Except for the barrel, this is a typical Sharps / Meacham conversion rifle with the percussion action altered to take metallic cartridges, the sling ring bar removed and the slot for it filled with wood, a new forearm made, the wrist of the stock checkered and the double set triggers added. Round barrels are seldom found on Meacham conversions. There are no factory records on the conversions, but specimens observed over the years indicate that fewer than five percent, perhaps 100 to 200, were made with round barrels. This one is unusual as it has the late "Old Reliable" marking without the upper and lower rails of the box, showing that it was made by Sharps, but it has no number except the "Meacham" number. It was never assembled on another rifle. Even though these round barrel rifles were advertised as "Business" rifles, the marking on the barrel does not reflect that. The marking only shows the caliber and the case length with a long blank between where the "business" marking is usually found. Meacham's catalogs stress that these were made due to the demands of "Frontiersmen and Buffalo Hunters". Consequently they were intended for use and most of them saw extreme use. This one is the exception, possibly the best one known.

Excellent plus. Nearly unused, with 98% blue and casehardening colors, the latter slightly faded on bottom of lever. Minor scratches and dings on wood with one small nick on right side of the schnable. Bright bore. Mechanically tight. Writer has not seen a finer Meacham Sharps Rifle.