Uberti 1874 Sharps Rifle - Manual (Page 9)

9
IMPORTANT NOTES ABOUT HISTORICAL FIREARM DESIGN
Davide Pedersoli manufactures replicas of famous historical firearms. All Davide Pedersoli firearms are
manufactured using leading edge technology and high quality modern materials. The firearms are faithful
reproductions of firearms originally designed in the nineteenth century; if you choose to own or use a
reproduction of a historical firearm you should be aware that Davide Pedersoli manufactures these guns not as
state of the art firearms, but as reproductions for collectors. It is vital that the user be familiar with his firearm
and possible safety risks that may be present in the design. Most significantly, the user should realize that the
designs of safeties - or even the presence of adequate safeties - vary significantly on historical designs and do
not offer the protection against accidental discharge that modern firearms safeties offer. Similarly, any firearm
that is designed to be fired using black powder or a black powder substitute has risks not found in modern
cartridge firearms. Black powder is a dangerous explosive and has to be used and handled with extreme
caution. The slightest miscalculation or carelessness with a black powder firearm can result in serious injuries
to the user
BEFORE YOU USE YOUR GUN FOR THE FIRST TIME
WARNING: ALWAYS MAKE SURE THE FIREARM IS UNLOADED AND POINTED IN A SAFE
DIRECTION .
When ready to use your firearm for the first time, clean and remove all excess factory lubricant using a
good quality gun solvent.
For Sharps rifles, field stripping the firearm will facilitate this process ( see “
FIELD STRIPPING
” in this
booklet).
Lightly lubricate all moving contact points with a good quality gun lubricant
Thoroughly clean the bore, and remove all excess solvent with clean, dry patches replacing them as often
as necessary until they come out clean and dry.
A slight film of gun oil should be left in the barrel during long periods of storage, however, the cleaning
procedure
MUST be repeated before shooting the firearm.
T HE BARREL MUST ALWAYS BE CLEAN AND DRY BEFORE SHOOTING .
AMMUNITION WARNING
1. Use only factory loaded ammunition for the caliber specified on the firearms barrel. Use of different caliber
ammunition may cause serious personal injury to you and people around you.
2. If your firearm is built for “Black powder Only “: USE ONLY GOOD QUALITY COMMERCIAL BLACK
POWDER or A GOOD QUALITY COMMERCIAL BLACK POWDER SUBSTITUTE.
3. Your gun has been designed for ammunition of a specific gauge or caliber do not alter the barrel,
chamber, caliber or gauge for which your gun was designed.
4. Be sure you never mix ammunition.
5. Use only ammunition specifically recommended for your firearm.
6. Do not re-utilize unexploded ammunition.
Davide Pedersoli rifles are stronger than their original versions due in part to improved steels as well as
changes made to strengthen the original design and to add safety features. However you must always follow
the safety rules, including the use of correct charges and their maximum developed pressure.