IMO Pedersoli and Shiloh compare thusly:

Accuracy is equal; Pedersoli gives up nothing to anyone in this area.

Action design gives Pedersoli a slight edge due to better adjustments.

Wood-to-metal fit is much better with the Shiloh.

Barrel octagon flats on the Pedersoli are not very flat and have rounded edges, really a very poor appearance in some cases.

Reliability is approximately equal, both will break lever springs and firing pins occasionally.

Service is a top priority with Shiloh but is restricted to their location while Pedersoli service is somewhat more widely available.

Braggin' rights is no contest, Shiloh wins that one hands down!

The-most-accuracy-for-the-money is also no contest but Pedersoli wins that one hands down!


IMO it comes down to which one is available and how much appearance and braggin' rights are worth to you. I would happily take a Pedersoli any time but would insist upon re-polishing the barrel flats before bragging about it. I like Shiloh and Pedersoli but personally avoid C.Sharps; their quality is apparently excellent but their owner's reputation is not.
JMO, good luck, Joe

Thanks for the update, David. My friend Coydog's bad experience with the owner, combined with your bad report on their recent quality, has confirmed & reinforced my bad opinion of the C.Sharps company.
Too bad, Joe

Shoot your Ped and enjoy the experience of a bygone era. A Shiloh is very nice but I have enjoyed a lot of shooting during the years I would have waited for 4 guns. The wood, color case hardened action, fit & finish of the "Boss gun is probably the best.

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Thanks for the input. I am sure it do all I want it to do. Fit and finish is excellent by my standards. Anybody know if the Plains Rifle is still made? I have not been able to find one available new. Just curious as to what retail is today. I am sure that the $800 I paid was a prety good deal especially with a tang sight included. I have enough left over from the difference in price of the Shiloh to buy a couple of other neat toys that I don't need but would like to have.

Pedersoli makes several models of '74s and will make them more or less to order for large buyers like Navy Arms or Dixie.  A 32" octagonal barrel with a checkered, straight grip stock sounds like the current Billy Dixon or Sharps Sporting standard, both of which have curved butt plates.  If it has a shotgun butt it might be an upgraded version of the Business Rifle.  the bottom line is don't spend too much time worrying about what model it is, just enjoy.  At current prices for these models you did very good.

Jerry Liles

I had to take a file and a honing stone to the triggers and lower edges of the breechblocks of my Sharps and Highwall to avoid getting my hands cut up. A person should not have to do that but I guess that is part of the reason the price is so attractive. Joe S

Hello All,

I'm a new member on this forum. I joined after I just purchased a new Sharps replica manufactured by Davide Pedersoli & Co. The reason that I'm posting this is because I have a pretty big question: I received my Model 1859 Sharps Cavalry Carbine, and amazingly, it has 7-groove/7-land rifling. Has anyone seen this before?

My carbine arrived in suitably new condition after I ordered it online from Cabelas.com, but it is amazing to me that its rifling is completely different than all the published specs on the Cabelas.com website and the Davide Pedersoli & Co. website itself!

Am I the only one to experience this? Is this a manufacturer error, or is Pedersoli simply circulating the wrong specs? 

The only other place I've seen the same model of Pedersoli-made Sharps carbine listed as having 7-grooves/7-lands is on the Dixie Gun Works catalog. But why would Pedersoli say it's 6-groove/6-land rifling?

How come there aren't more people noticing this? Can I expect my carbine to shoot properly with the sights it came with from the manufacturer? Should I try to return or exchange it?

Any feedback from fellow forum members would be much appreciated.

Best Regards,

Samster