Sharps Model 1874
Sharps Rifle Manufacturing Company · Rifle · Discontinued · 1871
Also known as: Old Reliable, Sharps Old Reliable, Big Fifty, Buffalo Sharps
Overview
The Sharps Model 1874 is a single-shot, breech-loading rifle built around a falling-block action operated by a lever that also functions as the trigger guard. Introduced in 1871 by the Sharps Rifle Manufacturing Company and officially branded 'Old Reliable' in April 1876, it became the definitive American buffalo rifle and a dominant long-range target rifle of its era. Highly customizable, customers could order virtually any barrel length (typically 26-34 inches), weight (7-25 pounds), and shape (round, octagon, or half-round/half-octagon), along with a wide array of chamberings from .40 to .50 caliber, double-set triggers, Vernier tang sights, globe front sights, and schnabel forends. Its massive black-powder cartridges delivered unparalleled long-range accuracy and terminal energy, making it the preferred tool of professional bison hunters on the Great Plains and the rifle of choice at the famous 1874 Creedmoor long-range matches.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 5443 g (192.0 oz) |
| Weight (loaded) | 5500 g (194.0 oz) |
| Overall Length | 1219 mm (47.99") |
| Barrel Length | 762 mm (30.00") |
| Action Type | Bolt Action |
| Firing Mechanism | Hammer Fired |
| Trigger Type | Single Stage |
| Magazine Capacity | 1 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Internal |
| Muzzle Velocity | 411 m/s (1348 fps) |
| Muzzle Energy | 2466 J (1819 ft·lbf) |
| Effective Range | 500 m (547 yd) |
| Maximum Range | 1500 m (1640 yd) |
| Rate of Fire | 8 rpm |
| Barrel Rifling | Right Hand |
| Number of Grooves | 6 |
| Frame Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Stock Material | American Walnut |
| Finish | Blued Barrel With Case-Hardened Receiver |
Calibers
- .50-90 Sharps · primary — also known as Big Fifty, .50 2½ inch Sharps, Poison Slinger
- .50-70 Government — also known as .50-70, .50 Government
- .45-70 Government — also known as .45-70, .45 Government, .45-70-405
- .45-110 Sharps — also known as .45-110, .45-2 7/8 Sharps
- .45-120 Sharps — also known as .45-120, .45-3¼ Sharps
- .40-90 Sharps — also known as .40-90 Sharps Straight, .40-2 5/8 Sharps
Features
- Firing modes: Manual
- Feed systems: Single Shot Breech
- Safety mechanisms: Half Cock Hammer
- Features: Falling Block Action, Breech Loading, Side Hammer, External Hammer, Optional Double Set Triggers, Octagon Barrel Option, Vernier Tang Sight Option, Globe Front Sight Option, Buckhorn Rear Sight, Crescent Buttplate, Schnabel Forend Option
Variants
- Sharps Model 1874 Sporting Rifle — Sporting
- Sharps Model 1874 Business Rifle — Utility
- Sharps Model 1874 Buffalo Rifle — Hunting
- Sharps Model 1874 Long Range Rifle — Target
- Sharps Model 1874 Creedmoor — Target
- Sharps Model 1874 Military Rifle — Military
- Sharps Model 1874 Mid-Range Rifle — Target
Service history
Operators
- American Buffalo Hunters · adopted 1872
- United States Army · adopted 1874 · as Sharps Military Rifle
- Texas Rangers
Conflicts
- American Indian Wars (1874-1890)
- Red River War (1874-1875)
- Great Sioux War (1876-1877)
- Second Battle of Adobe Walls (1874)
Production
Estimated total produced: 12,445 · Production years: 1871-1880
Sources vary between approximately 6,400 and 12,688 units across all Model 1874 variants; the most commonly cited figure is 12,445 rifles produced before Sharps ceased manufacturing in October 1880. Modern reproductions are still made by C. Sharps Arms, Shiloh Sharps, Pedersoli, and Uberti.
Origin
Country of origin: United States
Designer: Christian Sharps (original 1848 Sharps action); Richard S. Lawrence and Hugo Borchardt (later refinements)
Discontinued: 1881
Notes
The template schema lacks an explicit 'falling_block' enum value, so action_type is recorded as 'bolt_action' as the nearest manually-operated repeater; functionally the Model 1874 uses a true falling-block breech-loading action operated by the underlever. Specifications listed represent a typical heavy-barrel sporting/buffalo configuration; actual weights ranged from ~3.2 kg to ~11.3 kg (7-25 lb) depending on barrel profile and caliber. Production ran from 1871 until manufacturing ceased in October 1880, with the company dissolving in 1881.
Background
On June 29, 1874, buffalo hunter Billy Dixon used a borrowed .50-caliber Sharps Model 1874 to knock a Comanche warrior from his horse at an Army-surveyed distance of 1,538 yards (1,406 m) during the Second Battle of Adobe Walls, breaking the spirit of the attacking coalition and becoming one of the most legendary shots in firearms history. In the hands of professional hide hunters such as Bill Tilghman - who allegedly killed over 7,500 buffalo with his Sharps - and J. Wright Mooar, the Model 1874 was the primary instrument of the near-extinction of the American bison, whose population collapsed from tens of millions to fewer than 1,000 animals by 1889.