Any Canadian Sharps Rifle Collectors?

[ArtyMan]

Hey guys,

Just wondering if there are any other Sharps rifle and/or carbine collectors here in Canada? Over the past few years I have found myself really getting into black powder, specifically rifles from the post-civil war "frontier west" era. I specifically have been gravitating towards Sharps rifles (both antique and modern). I was fortunate enough to get a letter back on my most recent acquisition, showing that my antique Sharps 1874 Business Rifle was shipped to frontier gunsmith Carlos Gove in Denver, Colorado in November of 1876! Interesting to note that in the order form to the Sharps Rifle Company in May of 1876, Gove was complaining of not having enough rifles to sell to men going to the Black Hills. I wonder if this rifle ended up in Deadwood or Spearfish? I will be doing a bit of a research post on this rifle, the time period and (maybe) a range review in the coming months.

Top - 1874 Business Rifle. 45-70 Government.
Bottom - 1868 Government Saddle Ring Carbine. 50-70 Government.

Top - 1874 Business Rifle. 45-70 Government.
Bottom - 1868 Government Saddle Ring Carbine. 50-70 Government.

The front sight of the Business rifle has been replaced with a piece of bone somewhere along its (very) storied life. I wonder what type of animal it came from?

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Carlos Gove & Sons Gunshop in Denver, Colorado

May 1876 Advertisement in the Rocky Mountain News - Denver, Colorado

Business Rifles sure got around! Here is a great picture of Calamity Jane with one c. 1880 (no I'm not saying my rifle is that rifle)

 

[coyoteshooter]

thanks for the pictures........most wonderful to see......i had the pleasure to hold and cycle a colt sa that was at the little big horn....then made it to canada most likely with the natives who run north to escape the fate of numbers of their tribe...it was perchased long time ago by a man near me who has since passed......the ser no puts it with custers outfit on that fatal day......i feel most fortunate to have held it.......if only guns could talk.....your not alone in your quest ..thanks

 

[L.Parratt]

I have a Sharps-borchardt Project I'm working on right now. Is there a good resource to look up info based on the serial number?

 

[ArtyMan]

The best bet for any Sharps serial numbers is Dr Richard Lebowskie in Philadelphia, the current owner of the Sharps Rifle Company records. Give him a call and ask if he has your serial number on file. If he does, he will "letter" your rifle for a fee. His contact info is online if you Google him I don't have it handy at the moment.

 

[Re3iever]

Beautiful pictures , I'm not really a collector but love the late 19th century single shot BPCR rifles. I do have a reproduction Sharps in 45-70.

Retreever

 

[drm3m]

These two are mine.















NOTE: I am looking for an Ames or Collins saber bayonet for my M1859 Sharps rifle.

 

[chasseur]

I have these 3 shilohsView attachment 646815

 

[ArtyMan]

These two are mine.

Outstanding collection as always. I doubt either of those saw too hard a service life based on how nice they are.

 

[ArtyMan]

I have these 3 shilohsView attachment 646815

Very nice! What calibres are they in? Do you shoot smokeless or black powder? I'd like to order / find a Shiloh 1874 Sporting Rifle in 50-90 with a heavy octagonal barrel and double set triggers. Nothing too fancy with wood or finish but something reminiscent of early Texas buffalo hunt rifles.

 

[chasseur]

The 1874 military is in 45/70 and the two percussion are in 54 .I shoot black in all of them.I also have this 1875 C SharpsView attachment 646891

 

[409]

I did not know there were any Sharps collectors in Canada. Recently sold a Nimschke engraved borchardt and still have a 1874 rifle, 1874 carbine and a borchardt sporting rifle marked J.P. Lower. Makes one wonder how if made its way to N.S. Also Have a military borchardt Which I am considering selling. Nice to see every ones rifles.

 

[ArtyMan]

Please post some pictures if you can! JP Lower worked with Carlos Gove in Denver before buying the Freund Brothers shop and starting his own business in Denver. In compiling my research for my upcoming post on Carlos Gove, I have found a ton of information on John Lower. A very interesting man, time and place in history.

I'm not sure if you have the Sharps Volume III book by Roy Marcot, Ed Marron, #### Labowskie and Theodore Paxton but if not I highly, highly recommend it. I just picked it up and it is exceptional

If anyone would like me to look any thing up contained in that book or Frank Sellers work I'd be happy to help as I have both.

 

[chasseur]

View attachment 647075There is a new 4 volume set on Sharps rifles .Here is 2 of the setView attachment 647074

 

[ArtyMan]

I just received Volume III this week and couldn't be happier with it. The best firearms related book I've owned. I'd like to buy Volume 1 and 2 when they come up. Volume 2 is very hard to find but I've been told that the authors will be doing a reprinting of it once they are done Volume IV

 

[drm3m]

Some other books on Sharps. (Bought in 1990 when I got the Sharps carbine)

 

[409]

My J.P. Lower has been restocked. I don't know how to post photos but I have a couple recently completed guns which I would to post and when I can get my son to do so I will. A note of interest: My friend Tom has his Great, Great,? Grandfather's Berdan Sharps and his journal from the Civil War. It is my understanding that Berdan ordered those rifles with double triggers and the Ordnance Dept. changed the order when they found out so some were made with single triggers. Might have gotten that info from Tom as he has researched the rifle. The journal is a fantastic read. One story; fellow soldier borrows the Shaps to take a son at Jonny Reb and is told to keep his head down but doesn't listen and takes a bullet between the eyes,

 

[chasseur]

I remember seeing a J P lower Borchardt Sharps in 45/70years ago at a Truro gun show ,the barrel had been relined on it but it was in real nice condition otherwise.I wanted it bad but had spent my money earlier so I had to walk away from it ,I still regret leaving it behind

 

[ArtyMan]

My J.P. Lower has been restocked. I don't know how to post photos but I have a couple recently completed guns which I would to post and when I can get my son to do so I will. A note of interest: My friend Tom has his Great, Great,? Grandfather's Berdan Sharps and his journal from the Civil War. It is my understanding that Berdan ordered those rifles with double triggers and the Ordnance Dept. changed the order when they found out so some were made with single triggers. Might have gotten that info from Tom as he has researched the rifle. The journal is a fantastic read. One story; fellow soldier borrows the Shaps to take a son at Jonny Reb and is told to keep his head down but doesn't listen and takes a bullet between the eyes,

Very neat for him to have a personal, familial link to a rifle like that. Very rare to say the least.

Looking forward to seeing your Sharps when you do post em!

 

[Cliff1993]

I got the bug myself.



1874 Taylor’s and Co via Prophet River



I use a 550gr Campro original intended for 458 socom. I send them out at a reasonable 1025 FPS which can get consistent hits on the 600m gong.

 

[ArtyMan]

I got the bug myself.

View attachment 647323

1874 Taylor’s and Co via Prophet River

View attachment 647324

I use a 550gr Campro original intended for 458 socom. I send them out at a reasonable 1025 FPS which can get consistent hits on the 600m gong.

Very nice! What twist rate is your barrel? I've done most of my 45-70 shooting with my Pedersoli 1874 using 405gr lead bullets but I plan to do some experimenting with heavier projectiles this spring.