doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion Classic & Custom Single Barreled Sporting Rifles @ doublegunshop.com Thoughts on Little Sharps rifles

That info fits perfectly with other unpleasant things I've heard for years now about Dakota, some even more illegal and immoral than that. It's a shame that a company that produces such fine products has such a bad rep, and apparently the rep is deserved since it just seems to get worse as time goes on. So far I've heard no one, not one single voice, speak in defense of Dakota's very questionable business practices. I know of at least 3 well-known and accomplished gun people who now bitterly regret their various 'partnerships' with Dakota since they are now out in the cold while Dakota is sitting pretty selling their products. Too bad.
Regards, Joe

Sad, but true. And I've been accused of being off my rocker to suggest such could be the case.

Steve, your accusers appear to be either ignorant or dishonest; the information is out there and is no secret except from the general public. Let's see now; Grisel, Miller, Little Sharps.....I'm probably missing a few in the past, but who's gonna be next?

I hope that what has already gone around will eventually come back around, in spades, and that I'm still around to see it when it does. It's outfits with reputations like this that give the honest and morally upright professionals a bad name.
Regards, Joe

I talked with Ron Otto during the time of the Dakota robbery. Apparently Dakota was to partner with Little Sharps Co and ended up marketing the LS as theirs. Little Sharps started out with investment castings, then went to Dakota where they were machined. Ron said they had hired another supplier for their actions after Dakota.. Later they sold the manuf. rights to the Italians thru Charles Daly for their attempt.I think they might have had the last laugh on Dakota. 1000 for the Italian verses several thousand for the Dakota. I have had both a Dakota action via Ron Otto and an Italian action. The Italian action is much closer to an original sharps inside and out. The Dakota is well made but they have never got the hammer to look right. My opinion only. Jerry

Thanks for that info Jerry. There seems to be quite a few multi-thousand dollar Dakotas on the market. I hope Charles Daly gains wider distribution.

Joe, I could add several names to that list, and in my naivete, almost added my own at one point. DA was very interested in these modifications I made to the firm's single shot.

Steve, I have long thought the Dakota 10 was one of the, let's see now, how shall I put this...one of the less-beautiful actions around, what with that extremely awkward and unfinished-looking trigger guard & lever and all. However your alteration has made a world of difference and I can easily see why Dakota was interested.

IMO they could also greatly benefit from your stock staining & finishing techniques, theirs are pretty basic for such expensive and supposedly high class products.

Just think about how much extra custom work could be done on a new Little Sharps from Daly when you add the extra $2K that Dakota charges!
Regards, Joe