Old Civil War Reproduction

[sdporter]

Hey guys, my son was given an old replica of a Civil War era rifle. I have no idea which one it copied. It looks like an 1861 Springfield to me, but I'm no expert. It is stamped korea on the barrel and said something ? Arms (not navy) Ridgefield NJ. Any one have one of these or know what I am talking about? Anyway, the barrel is in pretty rough shape. I am gonna try fire lapping it tomorrow and shooting a couple of scraper bullets turned from brass and copoer to see if I can get the crud out of it. If not, can it be rebarreled? Does the breech plug just unthread out of it? If it does, it wouldnt be that hard to fit a new barrel to it. The breech just looks like it has only a couple of milled cuts on it and the rest is hand shaped. Would be very time consuming to remake that part. Dont know if i have that kind of patience. I will post a photo of the muzzle next. A pic of the rifle tomorrow. As well as the muzzle after fire lapping it. I made a Minie' mold and the first two shots hit about 2" apart at 85 yards, 4" right and 3" high. after that it shot one about 12" left and one about 6" higher and 6" left

 

[sdporter]

Pretty rough

 

[munchoman]

found this on the net:
Remington 1863 Zouave 58 cal musket
"Replica Arms was an early Uberti importer. IIRC the Korean made arms date to the 1960's before Uberti got going".

 

[sdporter]

Yes that’s what it is. Replica Arms. Anyone taken the breech off?

 

[sdporter]

After fire lapping about 10 rounds just using valve grinding compound. I need to get some finer grit and fire another ten. Then I think it will be somewhat reapectable

 

[sdporter]

Not shooting terrible now, I can either see the target, or the sights, not both. I shot the four circled shots at 50 yards off the back of a camping chair. My son shot the one just low and left. He buries the front post and I level it with the top of the vee.

 

[munchoman]

Looking good,no need to replace that barrel

 

[sdporter]

Yeah, I’m trying to avoid that. Gonna scrub it out again this morning with a copper chore boy and hoppes foaming cleaner then send off for some fine grit lapping compound. The Minie’s, I built the mold for and cast myself. So I’m kinda tickled with the results. At 100 yards, before I started working on the barrel, my first two shots hit about 3” apart then one a foot to the left, one 6” left and 6” high. So an improvement for sure!! I can goof with bullet sizing and probably tighten up some too. They are sized right now at .579 and load pretty loose. They drop right down to the bottom with just ramrod weight after I have swabbed. After I shoot, I run a dry patch, flip it and run it again, then load and shoot another. There is enough lube left in the bore and everything’s pretty soft, so it comes out pretty good.

 

[munchoman]

Nice looking Minie ball, are you a tool and die maker?

 

[sdporter]

Nice looking Minie ball, are you a tool and die maker?

No, I have a lathe and mill and an imagination . I have built several molds. I made the Minie’ from another set of blocks I cut too small for a .504 White. That was my second successful attempt at cast iron mold blocks. The worst part is finding the right size to cut the block to allow for alloy shrinkage. I purposefully, knowingly, cut that block large and just size them down in a small sizing press I made. I work in maintenance at the hospital so I have a never ending supply of raw materials, I use old cast iron plumbing valves for my mold blocks, gate valve stems for brass ramrod attachments, x-ray rooms for lead bullets etc.... so I am always tinkering and tweaking with stuff cause it’s free

 

[sdporter]

Here are a couple different pics of the .58 blocks and also a pic of the .504 I made for my White Super 91. I’d be glad to send you a few of the Minie’s if you’d like to try them. For free of course.

 

[munchoman]

I have a couple dozen molds, some custom, but mostly Lees. Your molds look excellent.
Thanks for the bullet offer, but have not shot my 1861 Miroku in 15 years, it never did shoot very well, think Ill sell it

 

[sdporter]

I have a couple dozen molds, some custom, but mostly Lees. Your molds look excellent.
Thanks for the bullet offer, but have not shot my 1861 Miroku in 15 years, it never did shoot very well, think Ill sell it

You’re welcome, and thank you. Not that I’m fishing.... but everyone loves a compliment!