Quote Originally Posted by middaycowboy View Post
Had a shot with a Pedersoli Sharps 45-70 single shot on wed, very impressed, it was loaded with Pyrodex, thinking might get one but ? can I load it on my Lee press and is the action called a Rolling Block ? it had a short lever on the trigger guard which opened the action and pulled the shell out about 1/2 inch, it had an internal hammer not on the outside like a percussion musket, the owner called it a Sharps Buffalo gun, it was too busy to ask more questions, cheers Tezz
If it was called a Pedersoli Sharps then it was probably a Perdersoli Sharps.

The Rolling block [designed by Remington Arms] is loaded by pulling back the hammer and the rotating part of the breech block and inserting the round.

On the other hand, the Sharps has a bloody ENORMOUS hammer on the right-hand side of the action, and a long lever underneath that doubles as the trigger guard.

To cock the piece, the hammer is hauled back to half-cock, and the lever is lowered, dropping the breech-block. the round is pushed into the breech and the lever raised, lifting the breech-block into battery. The hammer is them pulled back to full cock, and fired. To unload, put the hammer on half-cock and lower the lever and start all over again. The extraction is about 1/2 -3/4", BTW.

Both these pieces have hammers, the Sharps as big as any percussion musket.

The only 45-70 firearm that is vaguely as you describe the one you said you shot is the Ruger No1 - THAT has an internal hammer, and what you might call a small lever on the trigger guard. Do you mean that the hammer was visible, but behind the breech block? If so, then you have shot a Remington Rolling block, not a Sharps. Both are made in replica form by Pedersoli, and loading for them is a breeze.

Best with real BP though, rather than Pyrodex RS or C.

Have a look at these, and THEN tell us what you shot....right now, as right now I'm as confused as you are ...


Remington rolling block - http://bubbler.files.wordpress.com/2008/03/overview.jpg

Sharps - http://www.cherrys.com/pedpics/S771b.jpg

Ruger #1 - http://www.leveractions.com/images/No1Alaskan.jpg [take off the scope of course]

tac