Loyalist Arms products.

[TN.Frank]

I know it's probably been ask before but I checked the pages here and couldn't find much so I'll ask again. Has their products improved any in the last couple years? The reason I ask is because I'd love to get a smooth bore musket but I don't have $1000+ to spend on one and even going semi-custom would still be high dollar and I'd have to wait a year or more. $500-$600 for something would be a much easier pill to take as long as what I got sparked well and would hold up to shooting. I noticed that Loyalist Arms had a Sea Service musket and a nice looking Officer (or Sgt.) Musket too and the price was about right. Are they still using that Indian Teak(or whatever the wood was) to make stocks or have they changed the wood? Also, what about the locks, do they spark well or are they junk? Talk to me people. In a couple months I'll be ready to pick up a smooth bore and I'd like to get the most bang for my buck.

 

[Swampman]

I've examined a couple, and I feel they are worth the money. If the frizzen quits sparking, it's an easy fix. If I bought one, I'd age it.

 

[TN.Frank]

http://www.loyalistarms.freeservers.com/britishseaservicemusket1778model.html
I was looking at this one and also the Early Bess model with the wooden ramrod and 36" barrel.[url] http://www.loyalistarms.freeservers.com/longlandmusketoon.htm[/url]
I'd rather have a wooden ramrod for some reason, not sure why, just would. I think something like this would be handy enough to run the woods with hunting Turkey and such.

 

[Rebel]

I have a friend that bought one of their 1770's carbines, .62 cal/ .20 ga. He really likes it. I have handled it and it is a pretty nice gun for the money. Sparks real well.

 

[Swampman]

If you plan on doing any living history, I'd get the 46" barreled Long Land Pattern with the wooden rammer. You'll be glad you did.

 

[TN.Frank]

I don't think I'll do any reinacting and if I did it'd be from the Mt.Man period from 1820-1840 so either one would probably fit in ok. I'm just looking for an inexpensive smooth bore to play around with, hunt with and do a bit of plinking with. Of the two I listed which do ya' think would hold up better and shoot better, I kind of like the Sea Service because the ramrod is fully supported to the end of the barrel, on the Musketoon the ramrod sticks out from the wood so if you drop it, it could snap off. Plus, the cock design on the Sea Service is the sturdier kind too.

 

[Swampman]

I'm sure either would be fine. It's pretty easy to find the 36" barreled Pedrosoli Brown Bess muskets used. Reenactors don't like them, and are often trying to sell them to buy one with at least a 42" barrel.

 

[TN.Frank]

Speaking of Pedrosoli, LA has their Trade Guns on sale for $827, are they any good. I'd be willing to spend a couple hundred more to make sure that I've got a quality gun(just not a thousand bucks,LOL, wife would kill me.) or should I just stick with the Sea Service Musket.

 

[hawk]

Look at milatary heritage"sea service"
and middlesex village Sargent's carbine.
for the money the carbine comes with all the gear.
the perdersolli bess carbine has a 30" barrel I think.
:thumbsup:

 

[Java Man]

I just got back from the Kalamazoo show. A distributor of LA had a bunch of their guns there. I looked a few over, and was impressed. They balanced well, and the triggers seemed smooth and reasonably light. Workmanship looked decent too. Good stiff mainsprings as well.

Java Man

 

[TN.Frank]

Sounds good. I'll probably pick up one of these:

in a couple months when my finances are caught up a bit. Like I said, I like the way the ramrod is protected at the end of the stock/barrel. I can age the metal and make it look nice. Also, since it is metal and not brass that's a plus for me since I don't really care for brass all that much. :thumbsup:

 

I'm sure either would be fine. It's pretty easy to find the 36" barreled Pedrosoli Brown Bess muskets used. Reenactors don't like them, and are often trying to sell them to buy one with at least a 42" barrel.

Are the Pedersolis mounted in walnut? If so, I would prefer them to the new India Imports, whose wood leaves alot to be desired. The India imports seem pretty well done except for the wood, which is some tropical not-very-hardwood. At our last reenactment at the French fort here, one of the men leaned his brand new India French musket against a door and a wind gust toppled it. It fell onto a grass yard and split the stock 90% through at the wrist--woulda been complete, but the lockplate held it together. Now, this was the fault of the man, but I don't think most walnut stocks would have split so easily.

 

[TN.Frank]

Yep, the wood is what I've heard is the weak point to these guns. Being made in India they use local wood(wonder if it's teak??) to make the stocks and it's not up to par with a good piece of Maple or Walnut.

 

[David Teague]

Teak...AKA: rosewood.

 

[benvenuto]

Teak and rosewood are "trade" names for about 7 different species with differnet characteristics apart from general appearence (thats a broad term)
I'd say the indians are using whatever wood is available on a particular day, and posibbly not worrying too much about the seasoning. You can slim down and refinish the wood with patience and time, but as many people here have stated, results may vary