Harpers Ferry Aems Co. ?

[mloader40]

I HAVE A CHARLEVILLE TYPE SMOOTH BORE FLINTLOCK MARKED HARPERS FERRY ARMS COMPANY, MANUFACTURE DE ST. ETIENNE NO. 409 1976. OVERALL LENGTH IS 53 1/2", BARREL LENTHG IS 38 9/16", BORE MEASURES .715" ,NICE QUALITY. CAN ANYONE OUT THERE TELL MY SOMETHING ABOUT THIS FIRELOCK AS MAN8FACTURE AND POSSIBLE WORTH?
THANKS ALL
BPWRL

 

[RedFeather]

Got any Italian proofs on it? Harpers Ferry Arms Company must have been some distributor. Don't remember hearing that name around here. Maybe they had a store front in Harper's Ferry, the town, not the historic section. I do think I remember one place that sold BP guns in the old town, now that I think about it, although they weren't big enough to have their stock house labelled.

Like I said, maybe the proofs will help ID the country of origin.

 

[benvenuto]

is MANUFACTURE DE ST. ETIENNE on the barrel? or the lock?

 

[Va.Manuf.06]

Back in the mid-1970s they were advertising in Muzzle Blasts, the NMLRA publication. As I recall, they were only in business for a couple of years and it looked like they might go places. They made a Charleville flint musket repop long before Navy Arms had one out and it was supposed to be good. They also had a Maynard (I think it was a Maynard) carbine reproduction that was acheiving some popularity and a couple of others in their line, maybe an M1861 Springfield? Anyway, one of the partners in the business ran off with the company's capital and it went under. Despite some attempts they never came back. Not sure where the guns were made but I heard that they were made in the USA, someone else is bound to remember them and have better information. I do know that the carbine that I saw was a little rough in the woodwork but the metal was good and the owner, an N-SSA shooter, said that it shot VERY well.

 

[mloader40]

The marking "Manufacture De St. Etienne" is on the lock along with the No. 409 and 1976. This piece is very well made.

 

[mloader40]

This piece os very well made. Thanks for all of the information. Any further info from anyone else is greatly appreciated. Hats off to all for the help.
BPWRL

 

[mloader40]

The wood and metal work on this Smooth bore is outstanding. Gunmakers I know thought that the workmanship was quite good. I am very lucky to have found this firearm and will hold onto it.
Thanks for the info.
BPWRL