Sharps 1874 vs....

ligonierbill · January 12, 2021, 07:20 PM

I blame it on Hickok45. A couple years back, he did a video on the 4 vintage American single shot breachloaders: Trapdoor Springfield, Remington Rolling Block, Winchester 1885, and the Sharps. He had a beautiful Lyman branded 1874 replica. Now, I have an original Trapdoor, a Rolling Block built on an original Remington action, and as of today a Uberti built replica of the 1885. A Sharps would complete the set, but a decent replica goes for more than twice the total of the first 3 (OK, the Trapdoor was a gift) and a really nice original sold recently on Gunbroker for twice that. So, a lot of money, at least for me.

I don't doubt for a second the elegance and history attached to the Sharps, but how does it compare to the others from a practical shooters perspective? (I'll probably have to get one regardless.) And, which replica is the best in your opinion?

NoSecondBest · January 13, 2021, 12:48 AM

Pedersoli in my opinion. I’ve owned three of them in different grades. They are meticulously built and are great shooters.

Oliver Sudden · January 13, 2021, 11:59 AM

Pedersoli makes a fine rifle, the Shiloh Sharps are the finest. It’s all in the details and Shiloh holds the closest to the original Sharps.

reinert · January 13, 2021, 01:24 PM

Nothing wrong with Pedersoli guns, but a Shiloh Sharps is definitely worth the year and a half to two year wait (I believe that's what it is now) to get a gun made for YOU, with the impeccable warranty that goes with it. They are 100% American made from muzzle crown to butt screws. I believe a Shiloh #3 Sporting rifle is priced right around 2K these days (haven't looked for a while). That's gotta be fairly close to what a Pedersoli Sharps goes for in a near configuration. (?) I have two Shilohs, love 'em both. Fine guns, fine shooters, especially with the "Holy Black." My opinion, and nothing more.

Jim Watson · January 13, 2021, 02:40 PM

C. Sharps is good, too, their 1875 Sharps is a bargain if you can stay off the option list.

I think the Winchester is the best design.
Practical shooting will depend on barrel and sights, whatever the action.

But if you want something NICE, just squander the kid's college fund and get an 1877 from Shiloh or C. Sharps.

105kw · January 14, 2021, 05:18 PM

I have had better luck with C Sharps than Shiloh.
This is just my experience, but my 50-70 C Sharps is a beautiful piece.
I have owned 2 Pedersoli 1874 Sharps and I believe they are the best deal for the price.
Trapdoors are a lot of fun too. Lots of original guns, plus Italian repros.
If I had the money, I would not hesitate to by another C Sharps full buffalo gun. Mine is a 26in bbl saddle rifle, with a light octagon barrel. A light hunting gun.

ms6852 · January 14, 2021, 10:18 PM

Pedersoli is great and available. I wanted to order a Shiloh or a C sharps but just did not want to wait that long. Life is fleeting and I would hate to put down a chunk of many and die while waiting. Have not regretted buying the Pedersoli sharps, very very accurate rifle.

reinert · January 15, 2021, 12:02 PM

"I WANTED TO ORDER A SHILOH OR A C. SHARPS BUT JUST DID NOT WANT TO WAIT THAT LONG... LIFE IS FLEETING..."

Ain't that the truth. I believe anyone who seriously wants to order a Shiloh (my choice) or a C. Sharps, HAS GOT TO go through that angst of whether or not you'll live long enough to see, let alone shoot, the rifle built for YOU. I know I did. My first Shiloh I've now owned for over 20 years, and my second one I've owned for near 9. Keepers both. "Good things come to those who wait," is a hard discipline to learn, but the Big Timber guns are truly worthy of the wait, and again, just my own opinion.

Check out this website; cool site to peruse and he offers new Shiloh guns ready to sell, with the full Shiloh warranty to the purchaser:

www.goodmanguns.com

or,

www.shiloh-ballard.com

The Ballard is another fine single shot worthy to be mentioned in this thread, too (IMO).

Jim Watson · January 15, 2021, 01:21 PM

Remington Hepburn No 3
https://www.dzhepburn.com/no-3-hepburn-target-rifle/

Providence Tool Co. was making Peabody rifles but all they show on their site now is sights.

