what kind of gun do I have?

F

Frank the pirate

Inactive
Hi, I bought a percussion rifle(Navy Arms?) from an antique store and can't find any info on it. Lock is stamped "Navy Arms", There is wording on the barrel near the tang reading: A- - - N O Zoli, Italy, serial#16674 It has two brass bands that hold the barrel in place, any help appreciated, thanks
 
Look like this? Great rifles, mine likes mini balls with 60 grs of FFg

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it looks exactly like this one

It looks exactly like this one, however it looks like someone wanted a wall hanger and painted the barrel black to cover up the pitting and put a cheesy coat of varnish on the stock. I plan to restore it to original condition. Regarding the pitting, I will be using blank loads only(60-80 gr. ffg) for reenactment purposes so I don't think the pitting will be a problem. Any ballpark values? If I can I'll get some pics up. Thanks for your help, glad I found this forum!
 
barrel proofing

regarding this gun, any idea where I can send the barrel to have it safety tested?even though I shoot blank loads it would be nice to know should I try live fire. Thanks again
 
The barrels of modern Zouave reproduction rifles are quite heavy & robust, and Zoli is a reputable maker. The rifle was proof tested before it was exported. Unless the bore has significant rust, pitting and corrosion, or the nipple threads are badly worn or corroded, then most likely the rifle is quite sound.
These large bore guns are proof tested to handle nearly twice the maximum loads, and can actually safely handle maybe even 3 times the amount of powder that the average responsible shooter would ever load into one.
Modern high strength steel was used for the barrel.
Make sure that the barrel is really clean and then go from there.
If you still feel the need to have it inspected, then take it to a trustworthy local gunsmith that's knowledgeable about black powder guns. :)
 
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One thing that you can do when cleaning it is to run a tight lubed patch up and down the bore to check if the bore is ringed or bulged. That happens when a projectile is short started instead of being properly seated all of the way down on top of the powder charge.
If you notice any loose spots inside the barrel then there could be a bulge or barrel weakness. Usually it only affects accuracy but if there is any slight bulge, then barrel replacement is in order.
 
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my zouave

hi again, forgot to ask in my other posts: near the end of the barrel is what looks like a holder for a bayonet, if this is true where can I buy one? also where can I get a replacement ramrod? thanks again!
 
Yes, that's a bayonet mount. There are many outlets available, but one I've used and found very good to do business with is S&S Firearms. I also suggest you spend some time on the N-SSA web site. Those folks are experts on the subject.
 
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