You guys know by now my affinity for old firearms, both originals and quality reproductions. I've both hunted and won matches with a broad variety of 19th century single shots and lever guns. I even carry both 19th century and modern single actions by preference. I'm weird... Well, it occurred to me some time ago, that I really do not have any Sharps pattern rifles really all that suitable for hunting. All of mine are long range match or "buffalo" rifles, weighing 12-15 pounds or more. Yeah, I carried them a time or two when I was younger, but those days are behind me...
So I decided, a few of years ago, to put that right. So I phoned up the good folks at Shilo Sharps and had them start watering the tree in anticipation of building me another rifle. Yes, they take their time. But it's worth it. Boy, is it worth it... I took delivery, just before Christmas, of my new "hunting weight" '74 Sharps.
When I ordered it, Linda thought I was nuts and tried to talk me out of it. It was "too short, too light" and in "too big" of a caliber. She was sure I wouldn't like it. I assured her I had a bit of experience here, and had worked out just what I wanted. She reluctantly agreed...
So... a Model 1874 Sharps in .45-2.4" (.45-90) with a standard weight 26" half octagon, half round barrel. Produced as the early "Hartford" model, manufactured in said town in Connecticut, before the factory moved to Bridgeport. Distinctive features are the Hartford Collar, the unique way in which the octagon barrel is stepped down and then finished in a round collar where it meets the action, and the pewter forend tip as opposed to the wooden "schnabel" used on the later Bridgeport model.
Here it is, shown with a more traditional 14.5 pound long range match rifle chambered in .45-2.6" (.45-100). The match rifle features a 34" #1 heavy octagon barrel. It's a Bridgport model, with the "tulip" barrel end at the action and the schnabel forend tip.
The new rifle weighs right on ten pounds, a bit heavy by modern standards. But, it balances between the front of the trigger guard and the back of the rear sight - perfect for carrying. The "big" rifle, by way of contrast, balances all the way out on the schnabel, an impossible situation for hunting.
Linda thought the .45-2.4" chambering might be "too much" in such a "light" rifle. Well, I've only got 50 round through it, as I'm filing the sights in and working up a load. It seems to be entirely manageable. Right now it appears to be a dead heat between my two traditional old Lyman molds, my 500 grain round nose Government bullet and my 400 grain flat nose, both over 80 grains of Swiss 1.5 Fg black powder. Actually, it looks like it will shoot them both interchangeably. That would be great... I think I'm gonna like this rifle...