TriStar 1863 User Manual

TriStar Sporting Arms

SHARPS

MODEL 1863 PERCUSSION RIFLE

AND CARBINE

MODEL 1874 METALLIC CARTRIDGE RIFLE

AND CARBINE

INSTRUCTION MANUAL

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Congratulations……

and thank you for purchasing a quality IAB firearm. This firearm
was imported by TriStar Sporting Arms and manufactured by IAB,
which is located in the heart of Italy’s Valtrompia Valley, an area
famous for its fine firearms craftsmanship. Known as a world
leader in the manufacture of reproduction SHARPS RIFLES and
CARBINES, IAB was the first Italian company to reproduce these
classics characterized as some of the most popular guns in
American history. Our craftsmen have produced over 49,000
quality SHARPS reproduction firearms since our beginning in 1974.
IAB is proud to carry on the SHARPS manufacturing tradition of a
quality firearm at an affordable price.

IAB SHARPS RIFLES are assembled and finished just as they
were over 100 years ago. They are perfect recreations of the
original in every respect including stocks made from select
European walnut and quality rifling made with precision broaching

equipment. All IAB rifles are assembled by hand and finished to
the exacting requirements necessary to win approval by the Italian Proof House. All
firearms are test fired to ensure proper function of working parts and compliance
with stringent chamber pressure requirements set by the Proof House. This assures
all customers a quality firearm which meets stringent Italian requirements for safety
and function.

The SHARPS has long been known for its accuracy beginning in the American Civil
War and continuing up through the buffalo hunts and long range shooting
competitions popular during the late nineteenth century. There is no wonder the
frontiersmen named it “Old Reliable” and American Indians referred to it as the gun
that would “shoot today and kill tomorrow”. Both descriptions attest to its

dependability and long range accuracy. Today’s competition shooters, hunters, and

living-historians relive many of the thrills their forefathers experienced by owning this
magnificent firearm.

We are pleased you have chosen a quality SHARPS replica manufactured by IAB.
By following the instructions found in these pages, you should enjoy many years of
shooting enjoyment from your rifle or carbine.

Please read this manual completely before firing your
TriStar firearm.

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Important Safety Rules

1. If you do not thoroughly understand the proper use and care of firearms, DO NOT
ATTEMPT TO SHOOT THIS GUN. Seek advice from someone you know to be

a competent authority in the care, use, and handling of firearms.

2. Keep this firearm pointed in a safe direction at all times.

3. REMEBER TO TREAT EVERY FIREARM AS IF IT IS LOADED!

4. Never operate this firearm without proper eye and hearing protection.

5 Keep your finger off the trigger until you are ready to shoot.
NEVER “set” the set type triggers until you are ready to fire the gun.

6. Check to be sure the barrel is clear of any obstruction before loading the

gun. Remember to repeat this procedure each time before reloading the gun.

7. NEVER place a loaded firearm in a vehicle or lean the gun against any object where
it might fall over and accidentally discharge. When this firearm is not in use, it
should be emptied of any charge or cartridge and placed in a case or suitable
protected location. NEVER store this gun loaded!

8. KEEP ALL GUNS OUT OF THE REACH OF CHILDREN! You should store
this gun and its ammunition separately.

9. Avoid the use of drugs or alcoholic beverages prior to or during the use of this or any
other firearm.

10. Always conduct yourself in a safe and responsible manner when using this or any
other firearm. Do not abuse your shooting and hunting privileges.

Please read this instruction manual carefully and thoroughly. Familiarize
yourself with the function of your firearm before loading and firing. If you
are unsure about any aspect of proper gun use and handling, seek
knowledgeable instruction before attempting to use your gun.

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This manual includes instructions for the use and care of both percussion and metallic

cartridge rifles and carbines. Please refer to the proper section for your rifle or carbine.

Section I: Model 1863 Percussion Rifle and Carbine

Step 1 - Initial Cleaning

Before firing your percussion Sharps for the first time, you should remove any excess factory
lubricants applied to protect the gun during shipping. This process will be greatly simplified by field

stripping the gun. (Please refer to the “Disassembly and Cleaning” section for field stripping

instructions). Once this initial cleaning is completed, the gun should be re-lubricated with quality gun
oil. The initial cleaning process should include swabbing the bore with several dry cleaning patches to
remove all excess oil. The barrel must be clean, dry, and free of obstructions prior to firing.

Step 2 – Loading

The first step in the loading process is to make sure the muzzle of the gun is
pointed in a SAFE DIRECTION!

Your Sharps rifle or carbine can be fired using either paper cartridges or bullet and powder. Each
method is covered herein.

Before loading either a paper cartridge or powder and bullet, one or two percussion caps should be
fired to clear any obstructions or excess oil from the nipple and flame channel.

PAPER CARTRIDGE LOADING

Your Sharps rifle or carbine can be fired using paper cartridges. Instructions for making paper
cartridges can be found at the end of this section.

To load your gun with a paper cartridge, first place the hammer in the SAFE position by pulling it back
into the half-cock notch.

