palmetto gemmer sharps

Spartacus

July 09, 2012 11:11

was suggested i ask here instead of GD

till trying to get more info on the gun.
it's really well made, can't wait till i have use of both arms again so i can shoot it.
anyway, it was made in 1984 by palmetto of italy. only 50 guns were made for Allen Firearms of sante fe nm, no longer around. original retail was $600
the one i got has a pedesoli sight set that's still available ($300) that, i think, was added later.
there's "98%" gun listed at that "international"auction site for $2495.00!!!!!
about the same shape as mine, that i paid $850 for last month!
i don't get it.
also trying to figure out the "Gemmer" difference. apparently Gemmer was a gunsmith for Hawken rifles, but that's all i have.
any info w/b greatly appreciated!
thanks
tom

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  rufe-snow

  July 09, 2012 11:30

  Here is a photo of a reproduction Gemmer Sharps I got off the net. I believe that the heavy barrel, short stock, cleaning rod etc. are the features that the original had. These are duplicated in the modern repos such as yours.
  
  I had one of the Italian made Sharps carbine repos, years ago. They are very nice guns. And have gone up in price/value over the years. If yours is as nice as the one in the photo, IMHO you did well price wise. On the other hand $2495 for an Italian repo Gemmer seems out of line.
  
  
  EDIT #1, I believe that other gunsmiths in the post Civil War years reworked percussion Sharps carbines in similar fashion, to Gemmer. You might check Flayderman's Guide or some of the on-line resources to verify this. Sharps rifles have a very extensive following collectors wise, and their is a lot of reference material concerning them on the net.
  
  
  EDIT #2, The butts on the Sharps Civil War carbines were were much different, with out the radius shown in the photo of the repo Gemmer. Since Gemmer made the conversions on a custom low production basis, anything was possible though?
  
  

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  Spartacus

  July 09, 2012 11:46

  the one you have is almost identical, except mine has a pedesoli peep rear and front sight set that i'm sure was added afterwards. also, the factory rear sight on the barrel is not adjustable like yours.
  so, the heavy barrel, short stock and cleaning rods were special to the "Gemmer" models?
  thanks
  tom
  
  edit: thanks for the leads rufe! found out that Gemmer did a lot of aftermarket on various rifles. added the Hawken style to multiple guns. apparently, the heavy barrel, short foregrip with quck release pins and cleaning rod sleeves were Gemmer mods, as you mentioned.
  ws the curved butt common to all sharps?

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  navc130

  July 09, 2012 18:22

  Gemmer worked in the Hawken gunshop in St. Louis, Mo., making the famous Hawken Mountain Rifle. I believe he was a German immigrant. He purchased the Hawken gunshop after Hawken died. He continued making the Hawken rifles and also reworked cartridge rifles to "look like" the older Hawken muzzle loading rifles, i.e., heavy octagon barrels, crescent buttplates, Hawken type forend and ramrod. He was an excellant craftsman and made very distinctive looking rifles. The picture shown is an excellent example. To the best of my knowledge Allen Firearms was noted for higher quality Italian imports.

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  He Dog

  July 09, 2012 18:38

  Gemmers decendants continued to own the Hawken name and the shop continued in St Louis into the late 20th century. It was sold and moved to the Pacific Northweat, and the Hawken rifles they produce today are considered to be genuine Hawkens (though of course not a Sam Hawken rifle).

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