MINT Dakota Arms Model Sharps Falling Block Varmint Rifle, Blue & Case Colored 26” .17 Caliber Single Shot Rifle
SOLD FOR: $2,791.00
LSB#: 151020TA04
Make: Dakota Arms, Sturgis, SD
Model: Sharps
Serial Number: DS047
Year of Manufacture: 2003-Present
Caliber: .17 Hornady Magnum Rimfire
Action Type: Lever Operated Falling Block Single Shot Rifle with External Hammer
Markings: The left side of the receiver is marked “DAKOTA ARMS / STURGIS, SD”. The left shoulder of the barrel at the receiver is marked ’17 HMR”. The bottom tang is marked “DS047”.
Barrel Length: The heavy octagon barrel is 26” in length and measures 0.985” flat-flat at the muzzle. The barrel has a recessed crown.
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a tall brass bead dovetailed into the barrel. The rear sight is a short range vernier tang sight mounted on the upper tang. The sight has a vernier adjustment for elevation, with a scale that is marked from 0 to 1.25. Elevation adjustments are made by loosening the eyepiece and then turning the adjustment knob at the top of the stem. However, loosening the eyepiece also allows the eyepiece to be moved to the left and right for windage adjustment, so care must be taken to not disturb the position of the eyepiece when loosening it for elevation adjustment. There is no provision for an open rear sight.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are fancy walnut with a straight grip, a blued shotgun style buttplate and a pewter nosecap on the forend. There are two tiny dings in the belly of the buttstock and a few very light marks on its right side. The LOP measures 13 15/16” from the front of the forward trigger and 13 1/8” from the front of the rear trigger to the back of the buttplate. The buttplate has a plum colored patina and shows a single very light mark. The buttplate is in Excellent condition, as are the stocks.
Type of Finish: The barrel is blued and the receiver, lever and tangs are case colored.
Finish Originality: All Original
Bore Condition: The bore is bright with sharp rifling. There is no erosion.
Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 99+% of its metal finish. There are a few extremely light marks on the left side of the receiver and a light mark on the right side of the forend nosecap. The screw heads are sharp and the markings are clear. Overall, this rifle rates in about Mint condition.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The hammer has a half-cock safety position. The front trigger breaks lightly and crisply when the rear trigger is set. The hammer spur is narrow in width and somewhat sharp, which would make it somewhat uncomfortable to shoot for an extended time. We have not fired this rifle.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: None
Our Assessment: The .17 Hornady Magnum Rimfire cartridge was developed by necking-down the .22 WMR cartridge, and is capable of achieving muzzle velocities of 2550 fps. When loaded with ballistic polymer tipped bullets, its yields an extremely flat trajectory with better bullet expansion, making it more effective at longer ranges against small game animals and varmints than the .22 WMR. The Dakota Arms Sharps model is scaled to 80% of the original size of the Sharps, making it a sleek sporting rifle that is more easily carried in the field. It is also designed from the ground-up to maximize accuracy from smaller, high performance calibers. This rifle has a 26” octagon barrel with a recessed crown, a tang sight with a vernier adjustment for elevation and XX grade walnut stocks with a beautiful fiddleback pattern in the wood. The final touches are a pewter forend nosecap and a brilliantly colored receiver. The rifle is in about Mint condition. There is a light mark on the right side of the nosecap and extremely light marks in the left side of the receiver. There are also two tiny dings in the belly of the stock and a few extremely light marks on the right side of the buttstock. The bore is bright with sharp rifling. The rifle is really beautiful, so please see our pictures. There are two small items that we didn’t like about the rifle. One is that the eyepiece can be moved left and right when loosened for elevation adjustment, so care must be taken that the windage adjustment isn’t changed when making an elevation adjustment. The second is that the hammer spur is somewhat narrow, which could make it a little uncomfortable during a long session at the range or out at the local prairie dog hill. Otherwise, this is a very well made and great looking rifle that should make a great varmint rifle.
