by Stan Trzoniec

With the advent of commercially available actions from the C. Sharps Arms Co., Inc. of Big Timber, Montana, a new aspect of custom gun making has risen in the past few years. Those wanting to relive the "good old days" through authentic, turn-of-the-century firearms now have the opportunity via a few select custom gunsmiths in this country, who specialize in such custom rifles. According to Dominick Pisano, the Sharps replica has suddenly grown in popularity, especially over the past two years. In 18 months alone, Dom has done five rifles with more in the works. Prior to that he says he didn't work on any.

The current example is a good sample of Dom's work. Made for Don Cantwell of Cantwell Wood Products, it is one of two commissioned by him. One was a Sharps Silhouette Model 1874 .45-70 complete with a heavy tapered barrel, midrange Vernier tang rear sight, globe front sight and pistol-grip type stock, all stocked in very fancy English walnut finished off with a Winchester steel buttplate.

The other part of the pair is this rifle stocked in English walnut but with a straight pistol grip and is classified as a Sharps Sporting Rifle. The fancy wood is pleasantly streaked with colors ranging from light brown to almost black on both the buttstock and forearm. It is checkered in a modest point pattern of the period, then finished in a satin oil type patina. A Bridgeport steel buttplate has been skillfully inletted into the sides and comb of the stock.

The action is from C. Sharps and is chambered for the .45-90 WCF (2.4 inch). It also features double set triggers, and the color casing was done by the Color Case Company in Ohio. All the matte blue metalwork was done by Joe Sherrod of Llano, Texas, himself an avid BPCR shooter and single-shot enthusiast. The barrel is a tapered Badger octagonal blank complete with a buckhorn rear sight all complemented with a traditional blade front sight.

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