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42 GUNS OF THE OLD WEST GUNS OF THE OLD WEST 43 The Sharps M1874 Rifle has been known by many names. Buffalo hunters called it “poison slinger.” Historians called it “The gun that shaped American destiny.” The company itself called the rifle “Old Reliable.” Whatever one chose to call it, the M1874 Sharps played a sig- nificant role in American history and the opening of the American West. In the wake of the popular film Quigley Down Under there has been a resur- gence of interest regarding Sharps rifles in general and the M1874 in particular. Several manufactur- ers now produce Sharps replicas, most of them custom built rifles that entail not only a waiting period but also significant expense. History The original Sharps 1874 was actually intro- duced in 1871, but the model number changed when new owners purchased the company in 1874. Presumably this was intended to show prospec- tive purchasers of Sharps rifles that the company had something new to offer. Whatever the reason, the Sharps dominated the single-shot rifle market in the latter part of the 19th Century. There were other rifles such as the Ballard, the Springfield 1873 and Remington Rolling Blocks, but the vast majority of frontiersmen who chose a large caliber rifle opted for the Sharps. There were a number of reasons for this, not the least of which the rifle’s accuracy. Readers may be familiar with Matthew Quigley’s seemingly astonishing long- distance shot early in “Quigley Down Under,” but shots such as this were fairly routine for buffalo hunters of the American West. Probably the most famous use of a Sharps was by Billy Dixon when approximately 100 Cheyenne and Comanche Indians attacked a buffalo hunters’ camp at Adobe Wells in the Texas Panhandle. Dixon, using a bor- rowed .50-90 Sharps, brought down an Indian at the incredible range of 1,538 yards. In addition to accuracy, most of its competitors were not nearly as aesthetically pleasing as the Sharps. Even today, the rifle’s proportions and lines are appealing to anyone who appreciates firearms. Aesthetics and accuracy aside, what set the Sharps apart from most others was the ammuni- tion for which it was chambered. The Sharps action is inherently strong and can stand the pres- sures that would cause the ruination of other rifles like the “Trapdoor” Springfield. Indeed, the “hot” GUN TEST SPRING 2010 SPRING 2010 Buf falo Hunter Billy Dixon The EMF Hartford Model 187 4 SHARPS RIF L E The Gun That Shaped America’s DESTINY Charlie Cutshaw Photos by Doug riCharDson EMF Hartford Sharps is exact replica of original Model 1874, right down to blued barrel, color case hardened receiver and optional double set triggers.

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42 GUNS OF THE OLD WEST GUNS OF THE OLD WEST 43

The Sharps M1874 Rifle

has been known by many names. Buffalo hunters

called it “poison slinger.” Historians called it “The

gun that shaped American destiny.” The company

itself called the rifle “Old Reliable.” Whatever one

chose to call it, the M1874 Sharps played a sig-

nificant role in American history and the opening

of the American West. In the wake of the popular

film Quigley Down Under there has been a resur-

gence of interest regarding Sharps rifles in general

and the M1874 in particular. Several manufactur-

ers now produce Sharps replicas, most of them

custom built rifles that entail not only a waiting

period but also significant expense.

HistoryThe original Sharps 1874 was actually intro-

duced in 1871, but the model number changed

when new owners purchased the company in 1874.

Presumably this was intended to show prospec-

tive purchasers of Sharps rifles that the company

had something new to offer. Whatever the reason,

the Sharps dominated the single-shot rifle market

in the latter part of the 19th Century. There were

other rifles such as the Ballard, the Springfield

1873 and Remington Rolling Blocks, but the

vast majority of frontiersmen who chose a large

caliber rifle opted for the Sharps. There were a

number of reasons for this, not the least of which

the rifle’s accuracy. Readers may be familiar with

Matthew Quigley’s seemingly astonishing long-

distance shot early in “Quigley Down Under,” but

shots such as this were fairly routine for buffalo

hunters of the American West. Probably the most

famous use of a Sharps was by Billy Dixon when

approximately 100 Cheyenne and Comanche

Indians attacked a buffalo hunters’ camp at Adobe

Wells in the Texas Panhandle. Dixon, using a bor-

rowed .50-90 Sharps, brought down an Indian at

the incredible range of 1,538 yards. In addition to

accuracy, most of its competitors were not nearly

as aesthetically pleasing as the Sharps. Even today,

the rifle’s proportions and lines are appealing to

anyone who appreciates firearms.

