Gunsmithing - How to Repair the Tumbler and Sear on an Axtell 1877 Sharps Rifle

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When replacement parts are no longer available, you have to either repair the originals, or make new ones from scratch. Follow along as Larry Potterfield, Founder and CEO of MidwayUSA, repairs the tumbler and makes a new sear for an Axtell 1877 Sharps rifle.

[@wesbellmore6664]

The beauty of his videos is he makes it look so simple you can picture yourself doing it too. Of course you can’t, but it’s a nice 8-minute dream

[@NYRM1974]

I would like for him to take a look at my 1882 or 1924 C.G. Bonehill shotgun that I acquired recently. Needs work but I feel confident it can be restored to its glory once again.

[@roeng1368]

A good tradesman makes things look easy, even when they are not.

[@cruciferousvegetable]

Larry Potterfield is a badass. I have no doubt that he could built a remington 700 from a hunk of wood and some iron ore. I bet he could make the gun powder from birdshit, coal and some sulfur. I could just watch these videos over and over.

[@StonyRC]

EXCELLENT comment ... and bloody well TRUE!

[@ejb654]

"sometimes you just have to smelt your own ore. Let me show you how".

[@manjitsoni9676]

ਸਭ ਤੋਂ ਜਿਆਦਾ ਮਿਹਨਤ ਆਲਾ ਕੰਮ ਕੀਤਾ ਹੈ ਤੁਸੀਂ ਬਹੁਤ ਵਧੀਆ ਗੰਨ ਸਮਿਥ ਹੋ ਤੁਸੀਂ ਸਰ ਐਕੋਰੇਸੀ ਦੇ ਵਿੱਚ ਖਾਸ ਕਰਕੇ ਧੰਨਵਾਦ ਜੀ ।

[@nakoawarrior3186]

This guy is a national Treasure,......Awesome.

[@JohnDoe-wo5on]

You Sir have a very calm and good personality. Aside from the crystal clear shot videos and the very knowledgable way you present them, the music being very downplayed as it should be, you have a voice that is easy on the ears. And presented in a very good way !

[@jaredodom3160]

The finish on this rifle is gorgeous

[@rustedraven]

you make it look so easy....i have repaired watches, clocks, jewelery, and guns for years. i rarely find repairs this 'uncomplicated'.

[@stephensmith4480]

I could watch this all day. Pure Craftsmanship.

[@jimmyghersi]

It’s a joy watching Larry work!

[@whyname1980]

Larry for president!

[@davidbrunner4413]

I could see him walking out of a UN conference, "Hi I'm Larry Potterfield from the good ole USA, thanks fu-ya business"

[@robertcasabianca832]

I've been around Firearms my whole life but the last seven years I've been getting into the old Damascus barrel shotguns and old rolling blocks and I've learned a lot from this gentleman right here how to tighten them up to fix firing pins thank you you've helped a lot

[@blackriflex39]

man i miss these.. no other gunsmith has this caliber of footage

[@mercoid]

That was some highly advanced work. Impressive to watch.

[@sablahedning]

i find this calming to watch^^

[@justinestell2333]

I find most of them to be fantastic

[@michaelbowman7558]

It's enjoyable to watch such artistry. Kudos, sir!

[@bas6369]

this lad is a legend.

[@mikezaq1]

I love all of your videos but I only have one problem most of the repairs when new parts are needed you use large mills and equipment that a lot of fire arms owners do not have. I would love to see some videos about how to make up some semi complicated parts with simple tools like a drill press, Dremal, and hand tools. Keep up the great shows!

[@red94mr28]

RESURRECTION: He's a professional so has a professional's tools. What you ask is akin to asking a professional mechanic to do an engine rebuild with a screwdriver, crescent wrench, pair of pliers and some sandpaper...not worth the trouble or his time.

[@johnnyholland8765]

I built one of those guns from a kit of castings. Did all the machine work from start to finish and the lock was one of the more difficult pieces to make work dependably. It is a typical back action lock design that is not as robust as the 74's. My rifle was a single trigger and did not have a fly incorporated into the tumbler. I think Shiloh is building them now with a LONG waiting period for delivery. Graceful rifle if a smaller dia. barrel is used. Maybe you can get replacement parts from them now.

[@vanman724]

I want to be like Larry when I grow up.

[@robertlombardo8437]

Larry... just admit it. You only make these videos to show everyone just how badassed you are at repairing guns. It's okay if you don't expect anyone else to be able to follow.

[@mach1mustang1971]

your skill is amazing...such a beautiful rifle as well...fantastic video

[@JodyLambright]

You sir are awesome! I love watching these videos!

