help identifying kit gun please

[rednekhuntr]

A friend of mine just purchased a kit gun at our local gun shop. It is a kentucky style percussion, .50 cal, single trigger. The barrel is in the white, and appears not to have been fired. The only markings on the barrel are: Ardesa Spain, .50 cal, black powder only, and a 6 digit serial number.
I could be wrong, but aren't Traditions kit guns built by Ardesa? He bought the gun so that he wouls have something to learn on and tinker with (light loads only). Would he be able to drop in a new traditions lock/ double set triggers? I know there is a technique for determining rate of twist by counting revoulutions of the ramrod, could someone provide a detailed explanation of this? Any information that you fellas could provide would be appreciated.

 

[Rebel]

It is most likely either a CVA or Traditions. Should have a 1-66 twist. To tell put a tight fitting patch on the jag, push it all the way down and then mark the rod at the muzzle in line with the front sight. Then slowly pull the rod back out until the rod makes 1/4 turn. That is 90 degrees from the sight and then measure from the muzzle to the mark on the rod and multiply that number by 4. If it is 16 1/2" then 4x16 1/2= 66 so it is a 1-66" twiat. If it is 12" it is a 1-48" twist, etc.

 

[Norskie]

A picture would help. Any guess what wood the stock is? Is it one piece, or is there a brass joining plate a foot or so in front of the lock? How crude is the lock, does it have a bridle holding the tumbler?
Twist. Masking tape on the ramrod, witness mark on the tape, cleaning jag with a lubed patch grabs the lands as you send the rod down the bore. Two feet of bore times the amount the rod twists will let you calculate. E.G: one half twist in 24 inches would be 1 in 48.
Cheers!

 

[Toomuch_36]

Ardesa makes/made barrels for both CVA and Traditions. Being a 50 cal. it would be of fairly rercient manufacture (no more than 10 to 15 years old). If you have a two piece stock it is likely a Kentucky, likely Traditions, if it is a one piece full stock it would probably be a Traditions Shennandoah. Since you say it has a single trigger my guess would be a Kentucky as most Shennandoahs had double set triggers.

Set triggers could be installed with some inleting and a larger trigger guard.

Toomuch
............
Shoot Flint

 

[rednekhuntr]

Thank you for the help guys, it is a two piece stock, with the brass divider. The wood looks like a strait grained maple. I just talked to him, and he was in the middle of stripping it down, and is going to walnut stain the wood. I'm looking forward to helping him get started with bp. We've rifle, and bow hunted for several years, so this should add a new dimension (other that his relentless lying about his hunting prowess).

 

[Toomuch_36]

Thank you for the help guys, it is a two piece stock, with the brass divider. The wood looks like a strait grained maple. I just talked to him, and he was in the middle of stripping it down, and is going to walnut stain the wood. I'm looking forward to helping him get started with bp. We've rifle, and bow hunted for several years, so this should add a new dimension (other that his relentless lying about his hunting prowess).

On the wood both CVA and Traditions literature list only as "select hardwoods", yours may well be maple but most times they were beech.
Not that it makes a whole lot of difference in this case.

Toomuch
...........
Shoot Flint