omething there is about a Sharps. Universally admired, the 1874 Sharps Sporting Rifle, in 45-70 or 45-90, is the Buffalo Gun, the Quigley Rifle. the Scepter of the Plains. It's hand-held artillery, an icon of the Old West. It's magic and Big Medicine.

Too big for some folks and some purposes, those "buffalo sticks" as necessary as wheels on a Howitzer. Silueta shooters employ the traditional barrel supports, of course, and only have to carry their 10 pound field pieces as far as the firing line. Cowboy Actioneers, with whom Sharps rifles are increasingly popular, haul them around ranges in guncarts. Those hunters carrying Sharps for big game will need horses or gun bearers. And there is some recoil, even with a shotgun stock and those massive octagon barrels.

What's needed is a slightly smaller, lighter Sharps, the one Christian Sharps should have made in addition to the old reliable. A carryable Sharps, suitable for deer and elk, antelope and varmints and long range steel targets.

Right side of one Little Reliable receiver shows "SLR", Little Sharps Rifle identification

Ladys and gentlemen, I'm proud to introduce the "Little Reliable", a Sharps lovers dream come true. this exquisite, practically sized Sharps makes it's national debut with these words, but it's already a collector's prize.

The Little Reliable is produced by Little Sharps Manufacturing of Big Sandy, Montana. The firm comes from the partnership of Ron Otto and Aaron "Duke" Pursley, a well known knife maker and engraver. Both men are lifelong riflemen and competitors and both are Sharps aficianados who brainstormed their creation traveling together to matches and gun shows. They formed their company in 1996 and went to work.

Above, close-up of second rifle's right side shows engraving detail.

Their first rifle was two days old at its first match, the Matthew Quigley long range event in Forsyth, Montana. The Little Reliable, a 38-55, took three places in the important shoot and orders began to arrive. To see and hold the Little Reliable is to want one.

While no superlatives substitue for handing and shooting this jewel of a single shot, Sharps fans will want to know that the handiness and heft of the rifle are the results of its precise 20% overall reduction from the full sized originals Sharps. The dimensions yield a delightfully balanced and pointable rifle in the seven-pound range, depending upon the barrel, sights, wood and furniture selection of the the customer.

Gun Details

The Little Reliable is available in eleven standard calibers, from 22LR to 38-55, including fast, flat shooting rounds like the .22 Magnum and the prairie dog's nemesis, the 218 Bee. The 25-20, has it's place, as do the 30-30 and the 32-20, a favorite Cowboy Action round. For bigger game, the 38-55 works. Otto says he and Pursley have taken deer and antelope so far and plan an elk hunt next season.

Author shoots Little Reliable

Barrels are made by Montana Rifleman in Kalispell, Montana. Choices include 20" (carbine), 24, 26 and 28-inch octagons and a half-round, half octagon, full taper. The button rifled barrels come in a standard 1 to 15 twist or with rifling specified by the customer. Standard sights are blade-and-dovetail, or long range tang sights are furnished on order from The Riflesmith, Tom Axtell, of Sheridan, Montana.

The receiver, breach lever, and butt plate are case-hardened 86-20 steel, which contrasts beautifully against the deep blue of the 41-40 chrome steel barrel. Butt stock and forearm are California Walnut on the standard model, but can be any appropriate wood specified or supplied by the buyer. A pewter forearm tip graces all models unless the costomer prefers another material or plain wood. As with the original Sharps, the wood is smooth, but will be sharply hand checkered at customer request.

Left side of Little Reliable shows more engraving and script "LITTLE SHARPS BIG SANDY"

The basic, unadorned Little Reliable is a thing of beauty and a shooter's joy, but Aaron Pursley's engraving and 24 karat gold or sterling silver inlay transforms the firearm into a fine art. Even though he has been engraving since 1955, Pursley eschews the title Master Engraver.

It was Pursley who spoiled me and my wife, "Cimarron Sue", for the Little Reliable. He brought standard and beautifully engraved models to Winter Range, near Pheonix, the National Championship of Cowboy Action Shooting. The rifles drew crowds wherever shown and we took them to the Long Range Single Shot stage to shooting when the contestants had finished. Another crowd gathered.

Shooting Impressions

Our first rounds through the 38-55 hardly constituted a field test, but we can tell the interested reader that this rifle is as much a tickle to shoot as it is just slick, offering no friction save for the bank vault feel when the breach block locks. There's no excuse for flinching; if there's recoil, we didn't notice it.

We prevailed upon photographer Steve Thornton to shoot some slides of the two Little Reliable models next to my full-size Pedersoli Sharps replica in a 45-70, for comparison. then Pursley hauled them back to Montana, but not before we told him we had to have one. When it's ready, we'll do some proper target diagramming and field testing at a Cowboy Action Long Range Single Shot match and report our fun and finding.

Like all fine firearms, the Little Reliable isn't cheap. the basic rifle, as described, lists for $2950.00 at this writing. Upgrades and custom features can be discussed with Otto or Pursley at Little Sharps Rifle.

Final Notes

Throughout the history of firearms, certain rifles have captured the imaginations and affections of riflemen and women and few have been elevated to the status of the Sharps. The rifle's distinctive profile and features are emblematic of the romance of the Old West, whether in the old reliable, full sized, original edition, or as its new incarnation as the handy, nail driving gem, the Little Reliable.

"It really is the rifle Sharps should have made," says Otto. "If they had, they'd still be in business." If they can keep up with the orders, The Little Sharps Rifle Manufacturing Company will be in business for a long time.