Loyalist Arms

[Spot1540553049]

Hello the fire,
I just want to know of the experiences any of you have had of your own with the firearms sold by Loyalists Arms of Canada. I haven’t ever dealt with them nor know anyone that has or owns one. There web page is well presented and shows a lot of detail. To my understanding these weapons are of eastern origin. The pictures they display are good if they actually represent their product. Many thanks if anyone has something to share on this matter.
As usual,
Spot

 

[Rebel]

Only Personal expeience i have is corresponding with them through e-mails. But a friend of mine bought one of their muskets and he is really happy with it, In fact he is one of their Testimonials, John from Coos Bay, Oregon. I have seen and handled his musket and i will say it seemed to be very well made. Wood to metal fit was good, and the metal was all polished nicely. They aren't a custom gun by any means, but for the money they aren't bad. And they have parts and service for the guns they sell which is a plus. The other company upi there that sells them doesn't.

 

[rice1817]

This topic has been brought up several times. Each of the three importers of Indian guns has its supporters and detractors. Loyalist Arms generally gets the best reviews, the one drawback being they don't take plastic. Check out the link below for a thorough discussion on the relative merits of LA vs the other two.
[url] http://www.muzzleloadingforum...7279/hl/"Middlesex+Village+Guns"/#257279[/url]

 

[faw3]

Just looking thru he last month (3 pages I found this one 4 or 5 times, you might want to read up on those, MVT seems to come out a bit a head from the tear down and tuneing lock ect, rehardning if needed ect, not a answer to your "Q" but something to look into if you live down here and have to return it to Can for some reason? Oh ya if ya get the Baker rifle from LA they will send you the name of someone that will rifle yours or put rifle barrel in ?, after you pay for the rifle that is. :rotf: Fred :hatsoff:

 

[Parzifal]

:yakyak:
I am starting a bit like a broken record....but at least stuck on a good song..

Loyalist arms!!!
they are not only CANADIAN but they also do all kinds of repairs, the bess kit from them I have is so beautiful....And it shoots fantastic.

They are really tolerant of all the "stupid" questions I asked. And so far they have fixed 1 of the pieces I bought from that other place, quickly and quite well.

Loyalist arms is great!
I have also heard that mstv is good but I have as yet to purchase from them.

 

[Mike Brooks]

If you've ever held and examined the old guns that these things from India are supposed to represent , you'll laugh your butt off. These are cartoon charictures at best. Of course that's only my opinion..... :winking:

 

[Russianblood]

If you've ever held and examined the old guns that these things from India are supposed to represent , you'll laugh your butt off. These are cartoon charictures at best. Of course that's only my opinion..... :winking:

That may be true but they are a godsend for reenactment units that can't afford a $2000 musket just for firing blanks.

 

[faw3]

That "IS" be true but they are a godsend for reenactment units that can't afford a $2000 musket just for firing blanks, your both very right on this one, I cant belive the locks on most of these, like a front bumper of a 50 Buick. :rotf: Fred :hatsoff: but hey the price is right so.............. :surrender:

 

[Okwaho]

If you've ever held and examined the old guns that these things from India are supposed to represent , you'll laugh your butt off. These are cartoon charictures at best. Of course that's only my opinion..... :winking:

That may be true but they are a godsend for reenactment units that can't afford a $2000 musket just for firing blanks.

I too agree with both posts cited hereinabove.I have three repro guns and two of them were built by very fine makers.The third one I like to say was "built by committee".I have handled a number of old guns and own several early 18th century and Rev. War period guns and there is no substitute for handling the old ones. Mike is absolutely right here but then Russianblood has a very good point also.When I started reenacting some 23 years ago there was not the abundance of reproduction guns especially the military muskets. The short land pattern{2nd model}Brown Bess and the 1763 Charleville marked French musket were the only ones available for the 18th century with BOTH being incorrect for F&I use.But they were,as the old cowboy once said,the only game in town.Now we see a wide variety of guns including early English locks {incorrectly called dog locks},matchlocks,snaphaunce locks,and any number of military flintlocks,not to forget the fine primitive{design NOT construction}guns by makers such as Larry Williams at Early Rustic Arms and my good friend Jack Hubbard who are building the types of guns made and seen in early America or my friend Leonard Day who builds very fine,and correct I might add,17th and early 18th century English and Dutch guns for reenactors in that period.The builders mentioned herein are not the only ones making such guns and I'm sure there are others but I mention them because I know their work.

With all due respect to my very good friend,Mike Brooks who builds some of the very best guns especially fowlers that I know of, we need room under the umbrella for the wide range of reenactors who cannot afford or don't choose to acquire the best in guns and those who can and do so.I have looked at a number of Indian guns and they do indeed serve a purpose primarily for military reenactors.My primary complaint is with the finish and the weight.The former is easy to correct and the latter can be remedied with some judicious wood removal.Earl Lanning of early Kentucky building fame once told me that the most common mistakes made by beginning builders{of Kentuckies}was leaving too much wood and not knowing when to stop decorating.I won't mention specific guns except for some Long Land Pattern Brown Besses which I looked at recently. They must weigh about 12 lbs.Granted that teak wood is inordinately heavy, they could be made lighter.I see no good reason why some of these Indian guns couldn't be reworked at a reasonable cost to a point where they are close to the originals.I'm sure that quality builders like Mike and perhaps others would be happy to do this type of work.These Indian guns have filled a large void in reenactment military weaponry and do serve a worthwhile purpose.
I think I have said enough here so I bid adieu and wish all a happy and prosperous New Year.
Tom Patton

 

[Rick Davis]

...
I just want to know of the experiences any of you have had of your own with the firearms sold by Loyalists Arms of Canada. ...

