1859 sharps breech block modification?

[Steveoko922]

Hello all, I am new to the paper cutter sharps and just made a deal to purchase an armi sport 59 sharps infantry rifle. The owner wasn't able to provide any information in regards to modifications. The rifle comes with brass tunes. Does the breech face appear to have been modified to help gas leakage?

 

[Phil Coffins]

Hello all, I am new to the paper cutter sharps and just made a deal to purchase an armi sport 59 sharps infantry rifle. The owner wasn't able to provide any information in regards to modifications. The rifle comes with brass tunes. Does the breech face appear to have been modified to help gas leakage?

I can’t tell you what you have but here what a Shiloh 1863 and an original 1863 block looks like. Both of them work very well. The original is on the right.
IMG_0422 by Oliver Sudden, on Flickr

 

[Flint62Smoothie]

… looks to me like someone modified the breech by adding some type of fiber washer for use ONLY with those brass cases.

Dave951 is one of our resident Sharps experts here … maybe he’ll chime in!

 

[Steveoko922]

Thank you all but I passed on this rifle. After consulting a few other sharps owners, they pointed out the breech exhibits damage from gas cutting.

 

[Boston Bill]

… looks to me like someone modified the breech by adding some type of fiber washer for use ONLY with those brass cases.

Dave951 is one of our resident Sharps experts here … maybe he’ll chime in!

Never understood how the brass cases work. Is that an Italian modification?
Did the originals ever use brass cases?