My first REAL Gun Find Sharps Pepper Box Pistol and More!!!

[KirkTN]

Hit the Iron Pit with my Big Brother, john37115 again today, this old site always inspires me because it's were I found my first 3 CW buttons and First Carbine Slinge Buckle. It's tough hunting due to all the Iron. Seems like old square nails are in or near every hole you dig. Anyway, the day started off kinda discouraging with nothing to show for the first couple hours of diggin' then I found a large tent grommet and a few feet away a piece of harmonica reed, I worked that area a bit more but the grass was too tall to work it good. With only about thirty minutes left to hunt I got a notion to move to another area up the hill. Just got started and had to take a pause to get the camera and take some pics of brothers SWEET half dollar find. Got back too it and got a strong signal and plucked out what I believe is a very old mouth piece off a wind instrument. CW era I wonder? About a foot away I got another good signal and uncovered an odd lookin' object, I paused a second and it hit me, that looks like part of an old gun. Had my camera at my side and took a quick pic. Walked over and showed it to John and the land owner, John began to inspect it and said "there's some writing on it", He said, "it says C. Sharps Patent 1859. I was Very happy to have found my first real gun/part of and for it to be that old. Used by a civil war Soldier or Officer maybe, I wonder. It was a great Day, If anyone has more Info on the gun, possible bugle mouth piece, or anything in the pic please respond. Thanks for lookin'
KirkTn

 

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[Frodov]

Cool finds my friend. Cool finds! Was the pistol part iron or brass? The barrel, if found, will deffinately NOT be brass. Still though, even what you found is pretty cool indeed. Sounds like this Iron Pit is quite a little treasure trove. Have fun my man!

Happy Hunting!

Frodov

 

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[allen]

awesome ...

 

[KirkTN]

KirkTN, it probably is a 4 barrel pepper box. I tried to find a schematic drawing but was unable to locate one. I am just wondering how it managed to fire all 4 barrels. The only way I can figure is that the firing pin rotated and the cartridge was a rimfire? I was imaging a pepperbox that had 6 or 8 barrels that rotated much like a revolver. As I said I am not up on those older firearms, but they strike my interest just the same. Great find and now if you could just find the rest of it. M nty

Some pretty smart gun makers I think. Rotating firing pin, Don't you know when their idea come to completion they were hi fivin' or what ever they did back then.

Kirk, you found yourself some great Civil War relics there! That gun part is definitely a cool artifact for the collection.

Keep on hitting that spot with your XL Pro! There are more goodies for you and your brother to find there.

Kyle

Hey zoy, Thanks man, It is Hard to beat an XL PRO 8) Not just a great coin sniffer but a heck of a relic magnet Too

Very cool digs, Kirk That Sharps pistol part is very cool..the hammer is forever locked in the fired position..makes you wonder what happened to the rest of the gun.

Nat

I do look forward to hitin the Iron Pit again, The barrel would no doubt be an even more amazing find, at least the frame gave a rich signal. Wish me Luck

Awesome finds!! I especially like the Sharp's piece! WTG!
Baggins

Thanks baggins, Notice the old coil oil lamp part, not as nice as the one you found but I liked it. Thanks for lookin' Bro

Those are some nice pieces you have there.....finding old gun part of anykind, are a nice addition to any collection. I'm sure there are more goodies mixed in with those old rusted nails. HH

one good thing about it the old square nails let you know your in an old area. Thanks seeker

The hammer had a disc with a raised area for striking the rim of a cartridge. When it was fired and recocked, a cam moved the disc to the next position to fire a different barrel. Repeat 4 times for 4 shots. The firing pin was on the hammer like most handguns back then were. This one just rotated is all.

Neato pistol. Heres a picture of a similar(not exact) pistol and the hammer/rotating firing pin. You can see the cam that turns it. There is a lever doohicky that actuates that cam when it's cocked.

Very cool pics and info thanks!

Cool finds my friend. Cool finds! Was the pistol part iron or brass? The barrel, if found, will deffinately NOT be brass. Still though, even what you found is pretty cool indeed. Sounds like this Iron Pit is quite a little treasure trove. Have fun my man!

Happy Hunting!

Frodov

Pistol part is brass except for the hammer, trigger and pins. Thanks Frodov

 

[silverfreak]

GREAT digs KirkTN. I keep sayin'...I gotta give relic hunting a shot.

 

[civilman1]

Excellent piece for the collection Kirk....are you going to try and clean it up anymore?The mouthpiece is another great find.I'd tear that place up for sure,has to be some lead around there somewhere.Nice Job Man

 

[KirkTN]

GREAT digs KirkTN. I keep sayin'...I gotta give relic hunting a shot.

Thanks Silverfreak, ya know when I first started relic hunting, that is after the first couple relic hunts I was like it's not for me I'm goin' back to coin shootin' but I stuck with it and started pluckin' out some interesting finds and it has now become more interesting than coins to me, I never would've thought it. Hey I still love to find coins too though.

Excellent piece for the collection Kirk....are you going to try and clean it up anymore?The mouthpiece is another great find.I'd tear that place up for sure,has to be some lead around there somewhere.Nice Job Man

Thanks CM, man I can't wait to get back and pound that site. I look forward to your post's amigo. Have a good' un.

 

[Bridge End Farm]

Congrats Bro, excellent digs Do we got a song coming out of all these treasures your finding

 

[randall61]

awesome finds kirk ...bet you were all smiles

 

[PACO]

NICE OLD RELICS. LOVE THE GUN PART. ANY IDEA WHAT CALIBAR...........PACO

 

[KirkTN]

Congrats Bro, excellent digs Do we got a song coming out of all these treasures your finding

It's all goin' into the ole mem'ry bank, maybe bubble up in the middle of a song down the road.

awesome finds kirk ...bet you were all smiles

I was Pretty Happy

NICE OLD RELICS. LOVE THE GUN PART. ANY IDEA WHAT CALIBAR...........PACO

,
I'm not sure maybe, .30

 

[Hunter]

Fantastic finds!

 

[KirkTN]

Thanks Hunter

 

[{Sentinel}]

That is a very nice find there Kirk! That will make a very nice display!!!!!