I was going through my files and found an old article written by Toby Bridges in 2011 for Gun Digest 2009. What is particularly interesting reading is the emergence of the 'modern' reproduction Sharps rifles, like the Shiloh (USA) and Italian manufacturers that were imported by American distributors. Here is one fascinating piece of information from the article below:
IAB’s first reproduction Sharps rifles and carbines arrived in the U.S. in late 1975, sold by SILE Distributors. Since then, the company has produced nearly 80,000 Sharps reproductions, which have been sold under a variety of “brand” names, including Dixie Gun Works, Taylor’s & Company, Tristar Sporting Arms, Armisport, and E.M.F. & Co. Easily the most authentic copy of the “New Model 1863” percussion Sharps carbine ever shot by the author was imported by a company known as Garrett Arms during the mid-1980s. Built in Italy by IAB Arms, even the Lawrence pellet priming system was functional on this Sharps copy80,000 REPRODUCTION SHARPS!!! That is nearly the same production numbers as the original Sharps Rifle Mfg. Co. output during the Civil War.
https://gundigest.com/more/classic-guns ... arps-rifleEnjoy the article. Makes for fascinating reading.
Bill Skillman
Hudson Squad Mess