Have 1859 Sharps long rifle forend/fixings, need barrel/receiver

ewmail15

Retired User
Joined
Sep 14, 2017
I'm on my next project, now that I picked up a great (albeit damaged) 3-band forend with all the hardware. Bought all for $100 and couldn't pass it up. I'll post pre/post pics later tonight, including the hardware that came with it. Last night I removed the varnish that made it look ugly, gently with mineral spirits cleaned off what was left, then put the bore butter on her. She looks almost good enough as is. Right side near the receiver needs about 10" long by ~1/4" deep filler. I saw a great thread with PC-Woody and maple putty and scotch tape on the barrel I'm going to try. First, I need that barrel and receiver. Searched my sites Lodgewood, S&S and dixiegunworks but nothing. Ebay, gunbroker, gunsamerica as well had nothing. Please keep your eyes and ears open. Thanks, Eric in WI.
 
Here are pics of the forend/hw as listed on eBay. Not so pretty, but I saw the potential...
 

Attachments

  • 1.jpg
    1.jpg
    117.6 KB · Views: 84
  • 2.jpg
    2.jpg
    156.1 KB · Views: 89
  • 3.jpg
    3.jpg
    130.9 KB · Views: 94
  • 4.jpg
    4.jpg
    113.6 KB · Views: 104
  • 5.jpg
    5.jpg
    133.9 KB · Views: 118
  • 6.jpg
    6.jpg
    391.6 KB · Views: 131
  • 7.jpg
    7.jpg
    385.8 KB · Views: 131
Here are the post-cleanup pics. My ZTE cell phone camera doesn't do justice to the beautiful wood grain it's once again showing. A.W.M. is pressed on the bottom and "9" on the backside. Anything special about these markings? I didn't have the extra dough for the lock plate ($150 sold, no hammer, pellet spring components gone) or the lever/block/related ($175).
 

Attachments

  • IMG_20180322_165629.jpg
    IMG_20180322_165629.jpg
    76.9 KB · Views: 84
  • IMG_20180322_165748.jpg
    IMG_20180322_165748.jpg
    92.6 KB · Views: 126
  • IMG_20180322_165847.jpg
    IMG_20180322_165847.jpg
    203.3 KB · Views: 100
  • IMG_20180322_165939.jpg
    IMG_20180322_165939.jpg
    202.8 KB · Views: 102
  • IMG_20180322_170028.jpg
    IMG_20180322_170028.jpg
    170 KB · Views: 98
  • IMG_20180322_170045.jpg
    IMG_20180322_170045.jpg
    225.1 KB · Views: 106
  • IMG_20180322_170102.jpg
    IMG_20180322_170102.jpg
    281 KB · Views: 113
  • IMG_20180322_170111.jpg
    IMG_20180322_170111.jpg
    259.6 KB · Views: 78
  • IMG_20180322_170131.jpg
    IMG_20180322_170131.jpg
    242.8 KB · Views: 138
  • IMG_20180322_170536.jpg
    IMG_20180322_170536.jpg
    99.2 KB · Views: 143
  • IMG_20180322_170554.jpg
    IMG_20180322_170554.jpg
    120.7 KB · Views: 103
  • IMG_20180322_170623.jpg
    IMG_20180322_170623.jpg
    206.3 KB · Views: 86
Well, I might have lucked out with another 3-band Sharps long rifle forend. This one I just bought for $30 on eBay had been listed as a 3-band carbine, less the hardware. Can't tell if it's a match to my 1859/63 until it's in my hands, but hope so. Has a shorter length piece missing on the right rear, but is deeper angled. If not original, I'll return it.

I can try my woodworking efforts with this one and a matching piece of wood. I should know but don't - maple? The two Sharps forends and my Merrill stock seem so light.

Could anyone here who restores stocks and forends provide some guidance, or point me to some instructional sites/videos?

Thanks, Eric.
 
I believe I've posted this site before: American longrifle.com. lurk around the site for awhile, it's got a wealth of knowledge for working on gunstocks, etc.

I agree with Mr. Jobe, stay away from the wood filler and if the stock is walnut, ( or whatever it is), get a piece of that wood and splice it.
 
I signed up on that sight last weekend, and after posting a wanted ad for Sharps "long rifle" parts on their ALR Forum, an admin messaged me that no breech-loading threads were allowed and he removed my ad - wtf? I'll peruse and see what's there to edumucate me on my efforts with the forends.

I'm also going to weigh my carbine and long rifle stripped forends, but including the screw washers, and the Merrill full stock. Anyone have info or website link on factory forend/stock spec weights?
 
Last edited:
Here are some more pics. I picked up another Sharps long rifle forend this week without knowing the model/year. The right rear is again missing some wood, it has no lever spring relief, band reliefs are different and the nose cap is longer than my 59/63 forend. Could anyone ID my new forend?

I also picked up another carbine forend that I just had to pick up, plus a repro forend I'm going to cut up to fix both long rifle forends.
 

Attachments

  • IMG_20180512_172731.jpg
    IMG_20180512_172731.jpg
    307.2 KB · Views: 94
  • IMG_20180512_172738.jpg
    IMG_20180512_172738.jpg
    325.3 KB · Views: 88
  • IMG_20180512_172743.jpg
    IMG_20180512_172743.jpg
    350.6 KB · Views: 77
  • IMG_20180512_172749.jpg
    IMG_20180512_172749.jpg
    326.9 KB · Views: 80
  • IMG_20180512_172755.jpg
    IMG_20180512_172755.jpg
    346.4 KB · Views: 86
  • IMG_20180512_172834.jpg
    IMG_20180512_172834.jpg
    362.1 KB · Views: 92
59/63 Unknown
Total length 2'3/8" 2'1"
Nosecap length 9/16" 13/16"
Front band 2 1/2" 2 1/2"
Middle band 6 13/16" 8 1/8"
Rear band 8" 7 7/8"
(Band lengths are from each relief (nosecap or band end))
Forend screw base 1 1/2" 1 3/4"
(From forend rear to rear square relief for base)
 
Chris at Regimental Quartermaster replied that his listed Spencer 3-band forend (with nosecap) measured out at 25 1/8". I measured mine at 25" w/o the nosecap. That's pretty good sign I now have another rifle project to contemplate.
 
nice job on the stocks. I'm getting ready to do the same on a 63 percussion carbine. I would like to find an antique/old forend, but no such luck. If you ever see a forend, let me know...
what did you use to clean the wood? Done this many times, but always learning. I have to replace a chunk of the forend and have the piece to do it...thanks..Ken
 
Back
Top