FOR SALE Defarbed 1863 Zouave Rifle

BigSkyRambler · Dec 16, 2024

I have no idea who originally built this rifle. All markings have been removed from the barrel (defarbed) and bayonet lug removed. The original lock was replaced with an antique one from a1849 Robbins and Lawrence M1841 Mississippi Rifle. The wood was stripped of factory finish. Correct canvas sling added. The concensus is that this us a 70s or 80s reenactor weapon intended to look, at a distance, like any number of two band rifled muskets, both Union and Confederate. Similar in general to a Richmond Armory rifle or 1855 Harper's Ferry sans tape primer. Everything functions. Bore is very good. Lock probably worth half asking price. $725 + Shipping.

hunter thompson · Dec 16, 2024

ID say thats a original but post civil war. The windsor vt was a great company that might of used parts to make these.

BigSkyRambler · Dec 16, 2024

hunter thompson said:
ID say thats a original but post civil war. The windsor vt was a great company that might of used parts to make these.

Stock wood seems incorrect. All stamps on brass are definitely spurious.

hunter thompson · Dec 16, 2024

WELL worth it i can tell it,ll shoot great from looking at rifling.ITS got a windsor vt tang known for good things ive heard some about that companyand that there sought after.

BigSkyRambler · Dec 16, 2024

hunter thompson said:
WELL worth it i can tell it,ll shoot great from looking at rifling.ITS got a windsor vt tang known for good things ive heard some about that companyand that there sought after.

Do you suppose it is an original barrel? The muzzle looks kind of unfinished.

TRP · Dec 16, 2024

No, not original barrel. Too many grooves. Also, maybe literally defarbed-

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Authenticity_(reenactment)#/media/File:"FARB"_marking_on_early_Italian_Zouave_rifle_replica.jpg

Dusty_Traveler · Dec 16, 2024

That rifling profile looks like the one used by Euroarms. Barrel walls are very thick @ muzzle. Definitely a cut down.

hawkeye2 · Tuesday at 12:04 PM

The barrel will be 33" long and with very thick walls at the muzzle. These are rifles like the Mississippi (1841) and 1855 rifle and weigh 9.7 pounds which is more than the weight of an 1861 rifle musket at 8.9 pounds. I'm going with everything being a repro except the lock. Should be a good shooter.

thatoneguy82 · Tuesday at 12:06 PM

Barrel could also be a Bill Large, he made 7 groove mini barrels

BigSkyRambler · Tuesday at 12:57 PM

thatoneguy82 said:
Barrel could also be a Bill Large, he made 7 groove mini barrels

I would assume it would be marked somewhere.

hawkeye2 · Tuesday at 1:41 PM

A Large barrel would be clearly & deeply marked and visible. It could possibly be a Numrich barrel and should be marked NAC (hand stamped) on the left side at the breech but I've seen (and had) barrels they didn't mark. If It's a Numrich it will have a patent breech so that's easy to confirm.

thatoneguy82 · Tuesday at 1:55 PM

BigSkyRambler said:
I would assume it would be marked somewhere.

If it was "defarbed" then it was probably filed off but would have been on the left side behind the rear sight as seen here

hawkeye2 · Tuesday at 3:07 PM

If Large was filed off it should be obvious as it's quite deep. I just noticed that the bayonet lug and guide that would have been on the right side of the barrel is missing and I can't see any evidence it was ever there (Mississippi barrel?).

BigSkyRambler · Tuesday at 7:40 PM

hawkeye2 said:
If Large was filed off it should be obvious as it's quite deep. I just noticed that the bayonet lug and guide that would have been on the right side of the barrel is missing and I can't see any evidence it was ever there (Mississippi barrel?).

Lots of questions. I need a photo of an Italian barrel breech for comparison.

BigSkyRambler · Tuesday at 8:48 PM

Another interesting thing about this is that the breech plug with snail attached is a separate piece.

hawkeye2 · Tuesday at 8:57 PM

That does look Italian to me. It's an older barrel and if the nipple threads are M8x1 or M8x1.25 it's an import.

Packrat · Wednesday at 8:09 AM

I will try and get a picture of mu Mississippi and send to you

BigSkyRambler · Wednesday at 10:30 AM

Deleted

TRP · Wednesday at 10:28 PM

That breech arrangement is definitely an Italian repro. Originals had a full barrel with a plug.

BigSkyRambler · 2024-12-22T08:28:16-0500

Bump.

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