T/C vs investa arms
- Thread starter boker
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Investa Arms is one of many US companies who imported muzzleloading guns into the US back in the '70-'90's.
Like most of these companies, Investa Arms is out of business.
The rifle was made in Italy but I don't know which of the many Italian gun companies made it.
These old Import companies would contract to buy the guns asking the maker to apply their names so there are a lot of guns with names like Investa Arms, Replica Arms, Navy Arms, Intercontinental Arms, and Dixie Gunworks marked on them, to name just a few.
Generally speaking, the guns made by the Italians are a bit higher grade than the ones made in Spain.
Probably the biggest difference between your new rifle and a real TC is even though Thompson Center doesn't make any sidelock guns anymore, there are tens of thousands of them here in the US so finding used replacement parts is pretty easy to do.
Your rifles accuracy is probably going to be as good as the TC but if something breaks, finding replacement parts can be a bother.
Like most of these companies, Investa Arms is out of business.
The rifle was made in Italy but I don't know which of the many Italian gun companies made it.
These old Import companies would contract to buy the guns asking the maker to apply their names so there are a lot of guns with names like Investa Arms, Replica Arms, Navy Arms, Intercontinental Arms, and Dixie Gunworks marked on them, to name just a few.
Generally speaking, the guns made by the Italians are a bit higher grade than the ones made in Spain.
Probably the biggest difference between your new rifle and a real TC is even though Thompson Center doesn't make any sidelock guns anymore, there are tens of thousands of them here in the US so finding used replacement parts is pretty easy to do.
Your rifles accuracy is probably going to be as good as the TC but if something breaks, finding replacement parts can be a bother.
kansas_volunteer
45 Cal.
I have one of those rifles, but mine is marked Cabela's. I seem to recall back many years ago out of curiosity I tried to fit a T/C lock into one and it fit, or came very close to it. So, I think one parts souce might be T/C if you wind up needing any. I belive the RPL replacement locks for T/C also fit Investarms. The Deer Slayer triggers do, I'm pretty sure. Google them up?
Good buy for an Investarms. They are good guns. I have one in the Cableas model and it shoots better than I can. Mine came with both 50 and 58 barrels.
Some of the Invest Arms guns had chrome lined barrels. These generally shot great, and were very easy to clean and lest prone to corrosion.
zimmerstutzen
70 Cal.
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iNVESTARMS still has a going web site They make the Lyman guns and the Cabelas guns
http://www.investarm.com/eng-avancarica.html
Sort of Like the Ardessa Factory makes the guns sold by Traditions and made most cva sidelock guns after 1982.
There's nothing wrong with an Investarms that wouldn't also be wrong with a TC. The Investarms guns are proofed by a proof house by law in Italy. Can't say that for TC.
http://www.investarm.com/eng-avancarica.html
Sort of Like the Ardessa Factory makes the guns sold by Traditions and made most cva sidelock guns after 1982.
There's nothing wrong with an Investarms that wouldn't also be wrong with a TC. The Investarms guns are proofed by a proof house by law in Italy. Can't say that for TC.
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Could you tell us again if the rifle is an "Investa Arms" or an "Investarms"?boker said:
And perhaps look for maker marks or other barrel stamps like those found here; http://www.muzzleloadingforum.com/fusionbb/showtopic.php?tid/236956/
The "Investarms" rifle I have here at home has a makers mark that is stamped with a capital I in a square box.
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Yes, if it was made by Investarms in Italy, that is indeed the same house that builds the Great Plains Rifle for Lyman. $125 is a fine price.
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I own several of both TC Hawken and Investarm Hawken rifle's. In my opinion both are equally comparable in every way. Both are well built solid rifle's. Both are accurate if you do your job. I can honestly say that I can't rate one over the other.
TC's are more expensive. TC's had an excellent life time warranty that many took advantage of. TC's are American made. Anyway, as far as the quality of both, again I rate both pretty much on the same par. Both are excellent production guns!
Respectfully, Cowboy
TC's are more expensive. TC's had an excellent life time warranty that many took advantage of. TC's are American made. Anyway, as far as the quality of both, again I rate both pretty much on the same par. Both are excellent production guns!
Respectfully, Cowboy
Investarm parts may now be easier to get :idunno: I too own both and can not judge one a better shooter
bubba.50
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if ya take reasonable care of it, either will last a couple lifetimes. and taken care of, and if ya don't strip the nipple threads, about the only things that can wear out or malfunction are the lock & triggers. the RPL takes care of any future lock problems and the Davis DeerSlayers do the same for the triggers.
Mine are all chrome lined and clean up with 4-5 patched TOTAL including drying! Nice :thumbsup:
I use one when I go to a Boy Scout camp and it gets anywhere from 100 to 150 rounds through it a day and the last shot loads just like the first. It is the chrome lined bore and as has been noted it is easy to clean and usually only takes 4 or 5 patches to come out clean. The main problem we have with that many shots is you have to clean your nipple several times so your caps will seat right. Don't want to have to drop the hammer twice because of a dirty nipple. You got a good rifle and the price was right. Fox
AZbpBurner
54 Cal.
necchi said:
Thanks for posting that Investarms link. According to their website, they are the manufacturer & not an exporter.
There are rifles on the Inverstarms site that Lyman doesn't import, but several Investarms that I have include:
Investarms # 120B Sold by Cabelas until a few years ago. Brass buttplate & triggerguard. The stock looks to be dimensionally same as the Lyman Trade Rifle, although the triggerguard is narrower & is a double set trigger. I think they called it a 'Hawken' and it looks similar to some of the TC's I've seen.
Investarms # 170 = Flint GPR
Investarms # 190 = Flint Lyman Trade Rifle
Investarms # 210 = Flint Deerstalker
No Investarms Catalog Nbr.# = Caplock .54 cal with barrel that looks to be interchangeable with the Trade Rifle, and stock interchangeable with the Deerstalker. It's only marked with the Investarms Stamp, but used to show up in the Cabelas website as a 'Sport Hawken'. No patch box, all iron thimbles, triggerguard & nosecap, but rubber buttpad & checkered stock.
It's interesting to note that my Cabelas version rifles both have a tapered blade sight that looks like a bead as seen sighting down the barrel. The Hawken has a shallow "V" the bead rests in when sighting & is amazingly accurate.
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