Talk:Sharps rifle

Berdan-Sharps and Sharps
As far as I understand, Berdan-Sharps rifle and Sharps rifle are two separate weapons.

i want to check my facts about the tape primer feed but this article needs some serious work, the picture shown is for the carbine version which was issued mainly to calvary along with the spencer seven shot most infantry had the standard length sharps (i re-enact with Co.E USSS)

I agree with the writer above. The original author of this piece has a little correct information, but a lot of what he/she has written, is not iaw the facts. For example, the statement regarding the accuracy of the Sharps rifles used during the Civil War. Accuracy with the paper cartridge Sharps was probably equal to, but not necessarily better than many of the muzzle loading rifles used by both sides. In fact, the English-made Whitworth rifles used by many Confederate sharpshooters were surperior to the Sharps.

There's no such thing as a Berdan-Sharps rifle. Berdan's Sharpshooters was unit of the Union Army armed with the Sharps rifle. And the English made Whitworth rifles of the Confederacy were nowhere near as accurate as the Sharps with paper or brass cartridge. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 50.32.39.84 (talk) 17:00, 28 April 2011 (UTC)

Removed Part
I removed the following paragraph, which did not seem to contribute much to the article, and did not belong where it was in the article, the second paragraph:

As an aside, in a book entitled The Avenging Fury of the Plains, John "Liver-Eating" Johnston, Exploding the Myths - Discovering the Man, the author, Dr. Dennis McLelland, states that mountain man Liver-Eating Johnston used to poise himself upon a high cliff, and use his high powered, telescoped Sharps rifle, to shoot any Sioux or Blackfoot warrior who came within his sights. His Sharps rifle was essentially a "needle gun," so-called because it fired a 130 grain charge, propelling a bullet that McLelland stated "look like a spike."

Everyguy 22:34, 14 August 2007 (UTC)

Faster than a speeding Springfield
I've heard its ROF was 3x a muzzleloader. True? Worth including? Trekphiler 05:38, 14 November 2007 (UTC)


 * I don't know what the rate of fire was, but I think it's worth noting that, during the Civil War, military leaders discouraged issuance of the Sharps, on the premise that it would lead to waste of ammunition. GiffO (talk) 20:57, 12 April 2010 (UTC)


 * Are you sure about that? Do you have a source stating so?--Mike - Μολὼν λαβέ 21:03, 12 April 2010 (UTC)


 * Could be confusion with the Henry, which IIRC was opposed for that reason.  TREKphiler   any time you're ready, Uhura  21:08, 12 April 2010 (UTC)

The Henry rifle may also have been included, but the Sharps definitely was among those discouraged, as the leadership's resistance was to the use of most "rapid fire" breech loaders. See discussion of "Beecher's Bibles" in "Civil War Curiosities" by Webb Garrison, ISBN 1-55853-315-X, page 22. GiffO (talk) 08:00, 13 April 2010 (UTC)

Details, details
I understand (but can't source...) Sharps' first rifle patent was for a .45, & later proved accurate at up to 1km, using Quigley paper-patch .45-110s, & required large-capacity metallic cartridges to take advantage of this; also, the .45-70 is said to be the first able to drop a buffalo with one shot. Can somebody confirm? Worth including? Trekphiler 06:12, 14 November 2007 (UTC)
 * Re: #2 (effective buffalo rounds) - the .50-90 Sharps is a year older and more effective, so it seems to be unlikely. "Further, the 50-90 proved to be a far better choice than the 45-110" from an article by Mic McPherson. I'm checking to see if I can find anything on the first question. Arthur 22:27, 14 November 2007 (UTC)

Sharpshooter
Shouldn't the term sharpshooter be talked about in the article? I think the fact that a common word in the English language is named after this gun is worth mentioning. Contralya (talk) 10:20, 15 December 2007 (UTC)

Unless you have a source to back up the statement that it is a fact that the word sharpshooter stems from this gun, I do not think it should be in this article as the American Heritage Dictionary (through dictionary.com), the Online Etymology Dictionary (www.etymonline.com), and a few other first page Google search results (see at least http://en.allexperts.com/q/Etymology-Meaning-Words-1474/etymology-sharpshooter.htm) all describe the origin as a literal translation from the German word Scharfschütze in 1802, predating the development of the Sharps rifle by at least 40 years. I agree it is a striking coincidence, but I was not able to find support for such a declaration. (151.207.242.4 (talk) 16:14, 16 May 2008 (UTC))
 * The claim is baseless. Sharpshooter was used as far back as the American Revolution. Trekphiler (talk) 09:54, 17 May 2008 (UTC)

