Sharps patch box

[Boomer110]

New to all of this so hope this is not a stupid question. Why do the 1859 Sharps carbine and all of the Sharps rifles have a patch box in the stock? Were they used for anything or just a hold over from muzzle loader days?

Thanks

 

[johan_steele]

A patch, small bottle of oil or the cleaning coil could be stored there.

 

[JOHN42768]

The earlier ones had brass and later were iron

 

[mofederal]

 

[poorjack]

I've heard a number of reasons but in reality, those were probably just educated guesses. Best one- a place to store spare cones, etc. Notice on the 1863 carbines, in the urgency of war, the patch box was eliminated.

 

[UCVRelics]

Storage

 

[Patrick H]

Here's a Sharps carbine that has been converted after the war. The patch box has been filled in with a precisely cut piece of walnut. It doesn't show very well in this photo, but is evident to the naked eye under the right lighting conditions. The butt plate is obviously original and is shaped for the patch box. This carbine belongs to one of my relatives.

 

[johan_steele]

I've heard a number of reasons but in reality, those were probably just educated guesses. Best one- a place to store spare cones, etc. Notice on the 1863 carbines, in the urgency of war, the patch box was eliminated.

I'd actually not think the patch box a really good place to store a spare cone. The patch box is too small IMHO, I prefer that of the M1817 & M1841. Some patches, small oiler or cleaning cord yes but nothing that isn't disposable.

 

[ewmail15]

Patrick, could you share photos of your relative's Sharps?

 

[Patrick H]

Patrick, could you share photos of your relative's Sharps?

Patrick, could you share photos of your relative's Sharps?

At the moment, this is the only other picture I have of the Sharps. You will also see a Spencer in the same case. I can probably get other pictures later. The carbines are in another city, in another county.

 

[Jobe Holiday]

The government did not fill in the patch box cavity at the time of conversion. Because the parts were interchangeable you easily would end up with a M-1859 butt plate on a M-1863 butt stock. This is because the government disassembled everything, made the alterations to .50-70, and then just reassembled a mixture of parts. They were not concerned with future collectors paranoia of matching parts!
J.

 

[Patrick H]

I can't account for the filled patch box cavity, but the outline of the lid and hinge plate are much more obvious to the naked eye than in this photo. I might be able to get other pictures in a couple of weeks. Of course, by that time, this thread will have died a natural death. I certainly agree that it makes a lot more sense to assume an older butt plate was mounted to a replacement stock. It's a mystery.

 

[drm2m]

This is the patch box open on New Model 1859 Sharps rifle serial number 37337.
Number 2 stamped on the wood on the inside of the box and the letter 'H" stamped on the inside hinge of the patch box.

U.S. Model 1841 rifle-- lock marked E. Whitney dated 1848.
It shows the patch box on this rifle.

Patch box lid open---punch mark on the brass is visible.