Does anyone know who the manufacturer of this Zouave is?

[Yakiman]

No other markings except the three R. Date codhttp://www.n-ssa.net/vbforum/attachment.php?attachmentid=2878&stc=1&d=1416719964e is 1976.

[vljenewein]

One thing I did notice is that the Eagle on the lock should be holding arrows on the left and olive branches on the right. The head of the Eagle should face forward toward the front of the rifle.

[Maillemaker]

Clearly this was manufactured by a pirate. Arrrrrr! :)

Steve

[RaiderANV]

Ranson of Italy

[vljenewein]

Ranson of Italy
I don't think it was Ranson as I was watching one sell on Gunbrokers. Ranson clearly marked the rifle "Ranson Italia soa Made In Italy" with several proof marks on the side of the barrel near breech. And, the one I saw the Eagle was facing the muzzle, not the hammer and the arrows were on the left and not the right of the Eagle's grip.

[RaiderANV]

Ranson changed their markings at least once that I'm aware of as did many others manufactures, importers and distributors.

[vljenewein]

One thing that sits this one apart, then, is that backward Eagle. ALL of the true Remington 1863 that I have seen, as well as replicas from Antonio Zoli or Armi Jaeger have the Eagle facing forward with the arrows on the right claw (next to the hammer) and the olive branches on the left claw. This one the Eagle face toward the hammer and the arrows/olive branch are reversed.

Would be a good candidate for a total defarb, smooth out the lock-plate entirely and make the whole musket into a Georgia Rifle.

[John Holland]

It takes a lot of time and effort to properly convert a Remington 1863 Rifle into a Georgia Rifle.

[vljenewein]

It takes a lot of time and effort to properly convert a Remington 1863 Rifle into a Georgia Rifle.

True. Dave over at Lodgewood has done some very fine examples, even one that is "under glass" as a display model. This link shows a good example of a Zouave turned into a Georgia Armory Rifle. https://www.gunauction.com/buy/9136586