I have been developing an interest in this rare gun which was made in the 1850's and 60's.  Been studying what I can from internet sources, but that being limited, am looking for more help.  While some don't consider it a very good looking gun, I find it interesting and in the same class as a Remington #7 rolling block since they both were made with variations from a pistol.

There are several variations of the rifle and pistol and I believe they were all breech loading percussion guns.  Variations being in frame modifications, stock attachment and primer feeding patents.  There is also a couple pistol frame sizes, but I am interested in the smaller frame, although from what I understand the parts were basically designed the same, but will not interchange between the two sizes.  Also, apparently after WW1 someone took around 20 rifles, made pistols from them and were very well done, so these are out there and would also help me.  

What I am asking for here, is for anyone that has detailed information on these contact me.  The ideal situation would be if someone that owns one would contact me and be willing to answer detailed question on the gun.  The possibility of disassembling the gun would be really great but not necessary.  Maybe someone has photos of the inside workings and they would be appreciated as well.  I have contacted several folks about the gun that I thought might know where one might be, but so far have had no luck, so was hoping someone here may be able to help.  Possibly one of you knows who owns one and would see if they would be willing to talk.

Please PM me if you would prefer, over posting on the open forum.

So everyone knows what the gun is and what I'm looking for, here are pictures from Rock Island Auctions of a rifle.  Pistol picture is from an internet article.
Thanks,
Bob

It seems to me that roughly 20 years ago, somebody like Franklin Mint made a full-size, functional, but pot metal copy of the pistol.  IF I'm right and IF you could find one, it might serve as a model for somebody like our Rodney to make a set of basic action castings, modified to take a scaled-down version of someone's current Model 1874 firing pin assembly.  From what you've shown us here, Bob, I'm sure you could take it from there.

Bill Lawrence

There are many internet photos of the pistol.  One, for example, shows the frame with the grips removed and the mainspring set-up clearly visible.  Others show the breech block with its heavily-rounded corners from both the top and the bottom.   The action is clearly a simplified version of the rifle's without the added complexity of a side-plate-mounted lock mechanism.

You can do this, Bob!

Bill Lawrence

Sorry. Bob, I'm not computer literate enough to do that.  But if you google "sharps breech loading pistol images", you should find it.

Bill Lawrence

I'm sorry, Bob; I sometimes don't give very good directions.  So I'll try again.

Google "sharps breech loading single shot pistol images".  When they come up, click on "view all".  The photo I'm referring to is the 114th image in the expanded set, 8th after the photo of Seller's book.  Click on that image, then on "view page", and you will be lead to a closed auction (sale # 100982311) on the Guns International site.  You can still play with the photo set for that auction, several of which may be of interest to you.

I really hope that this time I'm of help.

Bill Lawrence

Many, many thanks, John Wells!

Bill Lawrence

I've always assumed that the rifles used musket-size nipples while the pistols and pistol-based rifles used revolver-size ones.  But I don't know that for sure and so I can't answer your first question.

But I can positively answer the second, having actually done so on many occasions with a Schoyen-rebuilt Model 1859:  you certainly can use a standard musket cap.  In fact, it's my understanding that many Civil War participants preferred to do so.

Bill Lawrence

I don't know much about the tape system but did find this on Christian Sharps patented pellet system that was used on this gun.
Bob