Aesthetics and accuracy aside, what set the

Sharps apart from most others was the ammuni-

tion for which it was chambered. The Sharps

action is inherently strong and can stand the pres-

sures that would cause the ruination of other rifles

like the “Trapdoor” Springfield. Indeed, the “hot”

Gun TesT

SPRING 2010SPRING 2010

Buf falo Hunte

r

Billy Dixon

The EMF Hartford Model 1874

SHARPS RIFLEThe Gun That Shaped

America’s DESTINY

C h a r l i e C u t s h a w • P h o t o s b y D o u g r i C h a r D s o nEMF Hartford Sharps is exact replica of original Model 1874, right down to blued barrel, color case hardened receiver and optional double set triggers.

Page 2: GOW EMF Hartford

SPRING 2010 SPRING 2010

American history and the guns that played an essential role in opening the West, long range shooting in general, or simply an apprecia-tion of quality and manufacturing processes that have long since ceased to be a part of firearms manufacture, there appears to be a small but steady demand for Sharps rifles. To meet this demand, a number of custom makers ply their trade here in the United States. Most cannot build their Sharps rep-licas in sufficient numbers to meet demand and these rifles, characterized by Wells and Shiloh Sharps, represent the “high end” of Sharps rifles—essentially those that would have cost $125 in 1875. These rifles are made with tender loving care by craftsmen who use the finest wood and steel to craft rifles on a par with the best to be found anywhere. For the individual who does not wish to spend

nearly $2,000 for a single shot rifle, there are alternatives. One of these is the line of Sharps replicas offered by EMF.

EMF Sharps replicas are made in Italy by Pedretti and they do not take a back seat to anyone in overall care in manufacture, if the example we purchased is any indication. The fit of wood and metal is about as good as it gets in a production firearm, with a near perfect match between all metal and wood interfaces. The bluing is deep and even while the receiver’s color case hardening is extremely well done. The walnut is straight, dense grain and the checkering even and sharp. The care that went into the manufac-ture of this rifle is obvious. Screw heads are aligned on the receiver tang, buttplate and forearm. The muzzle is deeply crowned. All in all, it is a beautiful rifle.

The EMF Hartford Model Sharps rifles are available in four versions, all of which

PMC ammunition, one of the rounds tested herein, specifically cau-tions against its use in Trapdoor Springfields. Probably the most popu-lar caliber for the buffalo hide hunters was the .50-90, basically a length-ened .50-70. Another extremely popular cham-bering was the .44-90, in essence a necked down .50-90 firing a 520 grain bullet. Because most plains hunters reloaded their ammunition with varying amounts of black powder to save money, cartridges like the .50-90 were not always referred to as such. The .50-90 was also called the .50-100

and .50-110. For this reason, the standard cartridges were referred to by caliber and case length with most Sharps rifles marked as such. The .50-90, for example, was des-ignated .50-2 ½. Most cartridges for Sharps rifles were bottlenecked; the only ones which were not were the .45-70, .50-70 and .50-90. In calibers that includ-ed .40, .44, .45 and .50, Sharps rifles were used to virtually exterminate the American Bison between 1870 and 1900. Railroad guards, scouts and law enforcement agencies, most notably the Texas Rangers, also used Sharps rifles.

Sharps 1874s ranged from 10 to 16 pounds and were referred to by their weight. Writing in 1874 at Fort Worth, Texas, Frank Collinson alluded to the “12 pound Sharps rifle” he had recently purchased.

