Just picked up two Zouaves

[Dandyfunk]

Hello all, I just picked up two Zouaves replicas one is by Antonio Zoli and one by Replica Arms Co. In your opinions which is the better rifle? Df.

 

[hawkeye2]

I believe you will find the Replica Arms is a Zoli also. Replica Arms, like Navy Arms was an importer and never manufactured anything. Zoli probably made 90% of the Zouaves out there regardless of whose name is on the barrel including Sears & Robuck.

 

[Dandyfunk]

Thanks Hawkeye, one thing that I have noticed is that the Replica arms rifles barrel is stamped Korea and that the Zoli gun is stamped Made In Italy. Also the Zoli gun is much heavier. I will take a closer look at the two tomorrow and post some pics. Df

 

[hawkeye2]

Replica Arms made in Korea, learn something new every day.

 

[zimmerstutzen]

I have a Zouave barrel made in Italy, but not a Zoli. It has a two piece breech system. The breach with bolster has female threads and the barrel also has female threads. They are held together by a pipe nipple. There is a very definite internal lip about two inches from the breech bottom. Cleaning patches catch on it and the reason I was given the barrel was because it had to be taken apart to remove a PRB when it was dry balled. I consider it too dangerous to shoot.


Zoli was justifiable proud of his product and stamped all his barrels with his name. There was also a large arrow shaped trademark they would stamp on some barrels that clearly said Zoli. Often on small barrel flat opposite the Bolster.

As I recall, Zoli also made the the Navy Arms "Hurricane Hunter" half stock rifles. They were both 58 caliber and also came in 20 ga. I have one of the 20 ga barrels and it has the arrow shaped trademark.

The same lock and barrel shape was used by Zoli to make an "1855 Dragoon" pistol that is sometimes mistakenly referred to as a Springfield pistol repro The pistols are monsters with 12 inch versions of the Zouave barrel.

 

[RedFeather]

I believe we have a thread showing maker's stampings (symbols, etc). Are there any stampings on your Korean barrel? The Italians show proof house, year of manufacture and maker. From what I've read here, the Zoli barrels are very strong. If your other gun is of Korean manufacture, I would not use loads you might come across which exceed original specs.

 

[Dandyfunk]

Thanks for the info, I cannot find the thread that you have mentioned. But that is par for the course!! I fail at forum searches on a regular basis!!Df

 

[bpd303]

It's in the Articles-Charts-Links thread at the top. http://www.muzzleloadingforum.com/fusionbb/showtopic.php?tid/236956/

 

[Dandyfunk]

Thank you