The Sharps Model 1859 Saddle Ring Carbine

Sharps rifles are considered by many to be some of the most elegant rifles used during the years following the civil war. Larry Potterfield, CEO and Founder of MidwayUSA, examines this interesting percussion rifle that was later converted to 50-70 centerfire. From the falling block action to the traditional saddle ring on the left side of the receiver, each of the features on this old gun is examined in detail.

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• MidwayUSA
• Larry
• Potterfield
• Sharps-rifles
• rifles
• centerfire
• gun
• shooting
• buffalo
• firearm
• black-powder

[Weedus2]

This Rifle is not the typical Sharps.This here is a Version for Cavalery Soldiers with less propellant.The normal Sharps Buffallo Rifle was in caliber 50-90 which means a cal.50 Bullet with 90 Grains of Blackpowder.When the Blackpowder burns,it produces more than 27 Liters of hot explosion Gas,this will force the Bullet out of the Muzzle with an Energy of 2700 Joules.The M16 Rifle of the US Army got a Muzzle Energy of 2048 Joule.

But it was a long range gun,Billy Dixon killed an Indian on 1400M.

[ThePurcy]

wow is this the first 50 calibre rifle?

[trainzguy12]

lol if you listen closley you can here the john deere drive green theme song in the backgrounds

[alirio199]

uyyyyyyyy quiero un rifle asi

[Tizmaole]

@Weedus2 To the best of my knowledge the "less-propellant" cavalry round was used in the Trapdoor Springfield, not the Sharps (it was called, ".50-55").

Also, with regards to Billy Dixon: the rifle used was a heavily souped-up, '74 Sharps in a .45-90 chambering: not very similar. It was a borrowed weapon, besides... and Dixon always insisted that it was a lucky shot. I believe him.

[tacoman375]

@Weedus2 on his third shot. but just goes to show that we dont need all these fancy scopes for 100yard shots

[7x57mmMauser]

@Weedus2 according to your joules numbers, that makes a fully loaded military sharps capable of only 2700 joules per reload and a military M16 capable of 61,440 joules per reload and obviously the better weapon.

[bggamerman]

nice oldie :)

[cms7451]

This Sharps must have been converted to the 50/70 cartridge if it is truly a '59. The model '59 and '63s didn't take brass cartridge. During the civil war they would've shot paper cartridges by percussion cap. Also typically the model '59 had a patchbox made into the stock where the '63 did not. I believe the first rifle Sharps put out that shot the brass rounds was their model '74 made famous by many westerns including Quigley and his Berdan style Sharps that shot the hotter buffalo rounds.

[MegaZsolti]

whatll be a next thing... a truckbean? :P :P

[Thx1138d]

If I was a cavalry trooper a Spencer would be my choice.

[mooreman80]

Yep you sure can learn a thing or two on Youtube. But wene yaw start in it make me IOI.