In which case surely the article should say there is NOT a connection. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 93.97.194.138 (talk) 07:36, 27 November 2009 (UTC)


 * Why? Buy a dictionary.  TREKphiler   any time you're ready, Uhura  08:13, 27 November 2009 (UTC)


 * Not much good with words, are you, Trekphiler. Eddaido (talk) 07:13, 12 October 2011 (UTC)

Fair use rationale for Image:Sharps Berdan Rifle.gif
Image:Sharps Berdan Rifle.gif is being used on this article. I notice the image page specifies that the image is being used under fair use but there is no explanation or rationale as to why its use in this Wikipedia article constitutes fair use. In addition to the boilerplate fair use template, you must also write out on the image description page a specific explanation or rationale for why using this image in each article is consistent with fair use.

Please go to the image description page and edit it to include a fair use rationale. Using one of the templates at Fair use rationale guideline is an easy way to ensure that your image is in compliance with Wikipedia policy, but remember that you must complete the template. Do not simply insert a blank template on an image page.

If there is other fair use media, consider checking that you have specified the fair use rationale on the other images used on this page. Note that any fair use images lacking such an explanation can be deleted one week after being tagged, as described on criteria for speedy deletion. If you have any questions please ask them at the Media copyright questions page. Thank you.

BetacommandBot (talk) 05:32, 18 February 2008 (UTC)

More movie titles
Wat is the title of the Western (1970s) with a long slow scene where someone is shot with long rifle/buffalo rifle in the distance. The scene is: the 'enemy' horseman is getting away. In the foreground the shooter is slowly loading the gun.

It is Billy Two Hats (1974) What type rifle is it? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wQczXLHmYWQ — Preceding unsigned comment added by 82.168.48.122 (talk) 13:05, 5 March 2013 (UTC)

Not the much faster cut scene - with more dialogue - in 'Quigley Down Under' with Tom Selleck (1990). — Preceding unsigned comment added by 82.168.48.122 (talk) 12:27, 5 March 2013 (UTC)

It is also done in Valdez is Coming (1971) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fCKLiumEPHg — Preceding unsigned comment added by 82.168.48.122 (talk) 13:15, 5 March 2013 (UTC)

Listed in the film and television summary there is a reference to "The Quigley Match" held annually in Forsyth, Montana. This is true. However participants do not fire at a 44 inch target at 1000 yards. They fire at 6 different targets at ranges from 350 to 805 yards. Having just set up the targets, I can assure you that this is the case. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 65.130.56.220 (talk) 15:56, 3 June 2014 (UTC)
 * I believe you, but the source cited states what is in the article. If you can produce a reliable published source that states what you are saying (magazine, book, website, etc) I will be more than happy to make the change.--Mike - Μολὼν λαβέ 16:59, 3 June 2014 (UTC)

Quigleymatch.com — Preceding unsigned comment added by 65.130.62.251 (talk) 19:24, 4 June 2014 (UTC) Thanks, pard!--Mike - Μολὼν λαβέ 19:43, 4 June 2014 (UTC)

1848 Sharps 50 serial number c 91833 9 with the initials hdb
Looking for any information on this firearm 2601:18D:8D7F:E010:D87B:8951:3BDB:C385 (talk) 22:09, 6 January 2022 (UTC)

Sharps Pellet Primer Feed
In the Military use section there's a paragraph that reads "Along with being able to use a standard percussion cap, the Sharps has an unusual pellet primer feed. This is a device which holds a stack of pelleted primers and flips one over the nipple each time the trigger is pulled and the hammer falls—making it much easier to fire a Sharps from horseback than a gun employing individually loaded percussion caps." The reference provided for this is pages 13-18 of Weapons of the Civil War. I've read through the book's entire section on carbines and it does not mention this system. However, the information in the wikipedia article DOES appear to be correct, it's just that I cannot find any acceptable reference for it. This youtube video about the pellet primer feed demonstrates the system in action and provides pictures of the original patent by one R.S. Lawrence. I've found multiple Sharps on auction that have been stamped with R.S. Lawrence and appear to have the feed system. What I have not been able to find is the patent itself or any references that would meet Wikipedia's standards. This part of the article is in an odd position of appearing to present correct information with an incorrect source. 122.104.16.36 (talk) 01:17, 14 February 2023 (UTC)

Why doesn't this page list models from various eras line by line like Winchester rifles?
There are also many models of Sharps rifles, and their appearance is slightly different. 天言 (talk) 12:45, 4 December 2023 (UTC)