[@453421abcdefg12345]

One thing is evident on this video, and that is the quality of this now no longer existing maker is really first class, way above the quality of the only American maker still producing the Sharps (although not this model).

[@RatTailedJoe]

"let me show ya how" legendary.

[@jesusisalive3227]

Gorgeous firearm!

[@mikedee6173]

Appreciate your videos Larry.

[@DreadedOne509]

Love these repair videos, very informative. Thank you for making them.

[@clancywoodard310]

The one thing I noticed about the design of the later-model sharps designs is they almost look like the ones used by the armies during the war between the states

[@CowboyJeffSmith]

Another great video! Thank you so much!

[@mattbasque287]

Great video, please make more

[@agwbcfjc2]

Awesome.

[@mcson6556]

Outstanding

[@Gagansteels]

Hats off for u legend

[@marcosduran1443]

Dam!... that is a beautiful rifle!... is there anywhere I could get prints to make my own?

[@marllyeuripedes9038]

Tô aprendendo DEUS abençoe todos voceis Brasil

[@elvenisar]

It's masterpiece again.....

[@joepvanwessel4480]

sir you are a true pro , love your vids

[@jrdeckard3317]

I tape around old screws, as they are removed. If the screwdriver slips, it won't scratch metal or wood.

[@greedfox7842]

the bob ross of guns...

[@AdkMtnFlight]

Nice!

[@cristian6766]

Hello mister Potterfield, would you please be so kind and tell me what brand those small pliers you use to hold the parts for heat treatment? Than you!

[@TheFirearmEnthusiast]

jdrury That's a good way to stuff the bearings in you drill. They're not strong enough or designed for any force other than the axis intended. Unless you get a mill/drill machine.

[@453421abcdefg12345]

I don't understand your worry here, Larry was using a Vertical Mill to machine the part?

[@TheFirearmEnthusiast]

Englishman French This was a response to a post about using a drill for milling, i think the post was deleted.

[@aaronbrown284]

I own an original Sharps rifle and all it has marked on it is calibre 40 I do not know if it is 40-50 , 40-70 , or 40-90. can you help? Also do you know where to get ammo? I live in Ohio if this helps.

[@453421abcdefg12345]

Make a chamber cast, then you can see what calibre it is by measurement.

[@jeffshootsstuff]

Just splash on a little cold blue...

[@harrymalin8746]

hello . i dont know if you read these but i have been trying to find a fore stock on an 1898 hammered double barrel side by side Remington arms shotgun and some other parts . that or specks so i can try to make some .

[@sandradantas3734]

adimiro o cara ele e bom no concerto de armas

[@robertjahrling1877]

Is there anything this gentleman can't do??

[@gonietubenyc5741]

Whistling the Army song !!!

[@heavylead1961]

outta curiosity.. I was wondering if you could recommend a good gunsmith school near NW Colorado

[@middleway1885]

Yum~

[@СтефанКарић]

how much would this repir cost

[@СтефанКарић]

repair

[@techindia319]

Which wood use in this?

[@xenonram]

Just incase you have an $8,000.00 JET mill...

[@psirider]

about 5500, and not a great mill at that,

[@Nebulax123]

Back in the fifties I watched an old classically trained gunsmith Gus Youngman make a similar part with nothing more than a set of files and a drill press to drill the holes, he was an amazing man. He could also fix any mechanical device anyone ever brought to the auto/general repair garage he ran. I used to love hanging around his shop and learned much from him. He also had a range where my father would go to sight in his deer rifles and Gus would let me shoot his original Sharps which for a boy of 12 in the 50's was as good as it could get.

[@Battleganz]

I like this music better. The other song was too distracting.

[@paulmallery6719]

No music better

[@Battleganz]

@@paulmallery6719 I guess you're right. At least it wasn't Taylor Swift!

[@453421abcdefg12345]

This is a very nice rifle, but the fly should have prevented the sear dropping into the tumble notch, it could not have been high enough, I don't think there are many so called "gunsmiths" in America today that could make this part, they just fit ready made parts, well done.

[@INTERNATIONAL_RDF-D]

Go to Williamsburg gunsmiths hand forge and carve every part there. As do i Im 17 and learning the trade.

[@jme92685]

Is there anything this guy can’t do?

[@JimIvy]

I love these videos EXCEPT for the horribly annoying drummer in the background.

[@shmuck66]

With built quality mistakes like that, it is very evident why Axtell went out of business. Pft.

[@AdkMtnFlight]

Nice!