Blocked Block! (Sharps)

I could sure use some advice on this one. I lent my Sharps percussion carbine to a 'friend' for a few months. He's generally very conscientious with tools and arms, so no worries. I thought. Now that I've gotten it back I find the vent / touch hole is completely blocked!

I've tried everything I can think of, but no go. I'm also surprised to discover the clean-out screw seems to be frozen. After just a few months! The bore is nice and clean and there's no sign of abuse other than the blockage.

The only thing he admits to is that he "might have lost a piece of wire pipe cleaner" in there.

Arggghh! I can't say I've ever dealt with this before, and I'm at a loss. The only thing I can think to still try is to drill out the clean-out screw and hopefully get to the obstruction, whatever it is, that way.

Any thoughts? Thanks

Hi,
A non destructive method would be using an ultrasonic cleaner unit with a good amount of WD-40
You can buy WD-40 by the gallon a much cheaper way of buying it anyway.
Immersing the unit in the cleaner will not cause it any harm, and will probably free up anything in the passage.
Fred

I suggest you first need a good bore light to help you see what is down there. The pencil sized light from Auto Zone is perfect for the job.

The hole that connects the nipple to the firing chamber is in the sliding breech block so a bore light won't help.

I guess what I would do is to remove the breech block and then try to get the screw plug to unscrew. I might spend some time trying to shove a piece of 1/32" music wire thru the flame channel from the breech side of the block to see if the really stout wire couldn't knock out whatever is plugging the passage.
If the hole is a "straight shot" from the breech face to the nipple hole you might be able to run a small drill bit thru the hole from the breech side of the block.

If that doesn't work, drilling out the "clean out screw" or more properly, the threaded plug is probably the only answer.

To keep from messing up the looks of the breech block I would strongly consider taking it to a gun smith. Drilling out things using a electric hand drill can booger up a lot of things and a good gun smith should have the machinery and strong holding devices it takes to accuretly drill a hole in a stubborn screw.

The problem with the Sharps is that the flame passage takes 2 right angle bends before exiting at the breech. To really get it clean the clean-out screw must come out. I can't imagine how he got a pipe cleaner in there but if it went round one of the corners it would probably be jammed tight. Let the block soak in WD-40 for a while and then try to get the screw out. I really like F. G. Ford's idea of WD-40 in an ultrasonic cleaner, I'll have to remember that. I would hesitate to put a drill bit in any of the passages unless I had a numbered set and could find bits of the exact size needed and then I would only turn them with a thumb and forefinger. I'll bet a new breech block would not be cheap.

I had to pull the breach block from mine and take a look. I think I would remove the nipple, add some penetrating oil and then hit the cone with a blast of compressed air to force a foreign back out the nipple hole. If pipe cleaner is suspected I might also add some heat from a torch to melt the bristles.

Thanks gang; good suggestions here. I appreciate it. I’m heading to a buddy’s house Thursday to use his clamps and drill press (hand turning only) to see if we can remove the clean out plug. In the meanwhile I’ve got it soaking in oil.

I’ll let ya know how it turns out.

I would suggest soaking in Kroil, it’s designed to penatrate. I was able to free a frozen clean out screw after a few days soaking.
Good luck.

A friend (yep, same one) asked why I don't just trickle a few grains of powder under the nipple and blast the obstruction out. It sure seems like a bad idea, but I honestly couldn't tell him why. Just throwing it out there... could that work? Sorta like compressed air but with powder? (I suspect the turns are the big problem)

Kroil is great stuff, and that's actually what I've got it soaking in now. That and PB Blaster are always in my toolbox.

It seems a musket cap would accomplish that if its going to work.

I had a very stuck clean out screw a few years ago. I sprayed the screw with Ballistol and let it soak a while. Then I wrapped the lock in leather and secured it in a vice. Then I used a correct fitting gunsmith screw driver bit with the ratchet. It came out with little effort. After a great cleaning I used a bit of anti seize compound on the thread before reinstalling. Good luck.

Soak in oil at least over night. Get that puppy hot with boiling water. Then clamp it solid and try the screw.

And if none of that works send the block to Larry Flees or Charlie Hahn.

Yes, soak, soak, soak. Can't see any harm in popping a cap or two. Best way to lose a friend is to loan them a vehicle or a gun. I've found that it's better to have someone mad at me, for not loaning them something, than to be mad at someone else for damaging my property.

Long ago I was told never to loan a dog or gun to anyone you wouldn't loan your wife to.

dlidster said:

Long ago I was told never to loan a dog or gun to anyone you wouldn't loan your wife to.

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I will resist, I will resist, I will resist................

dlidster said:

Long ago I was told never to loan a dog or gun to anyone you wouldn't loan your wife to.

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I will agree. Nothing good can come from it.

I agree with Columbus Larry Flees deals with this sort of thing all of the time and has the tools to get the job done. Plus he has a quick turn around time.

dlidster said:

Long ago I was told never to loan a dog or gun to anyone you wouldn't loan your wife to.

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I would should hate to lose a good dog or gun

Follow up: I let the block soak for three days in penetrating oil, but still couldn't get the blasted plug out. It was beginning to take damage so I called it off. I soaked it one more night and then used one of those little gun attachments on my air compressor to blast the obstruction out of the flame channel. That worked. Something "tinged" off a wall and it's now nice and clear. I even took it out and ran a few rounds through it just to be sure all's good.

Well, not all. That clean-out plug is really in there. I figure I'll have to drill it out or send it off, but for the moment I'm just happy to have the Sharps back in operation. Thanks for the help, guys. I do appreciate it!