Zoli 1803 NIB

[springfield art]

Just picked up NIB Zoli 1803, surprised to see 'AA' date code; 1975! It's very well fitted and assembled, tight wood-to-metal. The mainspring seems a bit too strong to me, and the touchhole is definitely a bit too high above the floor of the pan, but otherwise a nice gem from the year I first started Rev War enacting! My 1803 has the Navy Arms stamp on the lock plate in addition to the usual Harpers Ferry 1803 on the lock plate tail. It is un-fired, but had a leather-clad flint in the ****; it does seem to spark OK, but if the main spring is too strong it could gouge the frizzen or break flints. Time will tell.

 

[Flint62Smoothie]

Read up here on the info by the late Zonie, on how to properly lighten a mainspring! Heed the advise on the direction, leaving no sharp file marks and polishing:

https://www.muzzleloadingforum.com/threads/lightening-a-mainspring.123694/

 

[Grumpa]

I just came across this thread. I, too, have a Zoli 1803 H F, that I bought new in 1976. It is also stamped Navy Arms on the lockplate.
The barrel is 35 1/2" long, and .58 caliber, as N A used the same barrels they used on their Civil War muskets, just changing the exterior. The fellow I bought it from got a few cases from Val Forgett Jr.

Richard/Grumpa

 

[springfield art]

Follow-up comments will note that I've had the lock tuned by Brad Emig. Is Val Forgett Jr. still around? The original Mr. Forgett and others really sparked off a renassiance (sp.?) for us baby boomers and others that arrived in time for the Centennial and Bi-Centennial!

 

[vintovka]

I just came across this thread. I, too, have a Zoli 1803 H F, that I bought new in 1976. It is also stamped Navy Arms on the lockplate.
The barrel is 35 1/2" long, and .58 caliber, as N A used the same barrels they used on their Civil War muskets, just changing the exterior. The fellow I bought it from got a few cases from Val Forgett Jr.

Richard/Grumpa

Our shop bought a dozen of these from Navy back when, All were finely finished and excellent sparkers/shooters right out of the box. I kept one and glad i did. They sold out fast!!

 

[Grumpa]

Mine was less than stellar as far as reliability. Would fire most of the time, unless there was a deer in the sights
Got about 20 or so shots before the flint broke in half ( yes, there was a big doe in the sights; she ran off, chuckling.)
I still have it, looks nice. I got one built by my friend, Ed Zetler, that looks like an original, is .54 caliber, is reliable, and accurate. I don't shoot it often enough.

Richard/Grumpa

 

[hawkeye2]

Is Val Forgett Jr. still around?
He is the one that stared Navy Arms. The current Val Forgett is V. Forgett III

 

[bpd303]

Is Val Forgett Jr. still around?
He is the one that stared Navy Arms. The current Val Forgett is V. Forgett III

I'm afraid that Val passed away 11/25/2002 a true pioneer in the old gun field.