This was about average for the rifle in its early days, although 16-pound models were noted from time to time. Later models increased in average weight to some 14 pounds, although Sharps would build a rifle to whatever speci-fications the purchaser desired. (Our test rifle was a relative lightweight, tipping the scales at a mere 9.5 pounds.) All the purchaser had to do was lay down his money. Some “high end” Creedmoor Model Sharps retailed at $125, an incredible expense in the 1870s. Sharps “Hunting Models” were significantly less, with the least expensive selling for $30, still a fairly expensive rifle for the time. This model had a 26-inch, round barrel. The Sharps “Sporting Rifle” with full octagon barrel began at $35, while the half octagon-barreled model listed for $33. Double set triggers

were a $4 option, while globe and peep sights added $5 to the rifle’s price. A telescopic sight would cost the Sharps buyer $40 – more than the cost of the rifle in many cases. Sharps also made and sold a full line of rifle cases with leather cases ranging from $2 to $5 and wood from $7 to $40, depending on type of wood and interior trim.

A canvas case was available for only $2.50. Oddly, a sheepskin case cost 50 cents less.

Decline and RenaissanceDespite the popularity of Sharps rifles,

the company collapsed in 1881. By this time, repeating rifles were being manufactured in calibers that approached the power of those for which the Sharps was chambered and this no doubt was at least partially responsible for a decline in the demand for single shot rifles in “major” calibers. Over the years since the demise of the Sharps Rifle Company attempts were made to resurrect the 1874 and the later hammerless 1878 model. The latter Sharps had a sophisticated striker fir-ing mechanism designed by Hugo Borchardt, who later designed the pioneering semiauto-

matic pistol that bore his name and led to development of the famous Luger pistol.

There are a number of rea-sons for the current popular-ity of the Sharps and a few other single shot rifles whose heyday was over 130 years ago. One is cowboy action shoot-ing, a sport that has driven a newfound interest in firearms of the American Frontier that approaches mania in many enthusiasts. Of course the pop-ularity of the movie Quigley

Down Under, which has a remarkable cult following, has had something to do with the popularity of Sharps rifles in general. A spin-off of cowboy action shooting is matches devoted solely to Sharps rifles and other single shot rifles of the late 19th Century. Regardless, there is just something about the Sharps that captures the imagination. Whether it is nostalgia over the cowboy movies of one’s youth, a fascination with

GUNS OF THE OLD WEST 4544 GUNS OF THE OLD WEST

e M F M o D e l 1 8 7 4 s h a r P s r i F l e

EMF Hartford Sharps

Caliber: .45-70 • Operation: Manual, falling blockBarrel length: 28 inches • Overall length: 44.5 inches • Weight: 10.5 pounds

Stock: Walnut • Operation: Manual, falling blockFinish: Blue • Capacity: Single shot • Price: $1300

SpEciFicationS

4/C AD

Hartford Sharps receiver area. Author added tang adjust-able rear sight and globe front with replaceable inserts. 19th Century buffalo hunters equipped their rifles with sights such as these for long range work.

Receiver showing .45-70 cartridge ready to be loaded. Loading involves placing

hammer on half cock, dropping the block using trigger guard/lever. If a spent cartridge

is in the chamber, it will be extracted.

Closeup of M1874 muzzle. Note

deep crown and globe front sight

with insert.

Page 3: GOW EMF Hartford

SPRING 2010 SPRING 2010

ed at distances from 50 to 500 yards, depend-ing on the match. We should note that the EMF Sharps version evaluated herein is no longer offered by the company, although four traditional Sharps rifles are still in pro-duction – The Business Rifle, Billy Dixon