105kw · January 15, 2021, 02:36 PM

I don't know about Shiloh, but C Sharps is saying up to 9 months for delivery.
Which is less than my SBR paper work took. It's all a matter of how long you are willing to wait to get what you want.

ms6852 · January 16, 2021, 05:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by reinert

"I WANTED TO ORDER A SHILOH OR A C. SHARPS BUT JUST DID NOT WANT TO WAIT THAT LONG... LIFE IS FLEETING..."

Ain't that the truth. I believe anyone who seriously wants to order a Shiloh (my choice) or a C. Sharps, HAS GOT TO go through that angst of whether or not you'll live long enough to see, let alone shoot, the rifle built for YOU. I know I did. My first Shiloh I've now owned for over 20 years, and my second one I've owned for near 9. Keepers both. "Good things come to those who wait," is a hard discipline to learn, but the Big Timber guns are truly worthy of the wait, and again, just my own opinion.

Check out this website; cool site to peruse and he offers new Shiloh guns ready to sell, with the full Shiloh warranty to the purchaser:

www.goodmanguns.com

or,

www.shiloh-ballard.com

The Ballard is another fine single shot worthy to be mentioned in this thread, too (IMO).

Thanks for the links I bookmarked them.

**44 AMP** · January 16, 2021, 10:24 PM

As a friend of mine, who has had multiple personal dealing with the Sharps makers in Big Timber has pointed out, neither of them is a "rifle maker" in the sense that Winchester or Savage, Marlin or Remington are/were.

They are custom shops who produce rifles. They don't have rifles on the shelf for sale, they don't start on a rifle until you put down your deposit or pay all up front. Then, they start making it, and it takes as long as it takes.

Think of the difference between a fast food place like McDonalds and a little mom & pop diner. McD's might make up burgers in advance ready right away when you order it. The diner doesn't start cooking until after you order.

If you can't or don't want to wait, go to McD's. Otherwise, wait the time it takes to make your food fresh for you.

January 12, 2021, 07:20 PM	#1
ligonierbill Senior Member Join Date: May 20, 2007 Posts: 2,456	Sharps 1874 vs.... I blame it on Hickok45. A couple years back, he did a video on the 4 vintage American single shot breachloaders: Trapdoor Springfield, Remington Rolling Block, Winchester 1885, and the Sharps. He had a beautiful Lyman branded 1874 replica. Now, I have an original Trapdoor, a Rolling Block built on an original Remington action, and as of today a Uberti built replica of the 1885. A Sharps would complete the set, but a decent replica goes for more than twice the total of the first 3 (OK, the Trapdoor was a gift) and a really nice original sold recently on Gunbroker for twice that. So, a lot of money, at least for me. I don't doubt for a second the elegance and history attached to the Sharps, but how does it compare to the others from a practical shooters perspective? (I'll probably have to get one regardless.) And, which replica is the best in your opinion?

January 14, 2021, 10:18 PM	#7
ms6852 Senior Member Join Date: April 3, 2010 Location: Texas Posts: 1,394	Pedersoli is great and available. I wanted to order a Shiloh or a C sharps but just did not want to wait that long. Life is fleeting and I would hate to put down a chunk of many and die while waiting. Have not regretted buying the Pedersoli sharps, very very accurate rifle. __________________ ONLY TWO DEFINING FORCES HAVE GIVEN UP THEIR LIVES FOR YOU. ONE IS JESUS CHRIST FOR YOUR SOUL AND THE OTHER IS THE AMERICAN SOLDIER FOR YOUR FREEDOM.

January 16, 2021, 10:24 PM	#12
44 AMP Staff Join Date: March 11, 2006 Location: Upper US Posts: 28,832	As a friend of mine, who has had multiple personal dealing with the Sharps makers in Big Timber has pointed out, neither of them is a "rifle maker" in the sense that Winchester or Savage, Marlin or Remington are/were. They are custom shops who produce rifles. They don't have rifles on the shelf for sale, they don't start on a rifle until you put down your deposit or pay all up front. Then, they start making it, and it takes as long as it takes. Think of the difference between a fast food place like McDonalds and a little mom & pop diner. McD's might make up burgers in advance ready right away when you order it. The diner doesn't start cooking until after you order. If you can't or don't want to wait, go to McD's. Otherwise, wait the time it takes to make your food fresh for you. __________________ All else being equal (and it almost never is) bigger bullets tend to work better.

