Pedersoli Sharps Question

[tangsight]

My Pedersoli model 74 Sharps 45-70 was built in 1997. My dad bought it new at a gun show, and I inherited it from him when he passed. I have put about 2000 rounds through it while enjoying the learning process involved handloading BPCR.

This morning the action suddenly became greasy smooth. The trigger guard, which normally snaps hard closed after the cartridge is loaded, acted like it didn't want to stay closed. When opening the action to retract the spent case, which normally requires the effort you would expect when overcoming an over-center lock, the breechblock just fell open with almost no effort. Is there a spring in there somewhere I broke?

Load info: 56.0 grains by weight of sifted Goex FFFg, zero compression. Hoch nose pour 459-500 bullet, 20 to 1 lead to tin, 514 grains. Rifle was fired comfortably at 200 yards from a bench with better than average results for me. Nothing exploded, but I quit when I noticed the loosy-goosy trigger guard. Who would I go to if a repair or a replacement part is necessary? Lee Shaver?

Thanks for any input.

[NSB]

I’d call Lee Shaver and ask him about it. He is (or was) Pedersoli’s N. American authorized gun warranty/repair station. He might be able to tell you what broke in the gun and fix you up with a replacement part if you can “do it yourself “. He’s a pretty good guy to talk to and about as fair as anyone can be.

[Bent Ramrod]

Sounds like a broken lever spring. Take the forend off and it’s the t-shaped thing with the wide end bearing on the lever and the narrow end screwed into a lug or base dovetailed into the barrel.

Usually they crack through the screw hole. Call VTI Gun Parts and see if they have a replacement.

It is one of those parts that can be expected to conk out sooner or later. Buying an extra, “just in case,” often ensures that you never get another broken one.

[tangsight]

Replied to Bent Ramrod a few minutes ago but I do not believe it went through. Thanks, Bent, that lever spring was the problem. It was cracked ahead of the screw hole. I have contacted VTI Gun Parts and requested they check their inventory for a couple of them for me. The crack had to have been there a while, but must have reached the point where it could not take the load just recently. Thanks again.

[John Boy]

Always put the hammer in safe before dropping the lever in the future

[tangsight]

John Boy: You are quite right. And, you are probably right in what you imply: No doubt I cracked that lever spring by forgetting to go to half cock before opening the action. Probably many times. But it won't happen ever again.

[waksupi]

I had several break on an original Sharps. Not from forgetting to half cock, they were just poor quality cast springs. I made a spring for it from good steel, and never had it break again.

[Claudius]

Sounds like a broken lever spring. Take the forend off and it’s the t-shaped thing with the wide end bearing on the lever and the narrow end screwed into a lug or base dovetailed into the barrel.

Usually they crack through the screw hole. Call VTI Gun Parts and see if they have a replacement.

It is one of those parts that can be expected to conk out sooner or later. Buying an extra, “just in case,” often ensures that you never get another broken one.

I have a Pedersoli Sharps "Q" made in the year 1998, I had the lever spring broken few months ago. Pedersoli sent me a replacement and the rifle was ready to fire in minutes, it needed just a small adjustment to set the right tension. Just in case, order a new percussion block too.