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 cock; 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