Cheap Sharps Club

[Professor Marvel]

A few years back IAB did offer a "kit" sharps.

IAB is now long gone... :-(

Indeed, back in the day IAB sold a number of cheap sharps models both completed and in kit form in 45-70, as well as the percussion models in .45, .50, and .54 . They were sold via a number of distributers, Dixie sold a few models  (including the .54 business rifle kit) as well as EMF, Tri-Star and a few others.

On this website, which is defunct (if you wish to save the info I suggest you download it asap) you will find nearly all the particulars:

http://www.brenzovich.com/sharps_rifles.htm

yhs
prof marvel

we see a ve4ritable copy of the page that used to be posted on IAB's website.

[patrickandmolly]

Thanks for the help guys. I will try posting it somewhere else like you said. I would guess it is an Italian copy but I don't know why it doesn't have any markings on it. We all know how they love those little import stamps. I'm just looking for a confirmation that it is not valuable before I do some work to it. Thanks again Patrick

[Sir Charles deMouton-Black]

Well, I'fn ya need more info than ya kin fin' here, OK.  But it sounds like 1 hek'uva cheap Sharps ta me!

Welcome to blackpowder cartridge fun.

[IE300]

I guess my IAB Sharps qualifies me for membership. Picked it up for $550. from a fellow member of the NorthEast Arms Collector's a few weeks ago. He had it at our little show and said he wanted $725. for it. Had to pass on it at the time, but I kept thinking about it and had sold a few guns and had enough money for the rifle.
A couple of weeks later at our meeting I was trying to find him 'cause I was still interested in that Sharps, but I couldn't remember the guy's name. Talking to one of the guys who organized the show, we were looking at the seating chart to try to figure out who it had been with the Sharps. As we were talking the guy appeared because he had heard I was looking for him. Turns out that he wanted $725. for the Sharps with the Pedersoli Tang sight that he had installed on it, but he would take $550. for it without the tang sight. We met the next day and I got my cheap IAB / Armi S. Marco Sharps. I knew it was Armi S. Marco from the barrel markings, but didn't know it was IAB until I took off the forarm and saw the IAB stamp underside of the barrel just in front of the receiver.
I was happy to give up the tang sight for the discount, because I had planned to install a Leatherwood Malcolm 30" scope on it anyway. So I got the rifle, and the scope and precission mount and some other accessories being delivered today. Don't anybody bother telling me how bad the mounts are. I've already discussed that subject at length on another part of this forum, and am prepaired to do whatever I need to do to make the scope setup right, even if it means ending up returning the upgraded mount and accessories and getting a set of MVA mounts. But since this is the Cheapo Sharps Club, I'm going to try to make the leatherwood stuff work. Or I might end up trying to fabricate a set of Unertl style mounts. I found a sight where a guy did just that using a micrometer as a basis, and although he certainly had to spend some time and effort on them, he ended up with a pretty nice setup for cheapo expense. I have a few tools and a little skill and a lot of patience, so we'll see.
I stand accused of being rather long winded in my posts, and I must once again plead guilty. I'll let you know how things go with my cheapo Sharps and scope setup. Only thing I've done so far is to strip off the ugly finish on the stock and gave it a hand rubbed oil finish. Already looks about 300% better, but can it shoot? Don't know, but maybe I'll find out this weekend.

[Steel Horse Bailey]

Indeed!~

[FoFySemdy]

I gots me a cheap Sharps, IAB 45-70. Purchased from EMF out of SGNews ad about 1997. Came with tang site that fit Ok and globe front site that did not.
Still have the box, w/ S/N etc.  Did someone say there is a thread re serial numbers and production date info? My search skills may not be the best.

Anyway, rifle shoots Ok.  Minute of grapefruit at 100 yds with most trapdoor loads. Suspect that the chamber is long as some have mentioned. Have some cerosafe but haven't got around to casting the chamber.

Nice looker, pretty good shooter, no major issues. Too bad that IAB went under a while back. I was dinging them about the storage box and other small parts without ever a single response for quite some time. Then their site died.

Spotted this thread a while back and been lurking. Appreciate all the info on here, still haven't absorbed all of it. Forgive me if I repeat any inquiries.

