At the Battle of the Little Bighorn, while Custer's Companies were dying on Last Stand Hill, Reno Hill was the refuge of the remainder of the 7th Cavalry. They remained there for three days until relief came. Two of the survivors were from Company M - Capt. French and 1st Sgt. John Ryan, both of whom armed themselves with something other than the 1873 Springfield Carbine. Captain French had a Model 1868 Springfield Rifle, the "2nd Allin Conversion" made from shortened Model 1863 Springfield muzzleloaders into .50-70 breechloaders. He would possibly have had a fancier Officer's Model, instead of this issue version. Sgt Ryan personally purchased a Sharps rifle with a telescopic sight that weighed 15 lbs, and cost him the price of $100. These two are credited with putting fire on an Indian position where a sharpshooter was causing casualties among the entrenched defenders.
My version is my own idea of what that Sharps may have looked like, based on 1874 Sporting Rifles. The main rifle is made from a Cotswald Sharps with an octagon barrel added, and a scope made from brass tubing with a fitting on the end. The scope supports are made from parts of 1/144th scale B-52 landing gear.
The 1868 Springfield is made from a SST 1861 Rifle and a DS Trapdoor carbine.
Sgt Ryan's hs is courtesy of my friend Keller. He was known as "the handsomest man in the 7th." (Sgt. Ryan…not Kell!)