Leinad Pepperbox

[Pancho Peacemaker]

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I saw a Leinad Pepperbox at a gunshow last week.  The little gun really caught my eye.  The finish was rough, but it looks like it would be a fun gun for side matches . . . unless it exploded in my hand.

I've read up some on Leinad:  It was a derringer manufacturer out of Tennessee. . . now out of business.  They made a variety of crude, economy multi-barreled derringers.  There are some negative comments about the quality of these guns on various firearm forums.  I never know how seriously to take some of these rants.

The particular model I was looking at was a 10 barrelled .22LR 'pepperbox' styled derringer.



Has anyone owned one of these?  Any experienced comments would be appreciated.

Pancho

[Ten Wolves Fiveshooter]

  Poncho, looking at the picture , it looks to be well built, but looks can be deceiving, it would depend a lot on how the lock work was on a gun like this,, but I've never owned or shot one before, but I sure would like too, it's a neat looking gun.


                                                     tEN wOLVES 

[St. George]

If you're thinking about buying and using this at an NCOWS shoot as a period firearm - you might want to do some homework first to see what original piece this is 'supposed' to represent.

I did - and there's nothing.

That there were multi-barrelled derringers in use during the era isn't the question - that 'this' configuration doesn't come close is what's important.

It most closely replicates a low-dollar single-shot flare pistol.

Research can save some money by curbing impulse buying.

Vaya,

Scouts Out!

[Pancho Peacemaker]

If you're thinking about buying and using this at an NCOWS shoot as a period firearm - you might want to do some homework first to see what original piece thise is supposed to represent.

St George,  which of the current reproduction derringers would be best suited for NCOWS?  I know Navy Arms did import a Sharps .22 pepperbox  reproduction several years ago.  The current offering from Bond, Cobra, etc... are all modern derringers with little resembling true 19th Century lock-work.

[St. George]

Pancho,

I have no idea where one might be easily found - but if you 'can' locate one of the old Navy Arms Sharps 4-barrel derringers, you can't go wrong.

They made these back in the late '60's - early '70's, they're nicely-built and with care - even somewhat accurate.

They have a brass frame, steel barrels and a 'floral' grip that replicates the original hard rubber ones.

You can also look for a single-shot Colt 'Number Four' derringer in .22 Short, as it's both a 'real' Colt and replicates the .41 rimfire Model Three.

Butler and a few others made very similar varieties, and I believe that parts will interchange.

The various double-barrel copies of the Remington design stray too far from the original size and balance of that piece.

Good Luck!

Vaya,

Scouts Out!

[Leo Tanner]

NCOWS aside, that might be a fun ta own just ta own if the price is right.  It's made in Tenn. an that just makes it better.

[Fox Creek Kid]

Excellent Derringer thread:   http://www.cascity.com/forumhall/index.php?topic=24380.0

[WV Scrounger]

Does any one know if the Navy arms Sharps .22 derringers were made to shoot modern cartridges or Blackpowder reloads?

[St. George]

The Navy Arms guns were built by Uberti - they handle modern .22.Shorts.

Vaya,

Scouts Out!

[WV Scrounger]

thanks for the reply ST George...I just posted a photo of the Sharps I just bought ..does it look like a uberti?  or original?
I havent received it yet so I dont know if it has any stampings on it other than C. SHARPS Philadelpia on the lockplate...

[The Connemara Kid]

Leinad  = Junk.

The single shot 410's were interesting but everything else they turned out is a heap.

[Dr. Bob]

From the picture, I would say that the one that you have coming is an original.  I would not shoot anything but CB caps in it.  They are a short case with priming mixture and a light bullet.  Nearly the same power as the 19th Century .22's with a small charge of BP.  You can probably find them at a good sized gun show.  That is one fine looking 4 shooter!

[St. George]

That's a Sharps...

Look at the markings around the hammer screw.

Uberti marked theirs in a similar manner, but with their name - plus, they have Italian Proof Marks.

My own has those Proof Marks 'erased' and the frame was engraved by Jim Downing.

Yours shouldn't be fired with 'anything' beyond .22 CB caps - period...

The 'lanyard loop' is non-original, but you saw them done that way so that a watch chain could be attached, and the piece would be a 'surprise', if needed.

