BPCR, buffs.

[Hardcast]

Spotted a genuine Sharps at the Adelaide gunshow on Saturday, looked to be in pretty clean useable condition, checked the price,
WHAT ! $1500.00, I'll look closer. Hmmmm, 'BRITISH ISSUE" .577
I'm no expert by any stretch of the imagination, but I didn't know that the poms used "SHARPS" rifles, especially in that caliber.

Google says there were 6,000 made for the British Army in 1855.

So at $1500.00, it's probably not a bad buy. ?

[Norton]

Where did the "British issue" info come from?

The problem with many of these old ones is they've repair and/or reassembled from parts from all over the place.

Component from some similar/compatible British build on it maybe?

[riggee]

Does seem massively cheap for a rifle that old...

Replica maybe?

[Hardcast]

The 'British Issue' came from the 'reputable' dealer.
Made from parts maybe, but the action was certainly genuine Sharps.

Would of thought the action was worth that.

Not saying the seller was un reputable, have seen him at several gunshows over the years, and always has good clean stuff.

Just sayin. IF I knew it was relatively rare, as in only 6,000 made, then I would of shown more interest.

[riggee]

Not saying the seller was un-reputable, have seen him at several gunshows over the years, and always has good clean stuff.

Just sayin. If I knew it was relatively rare, as in only 6,000 made, then I would of shown more interest.

I wasn't suggesting that the dealer was knowingly doing anything nefarious, but these things happen... People mistake high quality replicas or otherwise similar things for the "original" item.

He might have bought it cheap from someone who knew it was a replica and sold cheap, and he's just adding his usual mark up or something like that?

Who can say.