Colt Sharps Info?

[Hobie]

Can't find much even in TBOCF. About how many were made. I've seen one reference to 500. Is that a SWAG?

[thecoltguy]

Colt purchased the Sharps Arms Company in Salt Lake City about 1970 after they had developed this rifle and produced about 50 of them. Colt went on to make 503 guns that they called their deluxe model and about another 50+ of a standard model. The deluxe models were serial numbered CS-000-CS-502 and the standard guns were serial numbered above CS-2000. There were five basic calibers offered: 22-250, 243, 25-06, 30-06 and 7mm Mag. A couple of other calibers were offered in limited numbers. The project ran into some difficulty from the start and was dropped about as fast as it began. The assembly was done at Colt but the parts were supplied from outside vendors. The Belmore Johnson Tool Company did the machine work and the barrels came from Shilen and Hart. Leupold supplied the Scopes and mounting hardware. I have collected these from the beginning and have lots of information if anyone has questions. If anyone has one of these I would like to hear from them.

[JohnnyB]

There is an excellent article written by Les Bowman in the 1984 Gun Digest titled "The Colt Sharps Story". It covers this project from start to finish. I believe that there were also short articles about this rifle in the 1971 and 1972 editions of Gun Digest too, but I don't have those editions in my library. Maybe another Forum member with those editions can veify their existence.

[Colt75]

Colt purchased the Sharps Arms Company in Salt Lake City about 1970 after they had developed this rifle and produced about 50 of them. Colt went on to make 503 guns that they called their deluxe model and about another 50+ of a standard model. The deluxe models were serial numbered CS-000-CS-502 and the standard guns were serial numbered above CS-2000. There were five basic calibers offered: 22-250, 243, 25-06, 30-06 and 7mm Mag. A couple of other calibers were offered in limited numbers. The project ran into some difficulty from the start and was dropped about as fast as it began. The assembly was done at Colt but the parts were supplied from outside vendors. The Belmore Johnson Tool Company did the machine work and the barrels came from Shilen and Hart. Leupold supplied the Scopes and mounting hardware. I have collected these from the beginning and have lots of information if anyone has questions. If anyone has one of these I would like to hear from them.

What other calibers "were offered in limited numbers?" I have heard that the .22-250 is one of the rarest of these scarce rifles. Any truth to this?

[thecoltguy]

The 22-250 was not scarce as being relative to the other four calibers. The least number was in the 25-06 at 78 guns. The original Sharps Arms Company offered several calibers such as 220 Swift, 375 H&H, 50-70, 30-40 Craig etc. Had Colt carried on with the project I believe that it was their intent to offer additional calibers.

[Colt75]

Thanks for the info. Could you give us your best guess ranking of calibers in order of rarity.

[thecoltguy]

Qualities manufactured for the Colt Sharps were as follows: 25-06 (79), 7 mm Mag (86), 243 (103), 22-250 (106) and 30-06 (120). Do any of the Forum members reading this have one of the Colt Sharps? Are any of you looking to buy one? These are truly unique guns and usually a bargain when you can find one. They were well made and compared to the Dakota Model 10 sell for much less. The falling block action is on needle bearing rollers and smooth as silk. I think that because of the small quantity made not many collectors and shooters have had a chance to own one and this has resulted in minimal interest.

[smkummer]

30-06 in the 21XX range and does not have the cartridge trap or trigger engraving. The previous owner bought it with a custom barrel on it chambered for 7X61 Sharp/Hart. He bought a Colt Sharps 30-06 barrel for it and had it installed. He was a shooter so he also did the mods. that the 1984 Gun Digest article spoke of with I believe pillar bedding the forearm. I bought mine on-line for $2000. Right after I bought mine another deluxe 30-06 came up for sale and did not sell its first time around for 2K. It sold for slightly more the second time. Numrich still has a lot of wood for these but probably has little other parts for these now.

[Colt75]

Thanks coltguy for the info.

[thecoltguy]

Glad to help.