Taylors 1874 Sharps Rifle 45-70 – Rugged 32 in Octagon Barrel

Description

The Taylors 1874 Sharps Rifle is a faithful modern reproduction of the falling block single shot that earned the name Old Reliable on the buffalo ranges. This one is chambered in 45-70 Government with a 32 inch blued octagon barrel, a case hardened frame and a hand fitted walnut stock with a Hartford style forend and pewter tip. The Taylors SKU is LC1/220009 and the UPC is 839665005002. Rifles are built by Chiappa in Italy to Taylors specification. MAG5 Firearms stocks it for black powder cartridge shooters, cowboy action competitors and collectors.

What the Taylors 1874 Sharps Rifle Is

This is a single shot falling block rifle with no magazine, no repeating mechanism and no modern safety. You drop the lever, slide the breechblock down, insert a cartridge, close the action and cock the hammer. That is the whole manual of arms, and it is why an octagon barrel single shot like this is still popular with people who want to slow down and shoot deliberately. Every round from a Taylors 1874 Sharps Rifle is a decision rather than a reflex.

All metal parts are CNC machined and the case hardened receiver, buttplate and trigger guard carry the mottled color finish that the originals were known for. Colour case hardening is a real heat treatment rather than a coating, so each rifle looks slightly different and no two Taylors 1874 Sharps Rifle frames are identical. The 32 inch octagonal barrel is blued steel with six grooves and a 1 in 18 right hand twist, which suits the heavy cast bullets the cartridge was designed around.

Sights are traditional. A dovetail blade sits up front and a dovetail ladder rear sight lets you set elevation for long range work, and the upper tang is drilled and tapped so a Creedmoor or vernier tang sight can be fitted later. The trigger is a double set trigger: pull the rear blade to set it, then the front trigger breaks at a very light weight. Used properly it is a superb target arrangement, and it demands respect.

Shooting It Honestly

This rifle weighs 10.6 pounds and measures 49 inches overall. That is not an accident and it is not a flaw. The mass is what makes 45-70 pleasant rather than punishing, and the long barrel is what gives the sight radius that makes iron sight accuracy possible at distance. It also means the Taylors 1874 Sharps Rifle is a poor choice for still hunting thick brush or for anyone who wants a light carry gun.

Understand the double set trigger before you load it. With the rear trigger set, the front trigger can break at a few ounces, which is wonderful from a rest and genuinely dangerous if you set the trigger and then move, stumble or change position. The standard discipline is to set the trigger only when the sights are on target and you have decided to fire. Practice the sequence dry, repeatedly, until it is automatic.

Ammunition choice matters more here than on a modern rifle. The 45-70 case is loaded to three very different pressure levels: trapdoor level, lever action level and Ruger number one level. A reproduction 1874 sharps 45-70 is a strong action but it is not a modern bolt gun, so stay with trapdoor and standard lever action pressure loads unless the maker states otherwise. Heavy cast bullets at modest velocity are what the Taylors 1874 Sharps Rifle was built to shoot.

Specifications

• Taylors SKU: LC1/220009
• UPC: 839665005002
• Manufacturer: Chiappa for Taylors and Company
• Caliber: 45-70 Government
• Capacity: 1 round, single shot
• Action: Falling block, sliding breechblock
• Barrel length: 32 in
• Barrel contour: Octagonal, blued steel
• Bore diameter: 0.450 in
• Grooves: 6
• Twist: 1 in 18, right hand
• Overall length: 49 in
• Weight: 10.6 lb
• Frame, buttplate and trigger guard: Case hardened steel
• Stock and forend: Walnut, Hartford style forend with pewter tip
• Front sight: Dovetail blade
• Rear sight: Dovetail ladder
• Trigger: Double set
• Drilled and tapped: Upper tang for a rear tang sight

Who Buys a Rifle Like This

A Taylors 1874 Sharps Rifle is bought for three reasons: black powder cartridge silhouette and long range target shooting, cowboy action and Sharps matches, and the simple pleasure of owning a properly made reproduction of a historically important rifle. It is also a genuinely capable hunting rifle for elk, bear and hogs at the ranges iron sights allow. Full specifications and the rest of the line are published by Taylors and Company.

It is not a practical general purpose rifle and nobody should buy it as one. One shot, ten and a half pounds, iron sights and a trigger that needs discipline are all deliberate choices that make it excellent at one job and awkward at everything else. If you want a 45-70 you can carry all day, a lever action is the better tool than a Taylors 1874 Sharps Rifle. Browse the rest of our rifles to compare.

Two ownership notes. Color case hardening is a finish that wears and patinas with handling, so expect it to change over the years rather than stay factory fresh, and keep it oiled because it is not corrosion proof. Second, if you intend to shoot black powder, plan your cleaning around it: black powder fouling is corrosive and a 32 inch barrel takes real effort to clean properly after a match.

MAG5 Firearms is a family owned FFL dealer in Collegeville, Pennsylvania. This Taylors 1874 Sharps Rifle ships to the licensed dealer of your choice, and local buyers can complete the transfer with us in person. Pair it with Barnes VOR-TX 45-70 Govt 300gr TSX and call 610-943-0010 with any questions.