Ive never seen one. 

I wonder how many were converted to target rifle's ?   

                                                              Joe.

Just a dumb question from someone who knows little about the Sharps/B rifles:

Why did they "panel" them with hard rubber.  it seems like an odd choice of material.  On an officer's grade rifle it's seem that a more elegant material would have been in order.
What was the function of the machined out areas anyway, simply to lighten the action a small amount?

Ben, I thunk that most ossifers had much warmer places to keep their thumbs

Hello DWS8130,

Your correct, the action side panels were originally a weight reducing measure, brought in to remove weight from the rifle, so that it met the weight requirements for rifles used in Creedmoor Matches. Other weight reducing machining took place inside the action and and elsewhere on the Creedmoor Borchardts, but not, I believe, on the Officers Model.

The hard rubber side panels (called Jet*) and probably the hard rubber pistol grip caps, were 'bought in' or sub contracted by the Sharps Rifle Co., from The Celluloid Novelty Co. NY., as were their imitation 'Rosewood' side panels. 

The side panels could be 'special ordered' on any of the 1878 actions for an additional charge of $5.00, but were a standard feature on target grade rifles at no extra cost.

Personally I think the side panels add considerably to the looks of the Borchardt action and doubtless many others do too. The hard rubber panels must have been really 'hard', as they were capable of being carved or engraved and some fine samples of this artwork can be seen in Sellers book 'Sharps Firearms', pages 264-5 and 267.

* The term 'Jet' is correctly the name applied to a rare form of coal, and is classed as a semi-precious stone, which is capable of being carved, shaped and highly polished to produce items of great beauty and which was very popular in jewellery manufacture in Victorian times in Britain.  Most genuine 'Jet' comes from Whitby in North Yorkshire, England.   

Many attempts were made to replicate this material including using 'hard rubber'. The black colour of 'Jet' is far deeper than say Ebony and the dark black colour contrasts very well with colour case hardened metal, adding considerable beauty to actions finished this way.

Whether these hard rubber panels were able to retain their good looks for over 130 years is debatable, so many artificial items deteriorate with age, and those original Sharps hard rubber side panels may well have changed their appearance over time.

Harry

Quote:


I think the color was oxidation, you see this on old hard rubber buttplates and pistol grips of that era. It is just on the surface, it is still black underneath

Jim

Hello Joe,

The front edge of the side panel recess has a groove machined in it. A corresponding lip on the front edge of the side panel itself fits into this groove and the panel is secured at the rear by two small grub screws which come in through the rear edge of the action to to hold it in place.

The stock has to be removed to get access to the small screws, once these are removed the rear of the panel swings outward (like a door opening) and can then be removed.

The attached picture may give you a better idea.

Harry

thanks for posting that pic.  those milled out recesses are a LOT deeper than I thought they'd be. and a second on the happy birthday wishes

Gee, I missed it this year Harry! 
    But Happy B Day!

Gutta percha is actually a form of rubber, it was used for pistol grips and buttplates. There is some information on it here  (You need to Login or Register to view media files and links)

Goggling it will turn up a lot more about it, I do know for a fact that heating it in hot water will change its color if black to an ugly gray-brown. Its final color was probably the result of a coloring agent like lamp-black or something else for another color.

Jim

THop, I have personally owned and lettered 1878 military rifles from # 360 to the 16xxx range. AAMOF have owned only one miltary rifle with a higher #, 19xxx, but it didn't letter. This is a small sample but IMO it's enough to show that the factory made military muskets as early as serial # 360 right on up to the end of production. BTW I personally viewed & handled a factory-engraved 1878 sporter bearing a number in the 36X range, FWIW. The actual shape and size of the characters of the serial numbers was exactly the same on both rifles, it was obvious that the same machine stamped both rifles. The # 360 military rifle was shipped to a store in NYC as I remember, the letter didn't mention any military contract or address.

BTW that PG buttstock doesn't look like it matches the military forearm, at least I've never seen one like it.
HTH, regards, Joe

My Borchardt buttstock is a target grade and it is serial numbered. Serial number is on the front left side into the wood. I'm not sure if all the Borchardts are numbered in this fashion, but its worth looking. If nothing else just a validation.
    Don

Nero wrote on Nov 20^th, 2008 at 12:54am:


Hello Nero,

Check out the date of J.D's post. It's March 2008. J.D's wisdom is missed.

Harry

Thanks Harry,
Regards.