Jboring and Fellow Sharpshooters,
Yes, the Shiloh Rifle Mfg. company was founded by Wolfgang Droege in the early 1970's. He owned a successful aerospace machine and tool company and was also an avid student of American firearms. He took an especial interest in the Sharps rifles and after purchasing and studying a number of originals decided to go into the reproduction business. The first Shiloh's were manufactured in Farmingdale, NY. I can't recall the date, but Droge later sold the business and it was relocated to Big Timber, Montana. With the release of the Tom Sellek movie, "Quigley Down Under", this triggered a huge demand for the company's center-fire cartridge arms and for a number of years the percussion line was discontinued. They restarted percussion production again about 10 years ago, but unfortunately Shiloh eliminated the patchbox from the new NM1863 rifles ( now an add-on).
J, methinks you are right in the ballpark for the cost of a new rifle configured to the Berdan Contract NM1859. Ouch!
Bill Skillman Randolph Mess-USSS
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