Zouave rifle barrel?

[huntsman247]

Hi all, well I recently got a really great deal on a Navy Arms Zouave, or so I thought. (Was a great price though.) Anyway upon arrival of the rifle my initial inspection was "great, the bore is in great shape!" After removing the barrel for inspection and a good cleaning it showed its ugly face! The bolster area by the tang and all around the underside of bolster, a fractured breech; also appears to be about a 2" fracture running towards the muzzle. Of course none of this was visible before removing the barrel. So anyway, other than placing an ad here looking for a barrel, which I did, where can I find a replacement barrel; any ideas? Thanks in advance.

 

[RADeO]

Give Dixie Gun Works a try.
Link

 

[zimmerstutzen]

Part the gun and buy another. Actually, I saw a barrel on the giant on-line anti-gun auction a couple months ago.

 

[Hipshot]

Any chance you could post a few photos?

 

[hawkeye2]

First thought: will the seller stand behind it? Second thought: it's probably a parts gun, not worth spending a lot on. Third thought: If you want to replace the barrel why not get a GOOD one. Both Bobby Hoyt and Dan Whiatcer make excelent shooting replacements.

 

[59sharps]

I agree w/ hawkeye2. But I would send the the barrel to either one of them. Are you sure its a fracture or a milling line. I had one that I thought was fractured, Gave it to Bobby Hoyt turned out it was a milling line.

 

[CoyoteJoe]

"Fracture" seems unlikely, those barrels are really heavy at the breech, possible I guess but not likely. For a quick check just pour half a cup of gasoline or Colman fuel down the muzzle with the nipple plugged and see if it appears to seep out from the cracks.

 

[Semisane]

A few months back I saw Navy Arms Zouave barrel at Deercreek Gunshop in Marietta, GA. It had a light film of surface rust, but nothing severe. Don't recall the price. You might give them a call.
http://www.deercreekgunshop.net/contact-us.html

 

[Hipshot]

I agree w/ hawkeye2. But I would send the the barrel to either one of them. Are you sure its a fracture or a milling line. I had one that I thought was fractured, Gave it to Bobby Hoyt turned out it was a milling line.

My thoughts exactly, Thats why I asked for a photo. I had a Armi sport 1861 Springfield and what I thought looked like a crack at the bottom of the breech was a mark from the forgeing process

 

[huntsman247]

All good answers and responses; Hoyt was my initial thought as well. Hoping I might find a good used one to slap in though. I agree they definitely are heavy walled in that area, but upon inspection with a magnifying glass you can certainly see the "crack", especially under the bolster. Too jagged to be milling marks. Sorry, no pics. Thanks everyone!