[mondefsys]

Hello Cousins,

I have a Sharps No:70194 carbine. Over here in UK we do not have easy access to good 19thC gun info without a struggle (did you now that handgun ownership for centrfire is banned in UK - unless you are a drug dealer or violent criminal?).

My questions for the forum are as follows:-

1) Can anyone tell me who / which unit this carbine was issued to?
2) How does the Lawrence pellet primer operate and where can I get a drawing/instruction for this mechanism?
3) Are the primer pellets still available?
4) Are the paper/cloth cartridges still available in the USA?

Regards to you all
Rob

[jondar]

Rob, I've tried to identify three seperate firearms (military) as to the units they were issued to, Failed in all three attempts, except in the case of a 1911 United States Property made in 1918. One of the more knowlegeable members of this forum let me know that virtually all of these pistols were immediately shipped to France, upon completion, as the need was very great for them. No way at this time to know the exact units they were issued to. In the case of Civil War era arms it may be different and someone smarter than me may respond with a suggestion.

[mondefsys]

Many thanks

Rob

[SDC]

You may find some good info at http://www.berdansharpshooters.com/tactics.html ; at the very least, they have a mechanical drawing of the priming system. HTH.

http://www.berdansharpshooters.com/pellet.jpg

[Jim Watson]

1. Few US service weapons are readily identifiable to the unit issued to. I know of a Spencer that is of the right production lot to have been available to the 5th Michigan in Custer's brigade at Gettysburg, but no way to show it was actually there.

2. See previous post.

3. Not that I ever heard of.

4. Not as such. You can get brass inserts, and there are techniques for using charging tools, and other gimmicks. There are instructions here and there for rolling your own paper cartridges. One set at:
http://www.shilohrifle.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=2613&highlight=paper+cartridge
(The url doesn't connect, go down the page to a post by L. Sanders.)
There is a lot more discussion of different approaches on the board and its 1863 forum.

[Jim K]

To answer some of the questions.

AFAIK, no one is making either the primer pellets or cartridges for the Sharps. The last tube of primers I saw was $125 (for 20) which is pretty steep, and for collectors only. Of course, the gun will take the standard musket cap, the same as used for the 1853 Enfield.

In working condition, the priming mechanism is very interesting. It is timed from the hammer which has cam cuts inside to operate the slide which propels the cap out of the magazine. The cap is actually flying in mid-air when it is struck by the hammer and driven onto the cone.

The mechanism is pretty delicate, and is broken, rusted, or otherwise inoperable in almost all rifles that have seen any service. The Army mostly gave up on them, and just ordered ammunition in the normal 10 round/12 cap packages. That may be why there are so very few pellet tubes around.

If yours is in working condition, you should be able to make dummy caps out of solid copper or wood just to see how it works. The dimensions are .188" (4.78mm) in diameter and .034" (.87mm) thick.

Cartridges can be rolled out of paper just like any muzzle loader cartridge, but on most of the old rifles, the sharp edge on the cut off plate is dull and won't cut the paper off, so shooters just tear the paper off before closing the breech or use thin combustible paper that the primer flame will penetrate.

HTH

Jim

[mondefsys]

iN CASE MY RESPONSE DID NOT GET THROUGH.

Gentlemen,

Many thanks for your help and advice.

The Sharps will be used from a remote stand and I will keep the Forum advised of my (amateur) progress.

All my weapons (incl. 3 cannon and 1 carronade) are used, and so will this Sharps.

Thank you for sharing your knowledge. I am in your debt.

Best

Rob