Sharps breechloading carbine

[Phantom Captain]

Oh yeah, always have wanted one of these and finally ordered one...



Ordered an Armi Sport, asked for the '63 model but said I would take a '59 if they were available first. They are a bit hard to come by at the moment as they are scarce in the country and the euro is playing havoc with the dollar as you all know making the distributors reluctant to import anything at the moment. Still my favorite CW Sutler has some in customs and they should arrive next week! Also ordered a .54 cal. christmas tree ringtail bullet mould and the sleeve removal tool. I looked at the Pedersoli's and the Shiloh Sharps as well (man they are beautiful but about double what I paid for this one). Reading some reviews I've read the Armi Sports are actually better than the Pedersolis and cheaper too. Have to say though I LOVE my Pedersoli 1861 Springfield.

I'm very big into all the Civil War stuff as some of you may have noticed from my previous posts and have four other CW rifles and a smoothbore along with many cap and ball pistols. The breech-loading carbine fills in a big gap!! I'm really excited about getting it as I've always thought they were just plain neat-o.

Any of you guys have one or have any words of advice or experience with them?

 

[Funderb]

You are not going to like it. When it gets there don't even open the box, send it directly to me.

 

[mainmech48]

Bet that you'll want to get into making your own authentic cartridges for it next! IIRC, Dixie has the materials and info needed, including rolling forms. You may have to use nitrated paper instead of linen, but it'll still be more than authentic enough for renactments and a good deal less messy than loose powder to boot.

 

[scrat]

Nice i like it. there was a guy posting on the general form area a week ago. Saying he had one he wanted to chrome out. Of course it seemed like he was a young kid that did not know much. He got totally flamed by posting such a thing. Nice rifle.

 

[Phantom Captain]

mainmech48 said:

Bet that you'll want to get into making your own authentic cartridges for it next! IIRC, Dixie has the materials and info needed, including rolling forms. You may have to use nitrated paper instead of linen, but it'll still be more than authentic enough for renactments and a good deal less messy than loose powder to boot.

Oh you are so right. Already looked at the cartridge kits from Dixie and the Possible Shop. One will be ordered shortly of course. Expensive though for 100 papers, glue, funnel and a roller. I also have the Dixie speed load tubes for my .58s and they will work just fine for the .54 also. I have read some guys get great results using those with the bullet pointed forward and lubed. You just push your bullet into the chamber, twist the tube and let the powder go in behind it then close your breech. No need to cut cartridges or anything. I'm sure I'll give a couple different ideas a go!

scrat,

Thanks!! I can't wait to get it and get it out!! I might even go and cast 100-200 bullets tonight or tomorrow just in anticipation!

Funderb,

Hehe, . I had a feeling someone would say that but you actually threw me as I started reading your post and it was the first one. I really thought you were going to say something bad about them. Got me!

 

[Mac Attack]

Oh I want one of those!

 

[Voodoochile]

I'm jelouse, I've wanted one for years but every time I would think of buying one something happens that requires the $$$ for it.

If ya don't mind where did ya order it from?

 

[alb]

Hey Voodoochile,

Not a problem at all. It's ordered from Fall Creek Sutlers here in Indiana.

Here's a direct link to the BP Carbines page.

http://fcsutler.com/fcweaponscarbines.asp

Oops, forgot to sign in under my name instead of my Dad's, it's still me, Phantom Captain, though!

 

[Phantom Captain]

That's better.

Weird, Dad passed a couple of months ago and it was just strange to see his handle on my last post. Forgot to log in with my name on his computer. Guess he's speaking to me from beyond!

 

[Misfire99]

Nice i like it. there was a guy posting on the general form area a week ago. Saying he had one he wanted to chrome out. Of course it seemed like he was a young kid that did not know much. He got totally flamed by posting such a thing. Nice rifle.

Metal plating was known during the civil war, more towards the end of the war then the beginning fr sure. I wonder how many, if any, weapons got plated. I have never seen any examples but that doesn't mean that it wasn't done. And it wasn't cheap.

But cheap did not always interinto it. I saw a Civil War sword on Antiques Road show that had an aluminum handle. At that time aluminum was more expensive to use then gold, the electro process hadn't been discovered yet. So here was a sword that hand a handle more precious then gold. Some people had money to burn.

Anybody have any information about barrel plating during the civil war?


I bet sharp shooters would have loved it. A plated barrel gives much less fouling. It's a lot slicker and the fouling doesn't stick so well.

 

[sharps59]

I have a armi sport 59 it was a lot of trouble for for the first year and 1/2. I now own a shiloh 63. yes I still have the 59. i so far put a few hundred into it to get it to shoot and function properly, all i can say is good luck. If you need any help just contact me. I've been thru it all w/ it. for paper cart. for get the dgw or any body elses papers get a dowel rolling papers or hair perm papers. tracing paper works well also. I nitrate mine and use waterglass as a glue. {sodium silicate].

 

[Rachen]

You are not going to like it. When it gets there don't even open the box, send it directly to me.

NO!!!!!!! Send it to ME! TO ME!

 

[Phantom Captain]

Well well well...

Look what the UPS man finally dropped off yesterday!

Been waiting awhile and really happy to finally have my hands on it. It's an Armi Sport Sharps Model 1859 Cavalry Carbine







Really nice color case hardening if I do say so..











Can't wait to get out to the range. I cast up about 100 bullets already waiting to go!

 

[Capt. Willard]

That is great looking wood, case coloring and fit and finish! They did very right by you I'd say. Enjoy!

 

[Mike OTDP]

Take yourself over to the N-SSA bulletin board and get yourself some advice from people who know the Sharps.

 

[sharps59]

Let me know how you make out. photos of plastic tube, carboard tube from Charlie Hahan. And rolled nitrated tracing paper rounds. the cardboard tubes desinagrat when you shoot them. cost from Charlie is about 7cents a pcs.
my first problem w/ my arm sport was the front lip of the hammer would catch on the musket cap. tried shorting the nipple that did not help sent it back they replaced the hammer that did not help finaly got a michinest from The N-SSA to streach the hammer. next problem is block freezing after a few shots did the O-ring modification, cured that problem. also found my bore was way over sized.
had to have it relined to get a sharps stile bullet to work. my bore was something like 550. :banghead:
can send you or post pics of diffrent stile O-ring mods If you like.
And yes I am a N_SSA member.

 

[Tomb29]

Sharps 59

Sharps59 I would like to get that info on the o-ring mod and a way to get in touch with Charlie Hahan about the cartridges. I just picked up a like new Sharps carbine and am waiting on delivery of a Smith. Am a member of the N-SSA and in fact competed in the Nationals last weekend.

 

[Phantom Captain]

Thanks for the compliments all, it's a really sweet little rifle. I'm totally in love!

Mike OTDP, Yeah i'm very familiar with the N-SSA boards and have read a bunch of stuff over there for quite some time! Great advice though, those guys are way familiar and some definitely know their stuff.

sharps59, would love to see your pics of the O-ring mod! Sent you a PM. Or just post them here if you feel like it, all information is good information for whoever is interested. That's why we all read these boards isn't it?