Next the trigger guard/lever should be extended fully downward which will lower the breech block and
expose the chamber.

Carefully insert the paper cartridge into the chamber until the bullet seats firmly against the rifling. To
insure a complete charge, sufficient pressure should be applied to the cartridge to slightly compact
the powder charge in the chamber.

Return the trigger guard/lever to the closed position... When the breech block is returned to the
closed position, the back of the paper cartridge will be sheared off, exposing the powder to the flame
channel.

Once the breech is closed, the gun should be turned over, allowing any excess powder to fall
away from the action. This step is very IMPORTANT to ensure safe operation of the gun.

Your Sharps rifle or carbine is now ready for firing.

POWDER AND BULLET LOADING

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Your Sharps rifle or carbine can be fired using powder and a bullet of the proper caliber.
To load your gun with powder and bullet, first place the hammer in the SAFE position by pulling it

back into the half-cock notch.
Carefully insert a bullet of the proper caliber into the chamber, making sure it is firmly seated against

the rifling at the front of the chamber.
Next, fill the remaining chamber space with FFg black powder, Pyrodex, or an approved black powder

substitute. To ensure a full charge, you should slightly overfill the chamber. The chamber of a .45
caliber rifle or carbine should hold between 50 and 60 grains of powder. Rifles and carbines in .54
caliber should hold between 60 and 80 grains of powder. No .45 caliber rifle or carbine should be
loaded in excess of 60 grains of powder. No .54 caliber rifle or carbine should be loaded in excess of
80 grains of powder.

The breech should now be carefully closed. When the breech block is returned to the closed position,
any excess powder in the chamber will be pushed away from the back of the chamber.

Once the breech is closed, the gun should be turned over, allowing excess powder to fall
away from the action. This step is very IMPORTANT to ensure safe operation of the gun.

Step 3 – Firing

With the barrel pointed in a safe direction, cap the rifle or carbine with a musket cap and pull the
hammer all the way to the rear full-cock position. If your gun has a single trigger, you may now take
aim at the target and fire the gun by pulling the trigger.

DOUBLE SET TRIGGERS:

If you gun has a double set trigger, you may fire it by simply pulling the front firing trigger, or you may
use the set trigger to gain a much lighter trigger pull. To use the double set trigger feature, you must
first pull the rear set trigger to engage the front firing trigger. Once you have set the trigger you may
take aim at your intended target and fire the gun by applying a very slight pressure to the front firing
trigger. Never load or cock the rifle with the triggers set. The triggers should only be set after the
rifle has been laded, the hammer cocked and the rifle pointed at the intended target.

HOW THE DOUBLE SET TRIGGER MECHANISM WORKS:

When the rear trigger is pulled, it clicks into a sear notch on the front trigger. Once this operation is
done, the front trigger can be pulled, releasing the rear trigger which releases and flies upward hitting
the lock sear which discharges the gun.

You may adjust the pressure required to fire the gun by turning the screw located between the two
triggers either clockwise or counter clockwise to obtain the desired trigger pull. THE GUN MUST

BE UNLOADED BEFORE MAKING ANY TRIGGER ADJUSTMENTS!

IN THE EVENT YOUR RIFLE OR CARBINE DOES NOT FIRE WHEN
THE TRIGGER IS PULLED, YOU SHOULD FOLLOW THE
PROCEDURE OUTLINED BELOW:

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If your rifle or carbine fails to fire when the trigger is pulled, CONTINUE TO POINT THE GUN IN A
SAFE DIRECTION FOR AT LEAST TWO MINUTES BEFORE ATTEMPTING TO UNLOAD IT.

After waiting at least two minutes, with the barrel pointing in a safe direction, carefully remove the
musket cap.

Next, with the muzzle pointed at the ground, tap the side of the gun a few times to settle any loose
powder away from the breech block. Lower the trigger guard, lever to open the breech and expose
the powder charge.

You should next carefully rotate the gun to place the top of the receiver toward the ground, while
continuing to keep the muzzle pointed at the ground. This will ensure that any loose powder will fall
directly to the ground and not collect inside the lever spring mortise.

Next, raise the muzzle, allowing ALL powder in the chamber to fall to the ground. Once the powder is
removed, you may use a cleaning rod or dowel to push the bullet from the chamber.

Disassembly and Cleaning

Before attempting to disassemble your rifle or carbine, you must make sure it
is UNLOADED!

FIELD STRIPPING:

With the action closed, pull the hammer rearward to the Safe position.
Locate the lever hinge pin (Part # 02) on the right side of the receiver near the rear

of the forearm. Next to the lever hinge pin is a small plunger pin that acts as a lock
to prevent the lever from rotating accidentally.

Depress the small plunger pin which will allow the lever hinge pin to be rotated
approximately 180 degrees. With the rifle turned upside down, rotate the lever hinge
pin forward and backward slightly while pulling outward to remove it.

Slide the trigger guard/lever and breech block out of the rifle. This completes the
field stripping process.

Further disassembly of your Sharps rifle or carbine should only be attempted by a
competent gunsmith.

Reassembly is accomplished in reverse order.

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