Granddaddy of Production Muzzleloaders?

[N.Y. Yankee]

The only brands I ever saw in gun shops and stores were CVA and TC here in upstate NY. Once in a great while you might see something from Investarms (cabela's).

 

[Flint62Smoothie]

For the Spanish-made guns, the Spanish MZL firms Mendi and Jukar merged in 1980 and was then called Dikar, who I believe is now owned by Bergara.

US makers I see "missed" are Mowrey, Hatfield, and thefirm of Austin&Halleck.

 

[Rifleman1776]

My first was a CVA in 1970. A TC came later. But, the argument for DGW being the 'grandaddy' is good. Kirkland, despite what many, including myself, thought of him, he was very innovative and often the first.

 

[Packrat]

Percussion Turner Kirtland 45 cal

 

[garypl]

Dixie is oldest I remember and my first production muzzleloader was a Tingle .45 percussion half stock in 1968. They were made in Shelbyville, IN.

 

[Josephg]

Kormann. The first modern production rifle I bought was a Navy Arms many years after the Kormann.

 

[vintovka]

My 1965 (?) DGW Spanish 28 gauge kit. Like $12 plus 3 shipping. Complete with "clamshell" cap box.

 

[COTNTOP]

I would like to see a list of made in USA muzzleloaders. Then I could keep my eyes open for them.

 

[SlidePicker]

How I wanted a .45 caliber Hopkins & Allen Minuteman long rifle, flintlock with gain twist rifling, when I was a kid. Years later, I got a flintlock .50 caliber Dixie Tennessee Mountain Rifle kit and put it together. I still have that one.

 

[springfield art]

I'm talking about guns that have generally been sold "over the counter" and not semi-production special order types. The one, or ones, that have or had the greatest influence in getting the public into shooting and/or hunting with firearms of "primitive" function.

Manufacturers that come to mind;

Thomson Center
Lyman
Navy Arms
Dixie Gunworks
Uberti
Hatfield
Numrich
Parker Hale
And a host of others

So, "Who's your Granddaddy?"

Oh, my pick is Thompson Center's Hawken model figuring volume sold and the fact is was my first.

Navy Arms really started the whole repro thing off about 1960 on cusp of the CW Centennial. I'd say TC for the hunting crowd, and Dixie is not really a mfgr. but an importer and seller. Hatfield very limited to niche crowd, Numrich also limited, and P-H another great but niche product. Love 'em all, anyway! Good thread.

 

[Rock Home Isle]

How I wanted a .45 caliber Hopkins & Allen Minuteman long rifle, flintlock with gain twist rifling, when I was a kid. Years later, I got a flintlock .50 caliber Dixie Tennessee Mountain Rifle kit and put it together. I still have that one.

I know what you mean. I love my Dixie Tennessee Mountain Rifles

 

[1971fx]

The cheap Belgian guns Turner Kirkland sold at Dixie Gunworks. And the similar quality Hopkins & Allens Numrich sold and the underhammers too.

Turner Kirkland .45

 

[bubba.50]

Turner Kirkland .45

Yeah, pretty obviously not one of the cheap Belgian guns I was referring to.

 

[gunpa]

Reading about Val Forgett's exploits with his Navy Arms muzzleloaders really tripped my trigger! The only muzzleloaders I could find in town were TC's so I bought one. Over 30 years and I still have it.

 

[Rock Home Isle]

Reading about Val Forgett's exploits with his Navy Arms muzzleloaders really tripped my trigger! The only muzzleloaders I could find in town were TC's so I bought one. Over 30 years and I still have it.

I still remember reading about his Africa hunting trips…that was some heady stuff…

 

[gunpa]

It sure was!

 

[oldwood]

!970.........My first "long rifle' , well , kind of , was an almost new , percussion , Spanish FIE , that had been used to fire salutes , 'til it would fire no more. The unknowing store clerk , smiled and shook his head at the $35 price tag . I checked the bore with a ramrod insertion , and the tip came out with unburnt FFG powder on it. A flashlight check showed perfect rifling down to the level of the unburnt powder. I figured , cheap toy , and it was a "Longrifle".Over night , I soaked the ash , and unburnt powder from the rifled bore. Now the ramrod went all the way to the breech . Went to the range to try her , and see what the Spaniard would do.
Put a mark at 25 yds.. One shot , on target , and we went out to 50 yds.. A nice 3 shot group , on target. I was the only shooter at the range , just looking for some mischief to do next. Out at 100 yds. , was a stationary running deer target. Stoked the Spaniard up again , took a good rest , the percussion gun fired flawlessly. Checked the deer target , and ........euphoria. Heart/lung hit. Mind made up ,my quest for a real flintlock longrifle began. Pa. opened some of the Pa.State Game Lands to Flintlock deer hunting after Dec. 25 th. Off to the races, thanks to that one FIE rifle......... Can't help , Laughing out loud , that was a longtime ago. ............oldwood

 

[toot]

back in the day, CVA'S were your go to muzzleloaders. I used to drive to HADDAM, CONN, when the guy who sold them worked out of his garage, then they moved to GEORGA, I believe, ?

 

[rusticbob]

At one time, Thompson Center ruled the roost. When they sold out to Greg Ritz, they went downhill fast. The older,early T/C guns were well made, and some had real nice American walnut stocks.

 

[ohio ramrod]

My 1965 (?) DGW Spanish 28 gauge kit. Like $12 plus 3 shipping. Complete with "clamshell" cap box.

I bought one of those and still use it for rabbits in thick brush. I did some reenforcing on the lock and tang mounts and it has held up well shooting a light 20 gauge load.