January 13, 2021, 12:48 AM	#2
NoSecondBest Senior Member Join Date: December 7, 2009 Location: Western New York Posts: 2,736	Pedersoli in my opinion. I’ve owned three of them in different grades. They are meticulously built and are great shooters.

January 13, 2021, 11:59 AM	#3
Oliver Sudden Senior Member Join Date: January 7, 2017 Location: Colorado Posts: 272	Pedersoli makes a fine rifle, the Shiloh Sharps are the finest. It’s all in the details and Shiloh holds the closest to the original Sharps.

January 13, 2021, 01:24 PM	#4
reinert Senior Member Join Date: September 28, 2008 Posts: 646	Nothing wrong with Pedersoli guns, but a Shiloh Sharps is definitely worth the year and a half to two year wait (I believe that's what it is now) to get a gun made for YOU, with the impeccable warranty that goes with it. They are 100% American made from muzzle crown to butt screws. I believe a Shiloh #3 Sporting rifle is priced right around 2K these days (haven't looked for a while). That's gotta be fairly close to what a Pedersoli Sharps goes for in a near configuration. (?) I have two Shilohs, love 'em both. Fine guns, fine shooters, especially with the "Holy Black." My opinion, and nothing more.

January 13, 2021, 02:40 PM	#5
Jim Watson Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2001 Location: Alabama Posts: 18,541	C. Sharps is good, too, their 1875 Sharps is a bargain if you can stay off the option list. I think the Winchester is the best design. Practical shooting will depend on barrel and sights, whatever the action. But if you want something NICE, just squander the kid's college fund and get an 1877 from Shiloh or C. Sharps.

January 14, 2021, 05:18 PM	#6
105kw Senior Member Join Date: June 30, 2017 Location: Columbia Basin Washington Posts: 414	I have had better luck with C Sharps than Shiloh. This is just my experience, but my 50-70 C Sharps is a beautiful piece. I have owned 2 Pedersoli 1874 Sharps and I believe they are the best deal for the price. Trapdoors are a lot of fun too. Lots of original guns, plus Italian repros. If I had the money, I would not hesitate to by another C Sharps full buffalo gun. Mine is a 26in bbl saddle rifle, with a light octagon barrel. A light hunting gun.

January 15, 2021, 12:02 PM	#8
reinert Senior Member Join Date: September 28, 2008 Posts: 646	"I WANTED TO ORDER A SHILOH OR A C. SHARPS BUT JUST DID NOT WANT TO WAIT THAT LONG... LIFE IS FLEETING..." Ain't that the truth. I believe anyone who seriously wants to order a Shiloh (my choice) or a C. Sharps, HAS GOT TO go through that angst of whether or not you'll live long enough to see, let alone shoot, the rifle built for YOU. I know I did. My first Shiloh I've now owned for over 20 years, and my second one I've owned for near 9. Keepers both. "Good things come to those who wait," is a hard discipline to learn, but the Big Timber guns are truly worthy of the wait, and again, just my own opinion. Check out this website; cool site to peruse and he offers new Shiloh guns ready to sell, with the full Shiloh warranty to the purchaser: www.goodmanguns.com or, www.shiloh-ballard.com The Ballard is another fine single shot worthy to be mentioned in this thread, too (IMO).

January 15, 2021, 01:21 PM	#9
Jim Watson Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2001 Location: Alabama Posts: 18,541	Remington Hepburn No 3 https://www.dzhepburn.com/no-3-hepburn-target-rifle/ Providence Tool Co. was making Peabody rifles but all they show on their site now is sights.

January 15, 2021, 02:36 PM	#10
105kw Senior Member Join Date: June 30, 2017 Location: Columbia Basin Washington Posts: 414	I don't know about Shiloh, but C Sharps is saying up to 9 months for delivery. Which is less than my SBR paper work took. It's all a matter of how long you are willing to wait to get what you want.