My Shiloh Journey

[Griff]

I'll be attaching some photos of my new Shiloh rifle. In case you don't feel like reading through this entire thread, here are the specifications:

Hartford Model
44-77 caliber (with markings similar to original markings) with a 7 degree leade
30 inch heavy barrel
Globe front sight, Lawrence barrel sight, Distant Thunder sporting tang sight
Pack Hardened receiver, fire-blued screws

I was copying some original rifles used by buffalo hunters in the early 1870s. This photo with the white background is of one of the originals that I was (sort of) duplicating. The one with the brown background is mine. More pictures to follow...

Griff

[Griff]

Receiver photos

[Griff]

Caliber markings. I had asked for "Calibre 44" on the top flat and "2 1/4" upside down on the right flat. They got it mostly close. The marking on the right flat is "right side up" and for some reason they appear to have come back and stamped "2 1/4" on the top flat too. That's fine--it's a minor detail and I don't believe that there was a real standard with the originals. My request was just kind of for fun anyway; I'm not really trying to completely duplicate an original--I just wanted it close enough to experience a taste of history.

Again, folks, thanks again for your input as I went through this "Shiloh Journey". I already have some questions when it comes to loading 44-77, so you haven't heard the last of me...

Griff

[pete]

Nice rifle and a good Hartford representation. All the rear sights are Lawrence sights not just that one. The one we call the Lawrence was called the low notch. The one we call the semi buckhorn was the high notch and then the buckhorn. The buckhorn didn't come out until 1877. The original in your photos has the high notch. I have the low notch too and like it for hunting.

[Griff]

Thanks, Pete! I'm always learning.

Griff

[bohemianway]

As a reference, my Hartford SN 53,111 has only the "Caliber 44" on the top flat and it is right up against the very end of the octagon flat by the collar and no case length marks. And the 30" barrel measures 1.090" at the muzzle and 1.150" at the breech end flats so slightly larger than the Shiloh Heavy.

I did not know you could get the low notch rear from Shiloh, thanks for the heads up.

Charles

[RudyN]

That is a great looking Sharps and i know you will really like it. My 45/70 is in the production window and maybe I will have it before the end of the year (I hope )

[Chief Beck]

Griff,

Very nice rifle! I like your attention to appointment detail! And I really like those case colors, much nicer than the standard fare in my opinion and more traditionally accurate.

Dennis

[Kurt]

Griff,
That is a fine looking shooter you will get a lot of enjoyment with once you get the cases worked out.
I have two and also a couple of it's larger brother the .44-90bn's and they all are fine shooters and easy to get along with.

Kurt

[Griff]

Thanks, fellas! I'm really happy with how it came out. It was kind of surreal standing at the counter when Onna brought it out. I had a mental image of what it would look like and I had revisited that image often. She set the rifle down in front of me and it was like the image solidified into a real object. It was strange, but a great feeling.