Personal experience ... well yeah ! I've bought & owned a few Sharps mostly paper cartridges, handed a number as props.
IAB ... lower end , these are OK , usually European Walnut and straight grained wood to metal fit and finish is fair to good,
not completely authentic , function is average , parts are available.. I give them a C+ only because there are better guns.
Pedersoli.... upper end , these are very nice , Both European Walnut & American Black walnut most will have a some figure,
wood to metal is top drawer, different models authentic , function is very good , parts are available.. I give them a A
Uberti... upper end , these are also very nice , American Black walnut most will have a some figure,
wood to metal is top drawer, authentic , good quality , function is very good , parts are available.. I give them a A as well
Garrett...( sadly no Longer made ) but if you can find one BUY IT - upper end , these are very nice , American Black walnut
wood to metal is top drawer, The Cavalry Carbine is the best authentic model of any replica , function is very good , parts are if'y.. I give them a A+. FYI , Pedersoli bought all of the manufacturing equipment and remaining stock.
Pedredi ....mid level , A little hard to find , nice guns , European Walnut, fit & finish is good ( I think they only make Cartridge guns in 45/70 and 45 Long Colt ) give them a B.
which brings us to Shiloh & C. Sharps ....
Shiloh... upper end , costly and if you order you wait (Some up to 2 years) some longer.... American Black walnut some is very fancy ($$$)
fit & finish as expected very good.. customer service (in my experience on two guns ) nothing to brag about, which leads us to, parts
available but don't expect them in a hurry from Shiloh. Personally, for the money I think the lock on the Paper Cart. models should have the Lawrence Pellet Primer ( like the Garrett does) rather than a lump of steel simulating the profile ( except the Richmond of course ).
I give Shiloh a A because it a very nice gun....
C. Sharps ... upper end , also Costly and in many cases a wait period, American Black walnut, fit & finish is quite good.
some custom models and some are very authentic. Rumors abound of the sale of the company or it's demise are whispered.
status symbol name and good quality. A+
If I were looking for a shooter ( I owned two Shiloh's { Military,Burdan Rifle & a Richmond carbine} both paper cartridge)
two Garretts , one Sile ( IAB ) & one Pedersoli and handled several Uberti's and one or two C. Sharps. I also owed a number of originals a couple of 59's and some 63's some were 90- 95% .....
I'd, based on initial cost and experance ... go for the Pedersoli.....
there I said it ... bottom line your looking at initial cost.... you'll pay 50% more for the Pedersoli over the IAB, but you will be 100% satisfied in the long run....spend the money on the Sharps ... You can find a deal on 58 Remington or on sale somewhere most of the time.
now if you want investment... then you should a least get your money back on a Pedersoli, but the C Sharps or Shiloh might... I said might
get you a better return. Originals will bring Profit !
WOW... long winded , but there it is , one mans opinion (others may/will vary )
I forgot Armi Sport .... Base on guns I've seen... and on both the Spencer & Colt Contract 61 Springfields, I've used and handled I give them a B ++