Defarbing a Sharps Infantry Rifle?

[ndnchf]

I've searched the archives, but found almost nothing onthis subject.

What steps should be taken to defarb a Pedersoli 1859 Sharps Infantry rifle? Besides the obvious incorrect things like Italian markings, lack of a pellet priming system and .54 vs .52 cal, what else is not right? What can be done to improve them?

Thanks,
Steve Blancard
Co. A, 13th VA. INF.

[Curt-Heinrich Schmidt]

Hallo!

"What steps should be taken to defarb a Pedersoli 1859 Sharps Infantry rifle? Besides the obvious incorrect things like Italian markings, lack of a pellet priming system and .54 vs .52 cal, what else is not right? What can be done to improve them?"

Do you mean Italian markings, lack of Sharps' markings, lack of the "hump" of the Lawrence pellet mechanism on the lockplate, and .54 or "improve them" refers to the Italian reproductions BEYOND those quoted??

In brief...

A short answer is that the Italian "Hardwood" does not look in color and grain much like the American Black Walnut used on original Sharps. The stock can be stripped, tinted with dye or stain, and "reoiled" to more closely resemble ABW.
(Also, the modern barrel blueing does not look all that much like the original blueing, so it can be stripped and professionally redone to appear as originals.)

Curt

[ndnchf]

Sorry I wasn't clear. What I'm asking is what can realisticly be done to make the Pedersoli Sharps look more like an original? Refinishing the stock makes sense.

Who inspected and accepted them for the government? I assume there should be one or two cartouche stamps on the stock - whose initials? and does anyone have the correct stamp today - JRE, Zimmerman etc.?

I agree, the modern barrel bluing is much different from what was used 145 years ago.

Is there anything else that should/could be done to improve appearances?

Thanks,
Steve Blancard
13th VA Inf. Co. A

[Curt-Heinrich Schmidt]

Hallo!

As with any of the so-called "de-farbing" concepts on any reproduction, they are a Sliding Scale of Imperfection that depends upon a combination of what can be done and what a lad chooses to have done based upon his the needs and wants of his Mental Picture (of what he sees himself doing and where he sees himself fitting in).

Off the top of my head, the only Sharps inspector I can recall is John Thomas who used a rectangular script "JT" stamp. I know of NO service that offers this stamp, (and to my knowledge the only Sharps carrying such are they ones I worked on in the past).

IMHO, beyond the basic "de-farb" work, the next "jump up the sliding scale" for Sharps is to replace the lock with either a repro Garrett lock or have an original restored to its CW Era appearance (which can cost several hundred dollars plus). Most lads, IMHO, learn to live with, and ignore the lack and look of the Sharps lockplate's Lawrence Pellet Primer mechanism area and the mutant solid block treatment that replaces it.
Then possibly replacing the rear sight with a mint or restored original...
;) :)

Curt

[ndnchf]

Thanks Curt, I appreciate your advice.

Steve Blancard