Navy Arms Question

[Kevin2241]

I would like to hear from people who have knowledge or experience with Navy Arms products.

I have wanted an 1803 Harpers Ferry rifle for a while now. A local gun dealer has 2 used rifles (54 & 58 cal) for sale for $750 each and manufactured by Navy Arms.

I would use this for a club shoot gun if I purchased one.

Any information or advice you have would be appreciated. Thanks.

Kevin

 

[rabjr]

They are not an accurate representation of that rifle, if that doesn't matter to you and you don't mind paying that amount of money for that gun, well I guess, go for it. But me personally wouldn't, I think the asking price is far to much for what your getting and I would use that money to buy a parts set from either Track or the Rifle Shoppe (if they have it in stock) and build a more accurate and better gun.

 

[cowrustler]

Kevin, they look enough like an 1803 to do for most folks but I have not heard good things about the locks, particularly on the first ones that came out which are the .58s. I've always liked the concept of the rifle but have never bought one. There's one on GunsAmerica for about $400 the last I looked. It wasn't mint but it's also lots less than $750.

Whoops- that $400 rifle must have sold. D&N Mercantile has the .54s new for $650

 

[Va.Manuf.06]

They are not an accurate representation of that rifle, if that doesn't matter to you and you don't mind paying that amount of money for that gun, well I guess, go for it. But me personally wouldn't, I think the asking price is far to much for what your getting and I would use that money to buy a parts set from either Track or the Rifle Shoppe (if they have it in stock) and build a more accurate and better gun.

I agree 100%!!!! I had one of the early .58 cal. Navy Arms reproductions of the M1803 (bought it in 1973 or 1974) and it was, to be as polite as possible, junk. It had one of the worst locks that I have ever seen.

 

[Kevin2241]

Thanks all for your quick replies. An accurate depiction of the 1803 HF is very important to me. I have looked at the kits offered on line by TOW and the Rifle Shop. If I wasn't stretched for time right now I'd do the kit.

The 1803 rifle offered by D&N Mercantile is made by Euroarms and I am aware of some issues with them.

It appears that the right 1803 Harpers Ferry hasn't come along for me, yet. Thank you all for your help.

Kevin

 

[ericb]

I bought a Navy Arms 1803 Harpers Ferry Rifle from Dixie in the very early 80's. The Barrel was basically their .58 Zouave Barrel, with 3 groove shallow Minie Rifling. Overall quality and attention to detail was ok, but not outstanding. Rear sight was a joke. The lock caught on the half cock, almost every time. I sent the lock to Karl Krueger, the old German Gunsmith I had done some apprenticing with, and he made and installed a fly on the tumbler, which eliminated the problem with catching on the half cock. Then, I had the Getz's make me a .54 round ball barrel - 1-66" twist. Been a reliable, accurate rifle ever since; killed 23 Deer with it. But out of the box it wasn't so hot. I certainly would not pay $750 for one.

Eric

 

[sundog]

I have a Navy Arms Harpers Ferry in .58 and I love it. The lock was tuned by a good blackpowder smith so it goes BOOM when I ask it to. I think for me it is a perfect hunting gun. I have bet my life on it hunting wild boar and I am still here.
The rear sight - well its not a target gun and was not meant to be. The notch in the rear sight is wide really wide. I asked Chuck Dixon about the wide notch and he said it is correct.
Could I do well in matches with it ?
No but it is one heck of a game getter.
I shoot 60 grains of 3F and PRBs although the rifleing is shallow my gun likes PRBs better than any of the Minies I have tried. Best mini was the Lee "Trash Can" target mini.

 

[Vaino]

Navy Arms was mostly responsible for me building MLers. Bought a Navy Arms 12 ga. SXS and found over 20 instances of shoddy wormanship including locks that when the triggers were pulled, moved the hammers back 1/8", so called the owner, Val Forget and enumerated the quality issues. He just asked me if I thought I had bought a Purdy and told me to ship it back, which I did....Fred

 

[JJasper]

I have a 54 cal. Navy Arms 1803 Harper's Ferry (EuroArms of course) that consistently shoots 1 inch groups at 50 yards. However, I have put a great deal of work into it to get it to that point. Perhaps that is the case with many production flintlocks, but I wouldn't know as I have but Onegun. (Well...just one muzzle loader). I have:
1. done a much needed trigger job 2. replaced the rear sight with a primitive "Pennsylvania Curl Top" from Dixie gun works 3. hardened the frizzen 4. coned the vent liner. 5. Fire lapped the bore to smooth out very sharp lands and numerous tool marks. 6. filed the back of the front sight to get rid of an angled portion at the top, rear of the sight.

By the way, it would take a tape measure to tell that it is not an exact replica of the "type II" 1803. It follows the pattern of the 2nd run of 1803s that were produced around 1813...hence the 35.5 inch barrel. The ramrod is also brass at the end instead of iron.

My Navy Arms 1803 also has an especially noteworthy peculiarity that makes me hesitant to recommend them to anyone. The grooves are very shallow...about .003. This does not seem to affect the accuracy, but it is odd nevertheless and no doubt many people on this website are sick of hearing about it! The bore is also .005 oversized (.545)

I have absolutely no ignition problems, but do have to notch the back of most flints to make them fit properly. This is a common problem with Italian flintlocks. If you have the time and ability to work on it, and want a long barreled, slow twist flintlock (1 in 72)that is beautifully balanced like the original, then you might try to find a used Navy Arms 1803 (as manufactured by EuroArms.) Of course EuroArms is now out of business, and it remains to be seen who will provide spare parts. I like my 1803, but then I like to tinker with a rifle. Then it is like a wayward child that you love all the more for their imperfections.