Don't polish it - it takes time for brass to get to that 'mustard' color.

Congratulations!

Vaya,

Scouts Out!

[WV Scrounger]

well.. the sharps arrived and sure enough its a REAL ONE!!! ( it was advertised as a repro). Everthing works as it should...firing pin rotates and boores look really good!
 I shot some CB caps and they seem really whimpy so I thouhgt I would make up some .22 black powder rounds...
ANIT havin much luck....seems that when I dump the smokeless I also loose the primer.....What is the trick?

[St. George]

Given that the priming compound is effectively sealed within the crimped rim - it's doubtful that you're losing any.

I'd give up trying to actually shoot the piece with anything but the current .22 CB Cap.

You surely didn't get it to compete with or shoot regularly - did you?

If so - don't.

They don't make new ones, and original replacement parts are on the expensive side.

Vaya,

Scouts Out!

[WV Scrounger]

nope...aint gonna shoot it in competition or anything regular,,,just want  to hear it bang and see if the pin would dent the case enough....
I hace some 22 cb shorts on order....
   

[St. George]

Then by firing some .22 CB Caps - you've achieved that goal.

Take care of it and show it off proudly.

Vaya,

Scouts Out!

[WV Scrounger]

I just found a brand new set of Uberti  made Sharps pepperbox barrels !!!!  Made My Day !!!  I can now put em on the original sharps .22 pepperbox and shoot all I want!!!!!
   Note: I never new that Uberti made a sharps .22 pepperbox.....
got them off of Val Forgett....and I know that he knows what he is talking about...!
I am ONE Happy Hillbilly TODAY !!!!!!! I think this calls fer some Celebrating!!!and I just made some Great Watermellon Wine !

[St. George]

You might find that the replica parts do not interchange with originals.

That's why there seem to be a number of them online and at the shows - priced cheaply.

Vaya,

Scouts Out!

[WV Scrounger]

mebe so..but I figger if a Uberti sharps replica wont exactly fit then I can do the machine work to make it fit....
we will see.....I will post updates.

[St. George]

Remember this - that the frame on the original will likely stretch, should you fire anything beyond a blackpowder level of pressure.

It's old brass - like old iron framed original revolvers, the metallurgy isn't that of a modern piece.

If you use modern .22 ammunition, look for stretching and peening - no matter how much machining you do to fit the barrel assembly.

Prolonged firing 'will' destroy the frame - I've seen it happen to two originals, back when the Navy Arms replicas came on the scene.

Good Luck!

Vaya,

Scouts Out!

[WV Scrounger]

I just checked the measurements of my original against the measurements of the new barrel and the base that rides in the brass is too wide by .20 inch. The center to center on the barrels dont match the original either....and there is nothing I can do to correct that....SO,,,,, Im gonna forget this idea.
  I sure dont wanna mess up an original. guess I will stick to .22 cb loads and only shoot them sparingly at that.
Thanks fer your input St George.....I do appreceiate it !   I have some cb carts on the way....and I wont shoot many of em.

[St. George]

The replicas were designed as 'replicas' - not as spare parts to replace/rebuild originals - their specifications are different, because of this.

Though the replica barrels are chambered for .22 Short, I saw a couple of Navy Arms replicas that were 'rechambered' for .22 Long Rifle by an enterprising individual - both had ruined frames.

Enjoy your little Sharps for what it is - a working artifact of an earlier era, and a piece that has certainly seen some interesting sights over time...

Vaya,

Scouts Out!

[WV Scrounger]

I fired some CB shorts tonite....really whimpy....so I pulled the lead on some 22 shorts and dumped to powder then reloaded with  5 grains 3 fff...What  A Difference....now this little sweetie really Talks!
  the frame is tight on this piece and the bores look actually new...so I figgure the barrel has integrity and can take the 5 grain black powder load it was designed to shoot...
   From my reasearch these guns were chambered for the ,22 long black powder round....which would hold slightly more than the .22 shorts I was shooting....

[Buffalo Nichols]

If anyones of a mind to buy I have 3 I will let go of. A  Uberti 22S, an HJS ( Brownsville, TX) stainless 22LR in the box and a 4 Aces (Brownsville TX) brass frame with fake pearl grips in the box.

mfaires@allcitiesent.com