I love the variety of these guns they outlived paper cartridges and made it to the brass cartridge era not alot of guns did that most just got replaced few bridged the gap thank you very much for all your videos
Beecher's Bibles - "He (Henry W. Beecher) believed that the Sharps Rifle was a truly moral agency, and that there was more moral power in one of those instruments, so far as the slaveholders of Kansas were concerned, than in a hundred Bibles. You might just as well. . . read the Bible to Buffaloes as to those fellows who follow Atchison and Stringfellow; but they have a supreme respect for the logic that is embodied in Sharp's rifle."
The good old Sharps M1863. This must have been one of the most popular rifles (actually carbines) in the US Civil War. I own a replica of it myself (converted to a Robinson or Richmond) and love shooting it on the range. The gun is very accurate for an original piece, but I am not sure I would put the full 60 grain of powder on such an old treasure. In any case, these are impressive pictures of the shot pattern at 30 and also 50 metres. An entertaining but in any case also very instructive video. Thanks for sharing, mate. Stay healthy and keep up the good work. Greetings from Cuxhaven on the German North Sea shore. 😎👍🏼🇭🇺✌🏼🇩🇪👍🏼🤠
I have a friend that found one of these in almost. Mint condition an estate sale. Gave the lady $50. This rifle was in her husbands family. No rust and only a couple little nicks in the wood. His is a metal cartridge model.
That gun was made on what is now Capitol Avenue in Hartford, Ct. The factory later on was used to make Columbia bicycles, Pope EVs, and then the P&W Wasp aircraft engine. Alas, it was torn down in 1966 to make way for I-84.
I have a wonderful Sharps Rifle with set trigger (cannot prove it was a Berdan SS rifle, but same configuration). Amazingly accurate for a 150 year old rifle.
I’d much rather have Sharps thumb over Garand thumb 😉 Thank you for these wonderful videos, and the opportunity to time travel. This channel is one of my “go to” places for gun knowledge.
It's actually a myth that Brigadier General Buford's 9th Cavalry Division of only 9,000 troopers held off three, Confederate infantry Divisions in the preliminary battle just right before Gettysburg using SPENCER repeating cavalry carbines. It's true that the 9th held off three, Confederate divisions but they were using SHARPS cavalry carbines. While the Sharps advertised a possible fast firing rate of 9 to 12 shots per minute, the practical battlefield rate was six, maybe seven. The reason is that the Union trooper had to spend more time plucking out a copper percussion cap and seating it on the ignition nipple at the breach. This took at least three seconds for an experienced shooter. Then the trooper had to aim the carbine which took another two seconds or so. The whole process of pulling the trigger back to half-cock, lowering the breech block, retrieving a paper or linen cartridge, inserting it into the breech, levering up the breech again, pulling the trigger back to full cock, retrieving and seating a percussion cap, taking careful aim and firing took up at least ten seconds for an experienced shooter under combat conditions. But the advantage was that the shooter could use his Sharps carbine from a kneeling or prone concealed position, which meant less Union casualties and more men firing their carbines. Given that the practical battlefield combat firing rate was six rounds per minute, maybe seven, that is twice the practical three rounds for a muzzle-loading black gunpowder percussion musket rifle, standard at the time. The Union troopers were outshooting the Confederate infantry, two-to-one, and surviving more since the troopers did not have to stand in line formation but could take protected, semi-concealed positions. Artillery would be more dangerous to the Union troopers. In any event, the 9th Cavalry did hold off three Confederate infantry divisions, but at great cost. History records the 9th Cavalry Division was shattered and had to be withdrawn for reconstitution. But at least the 9th was not overrun and totally destroyed en masse as it would have been had its weapons been muzzle-loading musket rifles.
I am a grown up old man and remember when RWS caps were packaged in Shiny tinplated metal containers that you did not throw away because they could be repurposed to keep other things in, much like Altoid tins.
Great video! The offhand shooting location is gorgeous. Makes me want to move to Hungary! Are there designated places like that to shoot, or is that public land? Part of a shooting range? Thanks from California.
