1863 Sharps Carbine!
- Thread starter Trung Si
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sharps59
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You will need to by musket caps. No one makes the pellet primers for the priming system. 
That is all fine, but what I wanted to know is how the System worked, I do not intend to shoot it and I dont understand how it would work with Musket Caps with the Screw in place, that Screw looks like it has been there for a Long Long Time?
ofitg
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- May 17, 2010
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Trung Si, can you post photos of your carbine's nipple/breechblock?
Some of those 1863 Sharps carbines were converted to use metallic cartridges - are you certain that your carbine is still in the original percussion configuration?
EDIT - here are close-up photos of the nipple on my reproduction percussion Sharps - top photo is without a musket cap, bottom photo shows the musket cap seated on the nipple -
The original 1863 Sharps had a mechanism mounted alongside the hammer (which my repro rifle doesn't have) which was loaded with a tube of small disc-shaped primers. When the hammer fell, the mechanism would throw one of the primer discs out, and if everything was just perfect, the primer disc would get crushed between the hammer and the nipple.
Out on the battlefield, this Lawrence primer mechanism had problems, and most soldiers just used regular musket caps.
Some of those 1863 Sharps carbines were converted to use metallic cartridges - are you certain that your carbine is still in the original percussion configuration?
EDIT - here are close-up photos of the nipple on my reproduction percussion Sharps - top photo is without a musket cap, bottom photo shows the musket cap seated on the nipple -
The original 1863 Sharps had a mechanism mounted alongside the hammer (which my repro rifle doesn't have) which was loaded with a tube of small disc-shaped primers. When the hammer fell, the mechanism would throw one of the primer discs out, and if everything was just perfect, the primer disc would get crushed between the hammer and the nipple.
Out on the battlefield, this Lawrence primer mechanism had problems, and most soldiers just used regular musket caps.
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sharps59
Member
wHAT YOU HAVE IS A CARTRIDGE CONVERSION
Ghost Tracker
Member
It's still Black Powder all right. But those musket caps are gonna' be a waste of money. Best get that (fine!) thing to a knowledgable 'smith for a good look-see. He'll confirm the conversion caliber, assure it's safe & direct you as to the load & shooting process. It's a beaut', enjoy!
Curator
Member
The Lawrence Pellet primer has a magazine in the lock plate in front of the hammer. You access it from the bottom of the lock. a stack of wafer-pellet primers was inserted into the tube and the spring/follower on top and screw cap turned into place. Once the magazine was "loaded", cocking the hammer brought a primer disk into position. As the hammer fell the primer pellet is moved forward over the nipple so the hammer will compress it on top and fire the gun. It was a good system and a lot faster than fumbling with musket caps.
Racebannon
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- Feb 20, 2008
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- 48
So where is the Firing Pin?????
It's in the block. Your rifle, like mine, was converted after the CW to 50-70 Govt (have a gunsmith confirm this). The hammer, breachblock and a few other parts were replaced or modified. Some rifles had barrel and/or chamber liners put in place, also extractors were fitted to remove the spent cartridges.
You should take the gun to a gunsmith or knowledgeable collector and have him show you the "ins and outs" of the rifle.
It's in the block. Your rifle, like mine, was converted after the CW to 50-70 Govt (have a gunsmith confirm this). The hammer, breachblock and a few other parts were replaced or modified. Some rifles had barrel and/or chamber liners put in place, also extractors were fitted to remove the spent cartridges.
You should take the gun to a gunsmith or knowledgeable collector and have him show you the "ins and outs" of the rifle.
Jim Watson
Member
The firing pin is the odd shaped thing the hammer hits when the breechblock is closed.
There were 31000+ percussion Sharps converted to cartridge, a lot less expensive than a new rifle.
There are three main versions that I know of, plus some variants of interest mostly to collectors:
1. .52 rimfire - rare and valuable but unshootable, no ammo in a century.
2a .50-70 centerfire with original six groove barrel. The Army would accept any barrel up to .5225" for simple rechambering and new breechblock. The ones above .515" are not very accurate but adequate for shooting at Indians on horses.
2b .50-70 centerfire with barrel relined to three grooves, same as .50 Trapdoor.
A friend has one that is fun to shoot, the short carbine definitely rears up in recoil but the kick to the shoulder is not too bad. He was troubled by misfires until he found that the hammer was contacting the screw holding the cover over the old pellet primer compartment. He filed that flat and it shoots just fine. One of the Minute of Commanche models, though.
There were 31000+ percussion Sharps converted to cartridge, a lot less expensive than a new rifle.
There are three main versions that I know of, plus some variants of interest mostly to collectors:
1. .52 rimfire - rare and valuable but unshootable, no ammo in a century.
2a .50-70 centerfire with original six groove barrel. The Army would accept any barrel up to .5225" for simple rechambering and new breechblock. The ones above .515" are not very accurate but adequate for shooting at Indians on horses.
2b .50-70 centerfire with barrel relined to three grooves, same as .50 Trapdoor.
A friend has one that is fun to shoot, the short carbine definitely rears up in recoil but the kick to the shoulder is not too bad. He was troubled by misfires until he found that the hammer was contacting the screw holding the cover over the old pellet primer compartment. He filed that flat and it shoots just fine. One of the Minute of Commanche models, though.
bigmouth
Member
S/b
I have collected antique guns since the early '50's & intimately now the Sharps. Why did Christian use the slant breech? I worked in a machine shop when I was mid-teen & realized there was a sleeve in the barrel for adj. the "head" space. I made a tool to draw it out & refaced it. I also took the face out of the breech-block & made a new one(not an easy feat when it has a reverse cone conture in the rear). Most of you probably don't know these details but I do. I made it seal like a new one & it shot fine with little gas loss. bet repros. don't have those!
The question I want answered after 50+yrs is, why the slant breech? I never made sense to me. Only a complication as i see it in manufacture & use. Even the straight vertical breech has a slight slope which gives more support behind the breech at the top & more for the axis at the bottom (strength where required). The slant-breech actually gave less support as i see it. The paper cart. was cut at a slant(pour quoi?). Can somebody(not speaking repro), please explain the reasoning? When I say the straight vertical breech has a slope, I mean on the side walls.
I have collected antique guns since the early '50's & intimately now the Sharps. Why did Christian use the slant breech? I worked in a machine shop when I was mid-teen & realized there was a sleeve in the barrel for adj. the "head" space. I made a tool to draw it out & refaced it. I also took the face out of the breech-block & made a new one(not an easy feat when it has a reverse cone conture in the rear). Most of you probably don't know these details but I do. I made it seal like a new one & it shot fine with little gas loss. bet repros. don't have those!
The question I want answered after 50+yrs is, why the slant breech? I never made sense to me. Only a complication as i see it in manufacture & use. Even the straight vertical breech has a slight slope which gives more support behind the breech at the top & more for the axis at the bottom (strength where required). The slant-breech actually gave less support as i see it. The paper cart. was cut at a slant(pour quoi?). Can somebody(not speaking repro), please explain the reasoning? When I say the straight vertical breech has a slope, I mean on the side walls.
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