Info on CVA?

[newbee]

I was in the market for a muzzleloader and a friend of a friend brought me one to look at. While I was looking for a functioning muzzleloader, my heart sank when I saw this one. I bought it just because it needed taken care of. I don't know if it will ever be fired because of the condition of the bore. I would, however like to know more about it. Anything you all know would be greatly appreciated. The barrel is stamped with Connecticut Valley Arms and has the serial number of 0022815. While this rifle appears old, it was obviously not taken care of, so I am not sure of the age.
Thank you in advance!

 

[Lonegun1894]

Are there any other markings on the barrel? Or is there any way you can provide pictures? There is a lot more information that we will need than what is in your post above. Caliber? Barrel lenght? How many barrel keys? Caplock or flinter? Patch box? Etc, etc... Thanks. Aside from that, you sound like me in trying to fix stuff up. Welcome, and get that thing back to hunting condition, cause they're actually a little more fun to shoot than they are to look at.

 

[Rifleman1776]

Hope you got it cheap. "old" it may be but is not "antique old", 20-30 years probably. It is a factory made rifle but, in good condition, some are very good shooters.
hotoSmile:

 

[necchi]

Welcome Newbee,
Rifleman is right, there are about 25-30 models CVA made in the traditional line through the years, we can't help much if we can't see it. :idunno:
It should say something else like Kentucky, Hawken, Bobcat,,,,

 

[zimmerstutzen]

CVA began selling guns made at the Spanish Armory Jukar around 1970. Sometime about 1977, they switched to having their products manufactured at both Ardessa Spain and some were made here in the USA. I suspect a few models were made in Italy.

First of all, what caliber?, what does it measure across the barrel flats? then does the gun have a patchbox? Does it have a nose cap and if so is it silver/gray or brass. Single trigger or double? flint or percussion. If percussion, does it have a bolster breech plug or a drum and nipple. Half stock or full stock?

 

[George T.]

All the info on CVA here is correct. It sounds as though unless you really need a project you should pass on this one. I hate to say it but they are really not worth putting a new barrel in. Geo. T.

 

[ohio ramrod]

CVA brought over or had made many different rifles some little better than junk, some like the CVA mountain rifle with the "made in USA barrels" excellant quality.The first ones I am famular with had very shallow rifling and a constriction in the barrels from claming during manufacturing, while they shot reasonably well they were a pain to load and clean. Once they switched to the Jukar barrels the quality improved for a while. Just saying it is an early CVA doesn't mean much. More detailed information is needed. :idunno:

 

[ChrisPer]

As people say, there were quite a few models. I have owned 2 and like them a lot.

However there is a danger point: the front of the trigger plate can compress the wood supporting it and gradualy over time the triggers dont let the sear engage the full cock notch properly.

Result: negligent discharges. There is nothing like a gun going off as you raise it to make your undies unpleasant.

Test the trigger and lock function carefully. In another post on here I describe how I found it, fixed it, and re-fixed it a year later because the first fix was not enough. It really pays to not cock or set until the sights are on target...

This is a generic problem for similar type rifles as they age, not especially worse for CVA as far as I know.

With that apparently bad bore, I suggest you try it out; if its accurate thats great. If not, similar rifles are not expensive and you can find another while keeping this for parts or searching out a replacement barrel at a good price.

If you are thinking of spending serious money to fix it, draw breath first then find something that the investment is well spent.

 

[swathdiver]

Did you clean the bore or just look inside? Clean it first. A new barrel is about $115 from Deer Creek Products. Don't ask me how I know!

Gotta have pictures or some specs, CVA sold a lot of different styles.

 

[nit wit]

A picture is worth a thousand words! :idunno: Sometimes a bad bore can be save.molasses and water in the bore,rust remover. This should be on the forum somewhere.
Nit Wit

 

[AZbpBurner]

Age doesn't really matter for most commercially built contemporary black powder imports, but bore condition does.

I have a .54 cal rifle I recently refurbished & it had been neglected some, but really only had one bad spot of pitting in the bore near the muzzle. Accuracy is superb - way beyond what I had expected.

Last weekend I saw a smokin' deal on a CVA - exterior looked brand new. The bore was beyond what I had ever imagined corrosion could do to steel - there was NO visible rifling left. Pitting & corrosion was cleaned up to be shiney, but the bore actually had a fuzzy appearance to it. Options would be to either rebarrel, or bore it out to make a smoothbore. Relining would be more costly than the rifle was worth.

Look at the bore on yours, if it's a little rough, but still shows strong rifling, maybe having more external abuse, it may still be a respectable shooter. If in doubt about bore condition or safety, take it to a KNOWLEDGEABLE & Honest gunsmith to get an informed opinion. I know of several to avoid, since they simply want to make a living replacing parts & their evaluations reflect that fact.

Ugly wood condition or worn exterior finish normally have no effect on a potentially fine shooter.

Get an honest evaluation about condition and resale value before possibly sinking more money into it than its' worth.