AMT Sharps 1874

[AAAPaul]

I have had this 45-120 AMT Sharps Serial number 004 that I purchased from Harry Sanford (Arcadia Tool & Die) back in the late 70’s that I just love.
My hunting load is 110gr. FFg & 405gr. cast bullet @ 1775 FPS. My target load is 90gr. FFg with corke wad over powder then a wax wad topped with a corke wad & 350gr. cast bullet 1550 FPS (I’m OLD)

I can’t find much information on these AMT Sharps

[ligonierbill]

Is this the same AMT of Automag fame? I suggest you contact Lee Shaver at www.singleshotexchange.com. (A wonderful publication for classic rifles!) Between Lee and his group of regular contributors, I'll bet you will find what you need.

[AAAPaul]

Yes it's the same Harry Sanford that had Sharps Rifle Co in Arcadia Ca. He also invented the Auto Mag. Harry ran Arcadia Tool & Die aka AMT. His first Sharps had the Arcadia address but mine says AMT with the El Monte address
Paul

[Jim Watson]

Never heard of it.
Gotta give you credit for actually shooting a .45-120. Most people who bought the Biggest and Bestest are disappointed.

[44caliberkid]

Another great piece of gun history. I had not heard of AMT making these. Something special for sure.

[taylorce1]

I'd love to see more photos, some of the complete rifle. Sharps rifles are always cool, even the replicas.

[AAAPaul]

Here are some pictures

[taylorce1]

Thank you!

[JT-AR-MG42]

I've always figured Harry Sanford made these for a while and
then in '79 or '80 sold the 'Old Reliable' name to Wolgang and his partner
for use at their Farmingdale NY shop.

Like the OP, not a ton of info out there.
In my conversations with Wolfgang ( not long after the company moved to Montana), I never thought to get any history of the early days.
Oh well.




Mine is also a 45-120, serial 000115 and is marked as shown.

P.S. The gun has it's original finish and the 'Old Reliable' logo is not sanded down or anything.
Only with my photographic skill set is one able to take such bad photos.

JT

[105kw]

Wolfgang, and John started building rifles out of a shop in Richland Washington. Both were employed at the Handford Nuclear Reservation.
They moved to New York by the time I got to Richland in 1983. They were selling some rifles through a LGS, The Hole in the Wall which was in downtown Richland.
It took me until 1995 to buy a 1874 C. Sharps rifle, after they moved to Big Timber Mt. They split the company, Wolf took Shiloh Sharps, John started C. Sharps Arms.
Until this post, I hadn't heard of AMT building Sharps rifles.

[JJMarsh]

Originally Posted by AAAPaul

I have had this 45-120 AMT Sharps Serial number 004 that I purchased from Harry Sanford (Arcadia Tool & Die) back in the late 70’s that I just love.
My hunting load is 110gr. FFg & 405gr. cast bullet @ 1775 FPS. My target load is 90gr. FFg with corke wad over powder then a wax wad topped with a corke wad & 350gr. cast bullet 1550 FPS (I’m OLD)

I can’t find much information on these AMT Sharps

That .45-120 must be a joy to shoot - you can almost hear the buffalo herds rumbling when working up those blackpowder loads! The serial number 004 suggests yours is among the earliest of these rare pieces.

[Oliver Sudden]

Wolfgang never worked at Handford, he was on Long Island NY when he got involved with John. John didn’t move to NY but to Montana then Wolf moved there too. John was selling Shiloh Sharps there and hired another guy and me to begin the custom order shop using Shiloh Sharps. Shiloh is still building a fine Sharps rifle.

[mehavey]

45-3¼ can be a a pain.....
https://thefiringline.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=603795