Hi I'm new here, first time poster.

I have a few questions regarding this rifle and a Springfield trapdoor. Both rifles are my Grandpa's. I've started getting interested in tinkering with them over the past few weeks.

Some background on the sharps, my grandpa loves going to auctions and picked it up for about $200. Nearest i can tell the action is in good shape, but the barrel has alot of pitting inside, but the rifling itself doesn't look too terribly bad,  the front sight looks like it was welded back on, and the rifle seems to be covered in some sort of laquer. We did take it to the range and fired it and it seems to work perfectly. Out of curiousity how much would it be worth? I know its hard to judge without even a picture. And we don't have any intention on selling it.

Also the rounds we were firing were old and the powder was deteriorated, it didn't even all burn. Needless to say we got a 6 inch group at 50 yards. I'm thinking that with the barrel not being in the best of shape, some heavy cast lead bullets with a BP charge would give about as good as a group as i'm going to get. So my question is, what are some common BP loads for the 45-70 that work well?  I don't believe i'll ever have a tack driver without a new barrel put on but, i'm hoping for atleast semi reasonable groups. Also what kind of pressures can it handle in terms of the kinds of loads the action can take. Like if i would ever have a new barrel installed, Do i have to stick with Trapdoor loads, or can i run Ruger #1 loads?

That 45-70 Springfield trapdoor, Years ago someone pried the rear sight off of it. We still have the sight but its mangled pretty good. I'm wondering where we could get a replacement sight for it? Other then that this rifle is in good shape. I'd also like to load for this, and i know i have to keep the pressures down.

Dave,
You can find spare parts for your Trapdoor at this site.
(You need to Login or Register to view media files and links). I have used parts from them for both of mine.

Craig

The people who have responded are telling you the truth!  I paid $900 six years ago for a varmit rifle built from a military Borchardt action, just to get the action.  Good ones are hard to find 125+ years later.  Brent is also correct in telling you that the correct black powder load is a full case.  It seems strange to people used to reloading with smokeless, but it is so.  Clean the barrel as best you can with a brass brush and solvent.  Try and bell the case mouth just enough not to shave the soft lead bullets when you seat them.  Have fun!

Here are a few pics of it. Tell me what you think (yes i noticed there is some rust on the rifles) If it means anything "old reliable" Is stamped on the top of the barrel.

This is a pic of the front sight.
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The screws aparently have been messed with in the past, but there all there, nearest i can tell.

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The rifle overall

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Dave, a lovely old Borchardt carbine. The "Old Reliable" stamped on the barrel was Sharps logo. I would if I were you continue to work on the bore, scrubb it out with bronze brushes. Do not use the stainless brushes around now they are very stiff and sharp on the bristle end and can damage these old soft, mild barrels. The barrel may well shoot well with more cleaning and hand loading with new bullets and powder. I would use bullets from 350 grs on up to as much as 535 grs
the Postell Bullet. But you must rember for each and every reaction there is an opposite reaction. Big heavy bullets = RECOIL!! This is a light carbine it will kick if loaded to its potential with black powder and heavy bullets. I have shot 350 and 385 gr bullets quite well in .45-70 Sharps rifles and others. The front sight welding was probably done in an effort to get the elavation correct with smokeless ammo. The original front sight on Borchardts is very low and they will shoot terribly high with smokeless loading. Now with Black Powder loads you may find it shooting very low at almost any distance you try it at. With a little luck and time you may well be able to find some original wood to replace what is there. It does show up frequently when someone takes one of these military rifles and upgrades it for their own satisfaction. Well have fun and enjoy. Regards, FITZ.

Thanks for the info on the front sight, I guess if worse comes to it, a die grinder could be used to reshape the front sight to the correct height.

Hello DaveG,

Your Grandpaw's Borchardt started life as a full length Military Rifle which someone altered at a later date. The 'give away' is the presence of a rifle sling mounting bracket at the front end of the underside of the action.

If it had been factory made as a carbine it would have had no rifle sling mount, but a saddle ring on the rear left hand side of the receiver. 

If the forearm is modified from the original, there should be a hole (possibly plugged) into which the original rifle cleaning rod fitted. Cleaning rods weren't fitted on the factory built Borchardt Carbine.

The front sight is a replacement, both rifle and carbine had identical simple blade sights, cut into the barrel. Factory military rifles and carbines didn't have ramp bases fitted.

The woodscrew visible on the righthand side of the butt, just to the rear of the receiver is definately 'none standard' possibly put there to hold a crack in the woodwork together.

Any gunsmith should be able to replace the damaged screws, it's a simple task to make them. It might pay you to have a qualified gunsmith look at it anyway. If, as it appears, some amateur gunsmith has been 'at it' there may be other alterations (not visible) that may make it unsafe. 

A common fault often found on both rifle and carbine, is a breakage or cracking of the right hand cocking plate, not visible until the breech block is removed. This can make it difficult to cock the weapon and it also could cause problems with the extraction of a fired round.

Instructions for stripping the receiver down to individual parts is given in Frank DeHass's book, Single Shot Rifles and Actions.

If a gunsmith o/k's the action you could build a really good rifle out of it, and it will be worth it.

I wish I could find an action like that for 200 English Pounds never mind 200 US Dollars. I'm jealous.

Harry

At one time this rifle looked just like yours.

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