Early Rustic Arms?

[jbwilliams3]

I am contemplating ordering a rifle from Mr. Williams there. I’m fed up with my pendersoli frontier and am considering investing in a custom or semi-custom rifle.

So far he is the only maker that seems to fall into my price-range. That is, after I receive my tax returns and sell a gun or two that I don’t need.

I would like to at least some day have an accurate (historically and otherwise) rifle that I can hunt with and reenact/trek with. My interest is in 18th century and particularly the revolutionary period. I would like to have a .50 cal swamped barrel on a gun that would fit Virginia from about 1770- It seems that a couple of Mr. William’s options can fit a generic paradigm of what I would like.

My pendersoli frontier was my first flinter and I hate to get rid of it after working so hard to get it- but it just hasn’t shot accurately (even in a rest) and I know it won’t be right for any historical persona.

I would probably wait a couple of years until my wife and I are more settled and grad school is over etc.- but what with the economic circumstances being what they are, I’m afraid inflation will drive up prices so much I won’t be able to afford a good quality rifle in the future.

Do any of you gentleman have experience with Early Rustic Arms or have thoughts on the issue?

 

[Ohio Rusty]

Era, Sitting Fox, and many others make good guns in your price range. If you are looking for a swamped barrel gun, ask around of the builders if they will install a swamped barrel in their gun, and if you can supply the barrel. I'm sure many builders will use your parts, and that will give you the gun you want at an affordable price.
Colrain, Longhammock, Orion, Getz, Buckeye, Green Mountain etc., all make barrels in different price ranges and many make swamped barrels. You just have to shop around and get all your ducks lined up in a row, and plunk down your money.
Just thinking outloud ....
Ohio Rusty

 

[renovato]

Sounds like you just haven't found the right load for your Frontier yet. Pedersoli makes good guns that are generally quite accurate. If you're going to wait a couple years anyway, you might as well do some load development on your existing gun and get some enjoyment out of it until then. Poke around this site a bit and you'll find all sorts of useful info on how to find the most accurate load, patch size, etc.

Sorry I couldn't help with your original question, but I thought I'd at least offer this modest suggestion so you can have some fun until you get your custom gun. :grin:

 

[LRB]

You may do better ordering a "In the white" gun,from a good maker, and do the finish work yourself. Beware of "cheap guns". There is most often a good reason they are cheap, and you own one.

 

[David Snellen]

Gentlemen,
I don't want to offend anyone here. I can say that at one point I owned an ERA smoothbore. I thought the gun was overpriced for what it was. I did not think the quality was very good. I sold it for 700.00 and I'd never fired it. The person I sold it to sent it back to me because he didn't think much of the quality either. Finally it sold to someone that sold it to Wayne Zurl. That is my experience. I had and have a Jackie Brown smoothbore and the quality is excellent.
I'd go with a Loyalist or Middlesex Village before I'd buy an ERA. Mr. Williams is a very nice man though.
My Humble Opinion,
David

 

[Le Grand]

Go with Matt & Toni at Tennessee Valley Muzzleloading. (www.avsia.com/tvm/) You won't have any regrets. Le Grand

 

[jimmytheshank]

I've ordered a Lehigh longrifle from Ray Franks at Sitting Fox. The barrel is a 48" 50. cal SWAMPED. So he is one gunsmith I know of that will do swamped guns at a reasonable price. I've looked at ERA's website and while his guns are pretty nice if you like rustic -looking guns, I prefer a gun thats clean. However,just in case you hadnt noticed, there is someone selling a rather nice colonial smooth Virginia rifle in the classifieds here. Maybe you can reach a deal with him. At $750, the price is pretty good. You can add a wooden patchbox later to it. Just a suggestion.

 

[kgrohs]

Jdwiliams, just ignore the rambling, talk to larry he'll do you right,I now him and if there is something you don't like he'll make good on it the other fella just wasn't happy, I own and have owned several navy arms and pedersoli's that I was just unhappy with, then I learned how to build them my self, after much trial and error. kjg