I believe your pal was making reference to the Old Reliable Sharps made in
Farmingdale N.Y. before the move of manufacture to Montana
where the company was subsequently sold and re-named Shiloh Sharps.
The Old Reliable name and trademark that the Famingdale Sharps used
were acquired from the earlier Sharps Rifle company out of Arcadia CA, of which Harry Sanford (Auto mag fame) was part of.
Here's a couple of pics of one.
The guns were made in only two calibers.
45-120, like this one and 50-140. Barrels also carried the Old Reliable name.
Fit and finish of the Arcadia guns was below that of the Farmingdales.
New tooling, and the change to the 'new' design two piece firing pin, helped the Shilohs to have a better reputation yet.
JT