Has anyone else made or bought an 1803 Harpers Ferry?

[Johnny Tremain]

Jesse Melot at the Rifle Shoppe has everything to make them, and stamps to proof them
Did mine long ago.
If I were gonna build another, Id get it from him.

 

[user 53846]

Shipping this early A. Zoli out tomorrow. With a PRB, makes a fine Elk Rifle.

 

[FlinterNick]

While we are talking 1803's. I have an Italian reproduction. I am not very happy with the lock. Does anyone out there have experience converting one over to a Davis lock? Thanks!

I’ve heard of it being done before but nothing great.

The problem is the locks are totally different, the Davis Lock is patterned after a larger 1803 and the internals are siler styled, not actual 1803. The Italian reproductions using smaller plates but bigger internals, screw heads are bigger too and the Pan will not line up with the touch hole when the locks are swapped.

Personally I woudln’t do it. I’d try to make the old lock better.

 

[oldwood]

Back in the 1970's , bought an Italian copy of Harper's ferry musket in .58 cal. . See my previous post , this thread , section #1. I eventually replaced the lock with a copy replacement of the original made by L & R. That fixed the lock problems , but the rifle , due to the caliber and using minie balls ,the quirks of trying to hunt deer in the Pa. m/l season with that ammo, made shooting at unknown distances chancy. I had just built myself a new flat shooting .50 cal. longrifle , which solved the rainbow effect seen with the .58 Harper's Ferry......oldwood