[KING]

Vintage 1874 sharps cartrige

THE CERROSAFE is a real easy item to use...just stop up the bore ahead of where the cartridge would go,heat it up...its got a real low melting point,and shrinks very little...poor it in the chamber keeping the barrell down...let cool,and push the whole shebang ota the barrell...mic the chamber and there ya go.....actually its not much harder that i just told ya...if i can do it...u sure can.....besides..when ya get the cerrosafe it has directions on it which are probably a lot clearer that mine are....good luck

 

[Ted Kramer]

Vintage 1874 Sharps cartridge

I doubt it would be a 40-65 unless it was rechambered after it left the factory as the 40-65 was not introduced until well after the Sharps factory closed it's doors forever. Doesn't it have a length denoted also such as 40-2 5/8" or 40-2 1/2"? Maybe they did not all have the length stamped or it is not visible any longer. Then I guess the chamber cast would let you measure it for sure.

 

[mike8946]

Vintage 1874 sharps cartrige

Hey Ted,
Thanks for the reply. I think I read somewhere that the only original chambering for the 1874 in .40 caliber was .40-90, but I'm not sure. That might explain why the barrel says ".40 calibre" and does not designate which type. I will just have to order some cerosafe and find out for myself.

 

[Ted Kramer]

Vintage 1874 sharps cartrige

Mike-Actually, there were five 40 caliber chamberings in Sharps rifles. There was the 40-50 straight, 1 7/8" long; the 40-50 bottleneck, 1 11/16" long; 40-70 bottleneck, 2.25" long; 40-70 straight, 2.5" long, and 40-90 bottleneck, 2 5/8" long. So it could be any of them. All of the bottleneck 40's would have a rim diameter like a 45-70, the straights are smaller in rim diameter.

 

[mike8946]

Vintage 1874 sharps cartrige

Oh, boy. Now you've done it. :grin: I was hoping for an easier fix, but looks like I will have to dig farther. Thanks for the help.

 

[red stevens]

Vintage 1874 sharps cartrige

I have an original 1874 Sharps in 44-77 caliber. It is stamped with the 44 calibre on the left side flat of the barrel just ahead of the frame and stamped 75 on the right side flat just ahead of the frame. Sharps were 44-75 not 77 because their load contained only 75 grains of powder. You might want to check the right flat of your rifle to see if the powder charge is stamped on the barrel. Some were stamped and some were not. Hope this helps and good searching. The chamber cast will work great and not harm your rifle.
Red

 

[Rick Crabtree]

Vintage 1874 sharps cartrige

Sharps DID NOT always stamp the cartridge length on there rifles. If there is no cartridges length marked you will have to measure the chamber to know the caliber. Even if it were marked there is no guarantee it wasn't re chambered somewhere along the line. You can at least look down the chamber and tell if it is a bottle neck. Or measure the rim diameter. If it comes up the same as a 45-70 then you also will know it is a bottle neck.