Book Review on Sharps Firearms
Originally published May-June 2026 · pp. 35–38
Beautiful Photographic Reference Book On Sharps Firearms
Sharps Firearms – A Collector’s Guide. By Roy Marcot, Ron Paxton, and Edward W. Marron, Jr. Northwood Heritage Press, 2025. Hundred’s of photographs, and index, 206 pages, $60, hardback. Reviewed by Jack W. Melton Jr.
Sharps Firearms – A Collector’s Guide is an outstanding reference work and a worthy addition to the library of any collector, researcher, or student of historic American firearms. Roy Marcot, Ron Paxton, and Edward W. Marron, Jr. have produced a detailed, highly usable guide that combines strong photography by Ron Paxton, clear organization, and substantial descriptive content in a format that serves both the beginning collector and the advanced student. The great strength of this book is its practical value. Sharps firearms are presented in a way that makes identification, comparison, and study straightforward. Sporting and target arms are covered alongside military models, giving the reader a broad view of the Sharps system and its development. The photography is one of the volume’s most valuable features. These illustrations do more than decorate the page; they highlight the features that matter most to collectors, including form, configuration, markings, and mechanical details. The descriptive text is equally useful. Characteristics and features of each type and model are broken down clearly, allowing the reader to understand what distinguishes one variation from another. The authors also include markings, date ranges, serial number ranges, and production periods, which are essential elements in any serious collector’s guide. That information gives this book real working value for those studying originality, production history, and identification. Another major asset is the treatment of functionality and terminology. Sharps firearms are mechanically important arms, and this book explains their operation in a direct, understandable manner. Readers who want to better understand the breech mechanism or the sighting systems will find those subjects clearly explained and well-illustrated. That is especially important in a reference devoted to collectible firearms, because understanding how these arms work is inseparable from understanding their historical significance and design. The inclusion of U.S. Ordnance Department trials and official considerations strengthens the book further by placing these arms in their proper military
and developmental context. That material helps the reader see the Sharps not simply as a collectible arm, but as an important part of nineteenth-century American firearms history. Well-photographed, well-laid-out, and rich in useful data, Sharps Firearms– A Collector’s Guide is exactly what a collector’s reference should be. It is informative without being confusing, detailed without becoming cumbersome, and visually strong throughout. For Sharps collectors in particular, this is an essential handbook. For students of American military and sporting arms more broadly, it is a valuable and rewarding reference. Sharps Firearms – A Collector’s Guide can be purchased for $60.00 plus $5.00 shipping. Checks should be made out to Northwood Heritage Press and mailed to: Roy Marcot, 4680 Placita Casa Sevilla Marana, AZ 85658.
Jack W. Melton Jr. is a publisher, photographer, and military historian specializing in American arms, accouterments, and material culture, with a particular emphasis on the Civil War era. He is the owner of Historical Publications LLC, publisher of Civil War News, Military Antique Collector, and The Rampant Colt magazines. His work centers on historical firearms, edged weapons, artifacts, and the research, photography, and interpretation of significant military collectibles.
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Photographs from the Original Article
Captions and credits appear in the article text as originally printed.