Post Civi War the sharps got the record for longest confirmed kill shot of the 19th century. The Shot was made by Billy Dixon at the 2nd battle of adobe walls. Shot was made with a Sharps in .50-90 sharps. Distance 1,538-yard (1,406 m)
Your work is very inspiring, and I hope for your continued success. Thanks to you, I am looking into getting some black powder firearms, to get a better appreciation of the history of firearms.
I compete in the usa with a repo sharps in the N SSA, we have a floating sleeve with an o ring installed and it will shoot all day without jamming. Check out Charlie Hahn machine shop on line, hes in Maryland usa.
Looks as if the eyewear was getting fouled as well! That is black powder shooting. I find your content to be AMAZING in its historicity and in the details you typically include in every video. I am 76: when I was a boy, 'frontier' books featured Sharps rifles and their exploits of accuracy. Your video offers us so much MORE than was previously available. I have followed your work for the last few videos. It is TIME to CONTRIBUTE.
I'm the same age and I seem to remember that when I was a kid, you could order this carbine (or maybe it was the rolling block?) from an ad in the back of Popular Mechanics magazine for $25.00 plus postage. I think the firing pin was removed but otherwise in good condition. I thought about it but decided to save my money for a guitar instead!
The Sharp's had an important role in the Civil War, but it also played a critical role in the pre war era, particularly in 'bloody Kansas' where it was the predominant weapon of choice of the anti-slavery settlers in the state. Abolitionist organizations in New England made a real effort to assure that European immigrants on their way to Kansas got a Sharp's rifle before they got there.
@@guylewis7418 Senator Andrew Butler of South Carolina once demanded in the Senate that the government serve a writ of Habeas Corpus on all Sharp's rifles in the state of Kansas. :-) True. It's in the record.
Most of us shooting Sharps in competition use either paper or cardboard tubes least we squander the speed advantage afforded by eliminating the time needed to extract a brass casing. Great video keep them coming!
@@johnhiers9405 About double. Oddly enough it depends on the time of the season. Early when I'm holding and squeezing that tends to level the times a bit. If I get good enough I start to snap shoot, then the total time is more about the loading without a longer aiming cycle.
@@billsweeneybama2251 I said there's no need to extract a case. Some breechloaders such as the Maynard and Burnside used brass casings (Smith used rubber) that had to be withdrawn or extracted by hand which consumes time. The Sharps paper cartridge gets combusted when things go bang thus eliminating a step.
Outstanding. What a joy. Great information. I’ve been shooting black powder guns since before you were born. I learn a gold nugget of information from every video you make. They are each a treasure. My thanks.
Outstanding video. I have two repro Sharps paper ctg guns and one original 50-70 conversion. My grouping with the carbine did not improve until I started using a two handed grip, resting my forehand against the bag and holding the fore-end of the rifle. That eliminated the diagonal stringing I was getting. My 1863 Sporting rifle is heavy enough that it didn't matter. Wonderfully researched video. Kudos.
Excelente carabina sharps y gracias por mostrarnos una parte de la historia de esta arma sus componentes y el armado de los cartuchos hoy aprendí un poquito más. Saludos desde Argentina 🇦🇷🇦🇷👍👍👍
Love the Sharps, I have a repro Pedersolli 1874 Silhouette in .45/70. What’s not to like about that 32 inch octagonal barrel. I’m very drawn to single shot under lever rifles as I have three Ruger No 1s.
Great video. Your authentic rounds are fascinating to see in use -- I've never seen them before. You need to get your hands on a Spencer rifle or carbine. I prefer the rifle.
If the action becomes too fouled to function rapidly, pour a little water down the action/barrel from your canteen. If you're out of water, step behind a tree and improvise. This will loosen the fouling enough to get the gun running again and the heat of sustained firing will dry it enough to insure good ignition.
Thank you for doing this video I have just entered the world of the percussion sharps patiently awaiting someone to have a mold in stock. Enjoyed seeing what these can do when they are running properly.
I always thought the original paper cartridges were such that when you closed the breech, it tore off the back of the cartridge. I remember seeing a guy use one and the cartridges had a twisted paper end which tore off as he closed the breech. It is really amazing you have a shootable original there in Magyarország. The other carbine I remember having seen a lot of use was the Spencer but it used a rim fire metallic cartridge. As for your thumb bite, yep, that is the other reason the gun is called a 'Sharps"..... I got a chance to see a lot of weapons from the Civil War since my father's family lives near Gettysburg and I spent a lot of time in that area. I love your videos with these vintage rifles.
