One of the original long range guns.

[Bob Wright]

So, finally have a big enough shop to put a Bridgeport Mill in. From Phoenix to LA and back, $1000 and got everything with it, including a tight rotary table.
My project languished for over 20 years.
This is a 1877 Sharps action that was almost complete, with just a few machine cuts and chamber reaming to 45-70.
I started this when only '74 actions were being reproduced.
This one is heat treated 4340 and can handle smokeless loads well.
After a few months getting the mill cleaned up, ready to finish it, finally.

 

[Tommytrees]

WOW,That is a great project and am sure finished product will be well worth all you put into it. Also a great caliber.
Good luck.

 

[Bob Wright]

WOW,That is a great project and am sure finished product will be well worth all you put into it. Also a great caliber.
Good luck.

Yes, not to mention all the fixtures I had to design and build. My oh my, it was a big project. I don't want to take this to the grave without shooting it for a while. The 77's are so beautiful.

 

[Barrelnut]

Don't forget to apply for the Grand Canyon buffalo cull.

 

[Straight Shooter]

Beautiful rifle. Not knowing a lot about the Sharps, what is the difference between a 77 and a 74 action?

 

[Bob Wright]

Don't forget to apply for the Grand Canyon buffalo cull.

Certainly have enough gun!

 

[Bob Wright]

Beautiful rifle. Not knowing a lot about the Sharps, what is the difference between a 77 and a 74 action?

The 74 was both a hunting rig and was used in competition.
There were rules on total weight of the rifles at the time in 1000 yd target shoots.
The belief of reducing material in the action and putting it into heavier barrels came into vogue.
Therefore, the 77 action was slimmed down, a lighter back action side lock replaced the heavier 74 side lock. What ended up being, one sexy rifle.
This was the last of the Sharps in this style. What followed was the Borchardt (sp?), which was a total departure from any of the previous actions, and was not well received. Eventually, Christian Sharps folded the business, as he was not a good businessman anyway, but had great ideas.

 

[H82MISS]

Keep us posted during the entire finishing process. Classy rifles for sure !!!!

 

[Bob Wright]

I will. It's my goal. It will be a 12 month project as I have some other tooling to make for it. Then comes the slab of walnut to rough out and fit the metal into. Never done that except for minor inletting on muzzle loaders. Oh boy....
Right now is 3 dovetail slots, (front sight, 2 forend escutcheons to attach the forend wood), an extractor groove in the breech, possibly an improved firing pin, chamber reaming at a real gunsmith, lol.
Then, onto wood.

 

[H82MISS]

Bob, thats a pretty cool project you are starting. Absolutely C-O-O-L !!!!!!

 

[Bob Wright]

Bob, thats a pretty cool project you are starting. Absolutely C-O-O-L !!!!!!

Thanks! I'm excited to get back to finishing this project. I love machining as it was where I spent 40 years building propulsion turbines both as machinist and engineering. Absolutely loved the Sharps and muzzleloaders.

 

[Straight Shooter]

Thanks Bob

 

[Len Backus]

Love it, thanks Bob

 

[joseph singleton]

Awesome,,,,see someone else is up EARLY,,