Best Regards,
FFS

[cpt dan blodgett]

There should be a square box with 2 letters in it usually close to a couple of more proof house marks and a PN
AZ 1990
BA 1991
BB 1992
BC 1993
BD 1994
BF 1995
BH 1996
BI 1997
BL 1998
BM 1999
BN 2000
BP 2001
BS 2002
BT 2003

[FoFySemdy]

Sure enough. Under the handguard on the left side - BH in a box, and PSF and something else.
1996. Wonder if that was a good year?

Thank you!

[cpt dan blodgett]

Not sure one of my guns has a BS, which sorta seems appropriate.

[1961MJS]

Hi

Seems like I'm pulling a Frankenstein and reviving the dead again.

i went to the Tulsa Gun Show yesterday, started walking the rows, and there was a new looking Sharps with $950 attached to it.  I picked it up to look at it and it said Uberti in one place and Stoeger in another.  The guy at the table pounced on my like a monkey on a cupcake and said I'll take $800, so I counted out the money and took off.  Uberti Sharps see to be labeled as $1800 on the websites now, but that would be full retail, but I think I did o.k.  The bore looks new and un shot, NIB but no box.  The dealer said estate sale.  He said it was .45/70, but I can't find that written anywhere on the rifle...

Lucky I didn't want a Colt Python for $2500.00.   

Later Y'all

[Grenadier]

I recently traded for an 1859 business rifle made by Uberti. Took it out and shot a couple times and noticed it leaked like a sieve. Took it apart to clean it and found that the gas plate was cracked around the circular flange. Called up Taylor's to order a replacement, unfortunately, it has to come from The Magical Land of Macaroni. Might be several weeks before I am able to get it back out to shoot.

[Sir Charles deMouton-Black]

1961MJS;  Sounds like a prize. Even if it needs a bit of care, it  sounds like a find.  

Grenadier; I believe that the Uberti Sharps was made by Pedersoli. I know the wait can be excruciating, but I'm sure the Plan will Come Together.

Good Shooting, both of you. 

[Grenadier]

Sir Charles,

You jarred my memory, it is a Pedersoli. I did not have enough coffee at the point I wrote that earlier this morning. It was suggested to me that I use head gasket sealer between the gas plate and the block to prevent leakage of residue. Has anyone else attempted this?

[cheatin charlie]

I have a Pedersoli 1859 carbine .54 cal.  I sent it to Charlie Hahn to do his breech block and O-ring job before I shot it because the gas plate
was scored by the previous owner.  Most of them will leak and be stiff to operate after 5 or 6 shots I have been told.  Shot mine as a
plainsman rifle shot 25 shots with no problem.  If interested here is his web page.  http://hahnmachineworks.com/
He  belongs and shoots with these guys  http://www.n-ssa.org/vbforum/forum.php  Good luck with your rifle mine is a blast to shoot.

[Blair]

Charlie Hahn is an excellent choice.
My best,
Blair

[Grenadier]

Charlie is the one who made the suggestion to me. 

[1961MJS]

Hi

My new Uberti Sharps has a blade front and a ladder rear sight.  I'd like to get a Soule Rear sight and a globe front sight with apertures.  I know how to install the front sight on the dovetail, but I don't remember what to measure to be sure I get the right one.  I have NO experience with the tang sights.  I'm used to shooting the aperture both front and back from 4H and an Avanti 888 air gun.  What do I measure to get the right base for a tang sight?

Help, what do I measure to be sure I get the right front sight?

What do I measure to be sure I get a base that will work for the Tang sight?

Thanks

[Ranch 13]

You just need a standard sharps base. Where you will hit problems is the screw size, the Italians can't get that standardized.
Don't scrimp on the rear sight, a floppy sloppy tang sight is worse than no sight at all.
MVA, Baldwin, Hoke, Kelly etc are all good sights. Buffalo Arms ,and MVA can help you pick out the proper screw size need.

[1961MJS]

Hi

I understand that the MVA's are great.  I have an Uberti, so I'm a little leary of spending more on the sights than the gun, but I have a Winchester model 70 with the same problem.  Are the Baldwin's as good as the MVA's?  Baldwin is about 22 miles away from work, so I may just stop by and avoid the questions.

Later

[Ranch 13]

Baldwins are excellent sights, but are still going to cost what your rifle did.