Hello sir, what's up ..? I watch all the videos and I like Sir's videos a lot...😄 My name is Libin Shah from India Kerala (from God's own country) 😄😄 . I am a big fan sir..I have a request sir Webley Mark VI service revolver (british made) will you review one sir...please
Wasnt the first pattern slant breech the ones that snipped the end of the cartridge off? Or was it all models of the sharps minus the metallic cartridge models?
A quick comment on your English, sir, if I may. I am an American, and attended college in Florida. Your English is better and clearer than some of my American class mates. I look forward to your next video whether or not it includes your Sharps. I had been wanting a Sharps, until I learned about the Smith carbine. I bought a reproduction Smith, first version with the sling swivels. I am now learning how to cast bullets.
Nice! Isn't there a risk there would be burning paper left when you're loading a new paper cartridge? That wouldn't be too bad, I guess, since the new powder would burn and not explode, right? (free air, not closed space)
Hi Capandball, according to your experience wich carbine is more accurate, the Burnside or the Sharps? I already own a 4th model Burnside and it shoots very well and I was offered the chance to exchange my Burnside for a Sharps. I'm hesitant because I love my Burnside but on the other hand the Sharps has the panache and prestige, besides it's easier to find parts for a Sharps, if they break down because there are so many repros out there......I know, the ideal situation would be to keep my Burnside and buy the Sharps but that would be too expensive......
@@capandball Thank you for your answer, I'll keep my Burnside and try to save the money for a Sharps, in the near future. Love your channel, I found a lot of interesting stuff, a lot of valuable information for an amateur black powder enthousiast like me.
I loved the video..............great job. It certainly shows what an improvement the model 74 was. That sticky, dirty breech on the 63 must have been difficult to clean in the heat of battle.
What a wonderful video thank you. I am going to have to set some time aside to watch all of your videos, very nice. At 32:59 the bullet you are using has grooves in the bullet for lubrication, what have you tried for lube? I seem to be a little short on tallow. I have another question that is not on the sharps but may have been used on the sharps due to the time it was in service and it has bothered me for a while. I have read a few books on people who used smooth bore rifles during and before the time of the sharps and to improve accuracy and fouling they talk about using sweet oil to clean and lube the barrel. What is sweet oil? I think it is olive oil but I am only guessing. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.
It gets a bit gummy after a few shots and it bites; sounds like a candidate for metallic cartridges and a feed mechanism. I would think that in the Civil War one would have to change out carbines often. Very nice exhibition and hair. At 16:02 that is a massive amount of gas blow back. At 20:59 and 21:49 one can see the bullets go into the target at one o'clock. Very good camera work! I wonder what the rifling looks like? Must say it was better than a muzzle loader when charging on a horse.
Great vid as always. Orignal Sharps must be pricy My repro Sharps usually gets harder to open after 20+ shots, still not to the point of jamming tho. It takes paper cartridges but was extra sealed by gunsmith (by changing plate), blows back thru nipple mostly. p.s. I noticed your cartridges out of the box are not lubed at 1:47, but are lubed when you are loading them at 4:40. Guess it's not good to store them prelubed side by side.
You have Very good English and I have to thank you for speaking in English I can tell that it is not your native tongue so once again thank you. But I can only help but ask about your interest in the American Civil War rather than the various other words happening in Europe during the same time period.
Gabriel, thanks for the good words. I am mainly a researcher of the military system of the 19th century Hapsburg empire. This is what I research and this is what I teach at a University. The Civil War is interesting because of the modern firearms concepts.
Every time I get interested in a new black powder firearm the first thing I look for is a Cap and Ball video detailing shooting this new to me firearm. I have not been disappointed yet! Thanks!
i love your outlook on cap and ball weapons. thank you for your time and effort. great videos. very good information and entertaining to watch. may god keep you safe.
Love every episode! I have a collection of original muzzle loaders and early breechloaders with my faves including my Dreyse M1862, my 1845 Potsdam, and my Sharps carbine. Want to get a Maynard as my great, great grandfather carried one in the 2nd FL Cavalry.
