-scale format as Harper, so the choice comes down to character and price rather than what is in the box.
Richard Sharpe 1809
Who should choose which
Best for
- New collectors who want the central Sharpe's Rifles character at the lower price
- Painters who prefer a single display piece with a 28mm gaming option
Not for
- Buyers who specifically want Harper's larger-than-life personality first
- Anyone expecting multi-figure units or army-building value from one box