Rifle, EMF Silhouette Rifle and Quigley Sporting Rifle. Sharps rifles have always had a reputation for reliability and accuracy and our test rifle didn’t disappoint. The rifle was a solid minute of angle at 100 yards with all ammo tested – Black Hills, PMC

and Winchester. The bottom line is that the EMF 1874 Sharps replica was a high quality faithful reproduction of a classic American rifle that was an integral part of the 19th Century westward expansion. ✪

essentially replicate the original 1874 Sporting Model with 28-inch full octagon barrel and double set triggers. The rifles are offered with one of three finishes – blue bar-rel, brown barrel or unfinished “in the white.” A 22-inch round barreled military carbine and 28-inch “Business Rifle” are also offered. Calibers include .45-70 and .45-120. At the high end, EMF offers three variants – the “Quigley” (that replicates the movie rifle), the Deluxe Premier (with select walnut, fancy color case hardening and German silver forend cap) and the Deluxe Engraved Premier (which adds the finest walnut, hand engraving and gold inlay to the Premier rifle). These rifles are claimed by EMF to be the equal of any high-quality Sharps replica rifle at a far lower price.

All EMF Sharps rifles except the mili-tary carbine have double set triggers. The standard trigger on our test rifle was quite heavy at about 12 pounds, but broke clean-ly, while the set trigger breaks at only a pound or slightly less. We averaged 1.1 pounds set trigger pull. This is so light that all one has to do is think about squeezing the trigger before the bullet heads down-

range. Sights are almost identical to those of the original 1874 rifles, with a leaf rear and blade front inletted into a dovetail in the barrel. We added a tang peep rear sight and globe front to more closely replicate an original buffalo hunter’s rifle.

Range timeOur particular EMF came with the

28-inch octagon barrel weighing in at 10 pounds, 5 ounces—actually on the light side for a Sharps. The barrel was 7/8 inch in diameter and measured 3/8 inch across the flats. The muzzle was nicely crowned with the bore slightly recessed for protection. As a neophyte to shooting a rifle such as this, we originally obtained some “Cowboy” .45-70, from both Black Hills and PMC, but found this to be somewhat “wimpy.” Our friend

Jeff Hoffman at Black Hills who told us that cowboy ammo is intended only for cowboy competition and as such isn’t loaded to very high pressure. In fact, the factory velocity of Black Hills “cowboy” .45-70 is loaded to deliver only 1250 feet per second (fps) muzzle velocity, as is PMC’s cowboy load. These are lower velocity than the original factory loads, which were about 1440 fps. So we set out to find some stouter loads for our Sharps. One load came from PMC, which recently introduced a high-pressure .45-70 strictly for modern rifles. This cartridge launches a 350-grain flat nose soft point bullet at a whopping 2,025 feet per second. The genesis of this round is worth telling—it seems that PMC’s CEO is enamored of fishing trips to Alaska and on a trip a few years ago was chased from his favorite spot by a rather large grizzly bear who resented the intrusion of paltry humans onto his turf. PMC’s CEO returned and charged his engineers with developing a .45-70 load that would stop a grizzly bear and the result is PMC’s new round that carries the catalog number 45-70HA—we presume the letters indicate “hauls a--.” Lest the reader think us to be more “air-headed” than we really are, although we knew the EMF rifle to be made of modern high quality steel and the Sharps action is inherently strong, we called EMF prior to using the “hot” PMC ammo in our rifle to confirm that it would be safe. EMF confirmed that the rifle would handle the stress with no problem and so we breathed somewhat easier. Winchester manufactures a load that is almost as potent, so we obtained some of that as well. Winchester’s SPG4570 launches a 300-grain Partition Gold bullet at 1880 fps, good enough for just about anything on four legs that roams the backwoods of North America.

Our range testing extended to “only” 100 yards, although cowboy shooting is conduct-

GUNS OF THE OLD WEST 4746 GUNS OF THE OLD WEST

iFOR MOREj INFORMATION CONTACT:

EMF Company(800) 430-1310

emf-company.com

Black Hills Ammunition(605) 348-5150black-hills.com

PMC(281) 703-8146 pmcammo.com

e M F M o D e l 1 8 7 4 s h a r P s r i F l e

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4/C AD

Dixon, using a borrowed .50-90 Sharps, brought down an INDIAN at the incredible range of 1,538 YARDS.