I have one of their blunderbusses (pl. blunderbii?) Anyway, I had mine on display a few months and discovered a severe crack in the wrist ( details ), the buttstock was literally hanging by a popsicle-stick sized splinter. Gun was unfired, wasn't even proof fired from what I can tell. Both Loyalist & the US dealer said pay for the fix or hit the road. What's more, Loyalist said the stocks were individually fitted (out of stock, too) and the BBS would have to go back...then the vent hole detail conveniently surfaced. So, I ended up fixing it here.

Moral: once you pay, you take your chances, unsecured.

 

[faw3]

Im sure others will have a good story to tell, but my bud up the street when he first gotr one from them saw something and sent it back they didnt like that, some nice guys at UPS said :hey it wasnt packed right" , he got his money back but you would of thought we are talking of millions. he went with a MVT and has really liked it since the day he got it a year or two back,( I had to order somethingfor him on this thing(PC) and just the back and forth I got out of them they took a little longer because the did lock work on them all "timed the lock, made sure it woould throw sparks for long tie, got the idea they wantef to be sure it woudnt come back to them bexcause it didnt work 3 or 4 weeks later.) Sure sounds like the place to me. now this one i got to wonder about the brass barrel thing...I got a brass and iron CW mortar a few yrs backand belive was told that the brass one was hard to get because of price of brass not any safty issue's, as well as you got to do it right. Just my 2 cents . the Baker loks good the sword for iteven better. Frede :hatsoff:

 

[Mike Brooks]

I see no good reason why some of these Indian guns couldn't be reworked at a reasonable cost to a point where they are close to the originals.I'm sure that quality builders like Mike and perhaps others would be happy to do this type of work.

Already doing that! :winking:

 

[Okwaho]

I thought you might be doing some of that work.
:grin: :bow: :thumbsup:
please email me off board. I need some info.
Tom Patton

 

[rifleshooter2]

I'd love to see some photos of one of these reworked. I bought a first model bess just as a cheap toy to mess around with. While it's not the best gun I have it's fun to shoot and thats all I wanted from it. But if I ever get some free time I'd love to rework it into something more PC maybe with a wooden ramrod.

Andy

 

[Frank/Pa]

Me too, with some before and after photos.

 

[Rebel]

I just made a deal for a Middlesex Village 1rst Model Long Land. I plan to strip it down and remove a Lot of excess wood on it and then shorten it to a 36" barrel and add a wood ramrod. That is unless i can find someone who has a Sea Service, 2nd Model, or Bess carbine that wants to trade it for a 1rst Model before i do all of that. I just want one for turkey and deer hunting, not reinacting.

 

[Halftail]

I have Been in Loyalists shop and my opinion of his stock is......Well........How do I say it.......Well........Never mind...Momma always said if you aint got something good to say.....you know the rest.

 

[rickystl]

WOW!! Glad I noticed this thread. I purchased two pistols from MVT - Heavy Dragoon and English Lock. Have not yet shot either one. Was satisfied with both - for the money spent. There are a few of the period styles Indian guns that I want for just fun shooting, but did not want to spend serious money on. I'll save that for an English Fowler and Rev.Period Rifle from a Chamber's kit. Back to the pistols: I wanted these for both shooting AND display. But just too NEW looking for display, and my own taste. So, I sent both pistols to the now famous Mike brooks for some tweaks and antique finishing. Even though these are pistols, maybe Mike will post before and after pics. The final cost of all this will still be Wayyyy less than a total custom from say TRS, assuming I could even get the parts. Next project will be a Colonial Fowler from MVT. I'll probably just have them drop ship it directly to Mike Brooks. Now that might make for a really interesting before and after :grin: I'll let you all know how the pistols look when I receive them.

 

[Mike Brooks]

I'll post some befores and afters. Should be at these pretty quick.

 

[Okwaho]

WOW!! Glad I noticed this thread. I purchased two pistols from MVT - Heavy Dragoon and English Lock. Have not yet shot either one. Was satisfied with both - for the money spent. There are a few of the period styles Indian guns that I want for just fun shooting, but did not want to spend serious money on. I'll save that for an English Fowler and Rev.Period Rifle from a Chamber's kit. Back to the pistols: I wanted these for both shooting AND display. But just too NEW looking for display, and my own taste. So, I sent both pistols to the now famous Mike brooks for some tweaks and antique finishing. Even though these are pistols, maybe Mike will post before and after pics. The final cost of all this will still be Wayyyy less than a total custom from say TRS, assuming I could even get the parts. Next project will be a Colonial Fowler from MVT. I'll probably just have them drop ship it directly to Mike Brooks. Now that might make for a really interesting before and after :grin: I'll let you all know how the pistols look when I receive them.

If you're sending that much business to Mike I would think that along with the finished guns which I'm sure will exceed your expectations, Mike should send you some fried chicken by overnite fed ex.He really does know his chicken! :grin: :bow: :rotf:
Tom Patton