George, thanks for posting the pics of your 50-70 carbine. Looks almost the same as my 56-50 peabody. Same sights and almost the same patina. Thanks for sharing and would like to see the centerfire conversion on yours. Frank

Hi Frank,

Well, my face is now really red!!  I pulled the block out of my carbine to take a couple of pictures for someone else.  I'd never had the block out before and I should have before saying this was an original.  Clearly it has been converted from rimfire.  I posted pictures of the firing pin and block under the other heading with more pictures of the carbine.  Finding out this is a conversion doesn't detract much from the fun of shooting it though.  And, with that small firing pin it might even handle smokeless loads, though that really isn't my cup of tea.

George

I have a  similar 50/70 carbine that has no markings on it at all. What numbers it has all match but no lettering or markings. It dosen't appear to have been refinished as the patina is a rich brown color. It has the sliding bar type firing pin. Could really use some more wood but so far no luck finding any. Also need a rear sight. I rigged up a rear sight to shoot it and at 50 yrds it does pretty well. I tried some black and some IMR5744 using 1/20 lead. Its fun to shoot just needs some fixing up.
JHolland

jhm:  not sure if you're waiting find original wood (probably so), and a forearm from a long barrel military Peabody could probably be cut down n' used? Butt stocks are probably interchangeable?  Of course I don't know where piles of old Peabody stocks are just laying around!!  I've used 5744 powder with good results in a couple of my Peabody's.  20 grs works well in the .45-50 Peabody c'tridge.

I'll bet that is a good hunting bullet.  Don't think I've ever seen so "broad" of a flat point.  With that wide of a flat nose I wonder how far beyoud 100 yards it would still be useful?  I have had real good luck with the  450 grain Lyman 515141 which is the original 50-70 government design.  I have used that in a Remington 1870 Navy, a New York Remington carbine, Sharps carbine, and an early New York) Shiloh military rifle.  So far it is working well job with the Peabody too.   That's all with black powder; I keep to the real stuff with these old rifles even though it is a lot more work.  I have a 350 grain 515139 mould also which I haven't tried with the 50-70's.  I've heard that they shoot pretty well, especially with the slower twist of the Sharps.  I use that one in a Maynard precussion carbine and a Remington 1871 Army.

George