The Sharps and the Big Gun

[peternap]

I've been itching to take my Sharps hunting this year even though it doesn't qualify for Black Powder season. It uses paper cartridges. It's a .54 and accurate as all getout to 200 yards with the sights on it. If I ever get around to putting a tang sight on it, it'll shoot a lot farther.



I built the Bruiser many years ago. I forged all the furniture and lock plate. I used Chambers parts to finish the lock. This was the first double set trigger I ever built. One of the Gunsmiths at Colonial Williamsburg helped me with the design. Single stage breaks at 3 pounds and set stage is just a touch.

Mark DeHaas made the barrel for me which is as near perfect as it can get. No measurable runout.

I made the sights the way they were supposed to be made. The full buckhorn acts as a ghost ring for quick shots or a fine bead can be taken on notched shelf. I cut that for 100 yards.

Don Stith (Hawken Historian) helped with the design using one of his original Hawkens.

I sawed the stock blank from a storm downed tree and made the Aqua Fortis stain for it. I also used the Aqua Fortis to rust brown the metal.

Since then I've made a lot of prettier guns, but this one keeps getting Deer.