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7
CLEANING:
Due to the corrosive nature of black powder, it is imperative that your Sharps rifle or
carbine be thoroughly cleaned after each shooting session. It may also be
necessary to swab the barrel periodically after a few shots to maintain accuracy.
After field stripping the gun, the action maybe be cleaned using warm soapy water or
a quality black powder solvent. The barrel should also be cleaned to remove any
fouling. After the gun is thoroughly cleaned, it should be lubricated with quality gun
oil.
One area of the Sharps action that requires special attention when cleaning is the
gas check plate located on the front face of the breech block. The purpose of this
plate is to seal the rear of the chamber when the powder is ignited. If the gas check
plate is not removed and cleaned regularly, it will become fouled, rendering it
ineffective in sealing the breech. This leakage can permanently damage the gas
check plate and possibly cause injury to the shooter. To remove the plate, loosen it
by carefully working the edge of a knife blade around the joint between the plate and
the breech block. Clean the gas check plate and breech block with warm soapy
water or solvent. Before reassembly, lubricate the gas check plate with a thin coat
of grease. Press the plate back into the breech block prior to re-assembly.
By cleaning your Sharps rifle or carbine after each shooting session, it should give
you many years of reliable service.
MAKING PAPER CARTRIDGES
During the American Civil War, Sharps rifles and carbines were usually fired using nitrated paper or
linen cartridges. These cartridges are no longer commercially available but are easily made.
The first step is to make the nitrated paper which is simply a light weight, high “rag bond” paper
soaked in a saturated potassium nitrate solution. A saturated solution is made by adding potassium
nitrate to water until it will dissolve no more of the chemical. Best results are achieved if the water is
slightly above room temperature.
Place the saturated potassium nitrate solution in a flat pan. Next place the paper into the pan and
allow it to become completely saturated with the solution. Remove the saturated paper from the
solution and allow it to completely dry.
The dried paper is cut to the shape shown below.