Best known as a buffalo-hunting gun, the Sharps sporting rifle became known as the "Old Reliable" by those who hunted buffalo for their hides. Among those associated with the rifles were Billy Dixon, Buffalo Bill Cody, Bat Masterson and others who used the big single-shot to maximum effect on the seemingly endless herds of buffalo. Reproducing the Sharps at a reasonable price was a challenge for modern manufacturers because of its sliding breechblock and many angles and corners. It has been accomplished, however, and Taylor & Co. is proud to offer the colorful, high quality 1874 Sporting Rifle in a variety of barrel lengths and calibers for hunting and target shooting. 1874 Down Under Model Features case-hardened frame, patchbox, butt plate, and lever; blue barrel finish, hand-checkered stock and forend. Forend has a Hartford-style, pewter forend tip.
The Sharps model features: • Hand oil-finished walnut stock • Receiver, breechblock, and trigger plate all machined from a solid piece of steel • Lock plate and trigger guard contoured to the stock • Tumbler fly, so the trigger can be sensitized to release softly • One-piece tang, pre-drilled with 2-1/4” center-to-center holes for Creedmore Sight placement • Hardened and polished screws and blue barrel • Octagonal barrel flared at receiver • Front sight dovetailed 3/8” and adjustable for windage • All models have 1 in 18” twist with six grooves
Specifications:/b>
Barrel Length: 32 Inch Octagonal
Caliber: .45-70
Capacity: 1
Weight: 10.6 lbs
Finish: Blue Finish with Case Hardened Frame and Double Set Trigger
Grip/Stock: Checkered Walnut
Sights: Fixed Front Sight, Rear Ladder Sight
Overall Length: 49 Inches
The information below comes from our Gun Caliber Dictionary and is for
general reference only. It does not describe the specifications of this
particular item.
Developed by the U.S. government for the trapdoor Springfield, the 45-70 was introduced in 1873, thus among the oldest cartridges still in continuous production. In the hands of the U.S. Army this was the cartridge that really won the West! Although officially replaced as our service cartridge by the 30-40 Krag in 1892 the 45-70 saw service in Cuba and the Philippines. It had long since been a popular sporting cartridge--and remains so today. Using a .458-inch bullet in a rimmed 2.105-inch case, original loadings with 70 grains of blackpowder used a 500-grain bullet for infantry and 405 grains for cavalry. Today's factory loads with smokeless powder are mild due to potential use in the weak trapdoor Springfield action. Standard is a 405-grain bullet at 1330 feet per second, with 300 and 350-grain loads at higher velocity available. The 45-70 was and is widely chambered in single-shots and remains popular in large-frame lever actions from Browning/Winchester, Henry, and Marlin.
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Craig Boddington