Hey, could I use some clips from a few of your videos for a video I'm making on Pirate Firearms? Naturally I'd credit you on screen and in the video description
I have an original (authentic) Sharps percussion carbine conversion to .50-70 cartridge. The conversion was done by Sharps for the US military using specimens without too much wear. Loaded with a hollow pointed semi-wadcutter bullet it is a very serious and quite effective deer hunting carbine. I would suggest a re-crowning of your carbine muzzle and see if that improves the accuracy.
I think the barrel and the crown are not bad. I will try other bullets, and I am just working on the brass cartridges. I believe that will improve accuracy.
A rifle with coffee grinder? Well, that tells me a LOT about the priorities of the average Union cavalry trooper: "Firepower? Hell no, I just want my morning coffee." This is something i can really get behind.
Is there a source for info on reducing the trigger pull on an original Sharps 1874 carbine? My rifle shoots nice but it would be a much better shooter if it didn't have a 10-12 lb trigger pull. This is a BP cartridge gun in .50-70.
If You consider the bull as center of body / abdominal area or even chest those two centered high shots would be chest , neck or head shots. I like Your video’s. I grew up shooting repeaters and many years ago got interested in traditional Muzzle loaders cap and ball pistols, rifles both military and civilian. I am getting interested in single shot military and civilian arms like rolling and drop block’s. My Paternal Grandfather was about 18 when He was in the Italian Army that fought at Adwa. He told My Dad that the Abyssinians were stacked like cordwood. He told one of My older Uncles that He barely escaped capture with His life. He was able to make His way to another Italian encampment where they had heard everyone was wiped out. That was the initial report and found to be in error but the Italian’s and their Eritrean Allies did suffer a devastating defeat by a well armed enemy that outnumbered them by roughly 100-1 odds. The Abyssinian’s were well led by their King Menelik II who responded to the cultural desire of Abyssinian Men and Young Men to Be armed by making every effort to equip them with the best in regulation arms of the time. He really had a well regulated force of citizen Soldiers. We do not know much about how the Italians were armed and equipped or what decisions from higher up contributed to their being armed and suplied as they were.
It's such a shame that Pedersoli ruined the breech block to "improve" the rifle for brass tubes. Shooting paper cartridges in any Pedersoli Sharps is such a pain now. Chiappa of course copied them. If anybody wants a repro percussion Sharps, Garrett/Palmetto or Shiloh are the way to go.
With your calm behavior shooting, it still makes me wonder about General George Custer,and his men at little big horn, under attack with overwhelming odds, 200 men should of lasted longer than a hungry man eating a meal,I have not been trained or experienced in war,history does make me wonder
I see that you are throwing away the spended percussioncaps every time. Why don't you keep and spare them ? Cupper price is really high you know ; ) So it's not only keeping the environment clean, but also making some money in the long run i think : ) But for the rest, you make really good videos. Nice job.
It's like shooting a flintlock smoke Pole. He got fire at both ends. There's probably 50 to 75 M/S of flame coming out the back that's lost. Seems like the accuracy was better with a cold barrel than when it got hot. Also noted that the barrel is awfully thin.
Hello my awesome new friend I just wanted to say hello and thank you for bringing such a beautifully done video on a beautiful rifle. Thank you again I’m a new subscriber
How is the trigger. I've shot an original. My p.hd biologist friend also has an original. The block is so we'll machined a drop of oil would not drop between the breach and frame of the receiver the fit was so well done. This also made it easy to jam though. I worked in the firearms business for many years. Your knowledge is excellent. I live in the town of the first train robbery in the US and maybe world. The Reno brothers from the civil war era. Supposedly one of the Remington army handguns was found here with the name Reno on it. It's for sale.
So what did one squirrel say to the other squirrel? I don't know they were speaking hungarian! I mistakenly deleted my entire channel trying to delete old comments and had to go back and find all of the channels I had saved and subscribed. Good to see you're still doing it and I've always wanted a sharps.
It is interesting that a lighter load shoots more accurately I wonder about corn size,as much bouncing of shipping might have made it finer from manufacturer
Be careful, powder trickles under the fore stock and can blow off. Yes I've owned Sharps. 3 band muskets are far more accurate. I made paper cartridges
