Author Topic: M1867 Sharps .50-70 conversion: original/reproduction side by side  (Read 2196 times)

Offline Drydock

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I've been asked how my Chiappa M1863 .50-70 conversion compares to the real thing.  This weekend I had the pleasure of seeing an original being shot at the Nebraska Division Muster, and Whisky Double took a nice side by side photo.

I learned something here: I had complained about Chiappa using a modified Percussion hammer as opposed to the purpose built hammers on the originals I had previously seen, but this original did indeed have a modified percussion hammer.  Chiappa left the nose too long, but it seems at least some of the original conversions indeed used this style of hammer.
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Offline smoke

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Re: M1867 Sharps .50-70 conversion: original/reproduction side by side
« Reply #1 on: November 16, 2019, 10:22:47 AM »
That is really neat.  I didn't know anyone was making such a thing.
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Offline The Pathfinder

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Re: M1867 Sharps .50-70 conversion: original/reproduction side by side
« Reply #2 on: November 16, 2019, 05:29:18 PM »
Drydock, I've got one of the old Garret ones and it has the pellet primer, so definitely the percussion style hammer. Don't have an original to compare it to tho.

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Offline Dusty Tagalon

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Re: M1867 Sharps .50-70 conversion: original/reproduction side by side
« Reply #3 on: November 21, 2019, 02:42:55 PM »
Other then slight difference in forearm, the biggest difference I see is lack of Lawerence Priming system. Is it 45/70 or 50/70?
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Offline Drydock

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Re: M1867 Sharps .50-70 conversion: original/reproduction side by side
« Reply #4 on: November 21, 2019, 05:39:13 PM »
It's a .50-70.  Yea, the lockplate just kinda suggests the old Lawrence primer system, but oddly it does have the correct patent stampings on it.
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Offline Galloway

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Re: M1867 Sharps .50-70 conversion: original/reproduction side by side
« Reply #5 on: November 21, 2019, 09:57:42 PM »
Looks great where can a pard find one?

Offline Drydock

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Re: M1867 Sharps .50-70 conversion: original/reproduction side by side
« Reply #6 on: November 22, 2019, 08:27:33 AM »
Got mine thru Buds, but most online outlets sell them.  Problem is Chiappa only makes a few of the .50s per year, so availability is spotty.  .45-70s are more common.  Price runs around 1k  (mine was $950 a couple of years ago, most prices seem to run 1050-1150 now)  I have been very pleased with it. 

My original write up: https://www.cascity.com/forumhall/index.php/topic,60616.0.html
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Offline Niederlander

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Re: M1867 Sharps .50-70 conversion: original/reproduction side by side
« Reply #7 on: November 23, 2019, 04:43:17 AM »
Just checked.  The one I have access to seems to have the converted hammer, too.  Must have been pretty common.
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Offline Drydock

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Re: M1867 Sharps .50-70 conversion: original/reproduction side by side
« Reply #8 on: November 23, 2019, 07:54:54 AM »
Coy Wolf, the owner of the above original, explained this to me.  That the Gov't had given Sharps a $3 limit on the conversions.  Supposedly then those conversions using barrel liners, or had damaged barrels replaced, then kept their original hammers, modified, to lower costs.  Those conversions that kept their original unaltered barrels got the purpose built hammers.

Caveat: These were issued frontline 1868-1876, and for secondary used another 10 years or so, and used HARD, so some parts mixing no doubt took place.
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Offline Niederlander

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Re: M1867 Sharps .50-70 conversion: original/reproduction side by side
« Reply #9 on: November 23, 2019, 08:28:46 PM »
That makes total sense.  As far as them being used hard, I remember reading the same thing about the three hundred forty 1870 Trapdoor carbines.  The author stated every one he'd seen had obviously seen very hard use, which is probably a major reason very few seem to have survived.
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Offline Jack Wagon

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Re: M1867 Sharps .50-70 conversion: original/reproduction side by side
« Reply #10 on: November 30, 2019, 10:08:11 PM »
Here are some pictures of my original M1867 with good shots of the hammer and lock. 
It is a 52-70 and shoots well with a heeled bullet. Your Chiappa is a good looking arm.   Jw
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