Rifle Shoppe 1803 Harpers Ferry

[varsity07840]

I saw one at Dixon’s today, unassembled but with assembled lock, installed and buttplate installed. I haven’t asked Greg to take it down for a close look yet. The price is $700.00. Assumiming all looks good, I’m inclined to go for it. Did anyone look at this rifle when they were at the show? Comments would be appreciated.

[rich pierce]

Did not see it but a friend of mine built one and it came out great.

[Roger B]

I had an experience with their J Henry New English parts set that was, at best, only fair. Barrel inlet was not good at all, & given the wait for the set, I decided to forge ahead with it. Turned out just restocking the parts. That was my mistake as I could have made them give me a new stock. All of the furniture was great. I used Chamber's late Ketland lock which looked much like the original, but smaller. I did not use the TRS lock because the TRS finished ones that I have seen have been.....rough. I think that if I were going to build their 1803, I would forego their wood and use a Davis lock, unless you can assemble their parts (I cant). Their furniture will likely be fine. Just my experience and partially my fault.
Roger B.

[rich pierce]

If the Davis 1803 internals are the same as their Contract Rifle lock, the sear and sear spring may need replacing with an improved design.

[Scota4570]

I can not recall reading anything good about TRS.  It seems to be a poorly run hobby business with a flashy web-page.  There are may threads here dealing with TRS.  I would explore those before making a decision. I certainly would not order anything from them due to absurdly long delays and poor quality reported here.     

IF you are actually laying hands and eyes on a parts set that maybe a bit different.  Up to you. 

What is wrong with the Track kit?  At least if you have a problem you can deal with them. 

[Dennis Glazener]

If the Davis 1803 internals are the same as their Contract Rifle lock, the sear and sear spring may need replacing with an improved design.

And probably re-hardning or tempering the frizzen.
Dennis

[varsity07840]

I wasn’t looking for an 1803 build. I happened to be at Dixon’s and saw it there, on consignment. I went back this morning to give it a close look and passed on it. As per some old posts from this site about TRS, the inletting was oversize for some components. The groove for the ramrod in front of the entry pipe was way too wide for the steel ramrod and not straight which meant that it would grow wider if I evened it out. It wasn’t a must have to begin with, so no go.

[SingleMalt]

TOW's website shows several key parts out of stock or on backorder.  Barrel, lock, ramrod, barrel rib, and etc.  R.E. Davis, on the other hand, shows the lock as in stock.

[Mike_StL]

I'm rich's friend  and I will verify it turned out great.

For reasons that will become apparent some time in the future, my rifle is referred to as  "the .movie star".

My parts set range from about 2000 when Track of the Wolf sold the 1808 Harper's Ferry rifle as a special projects kit of Rifle Shoppe  parts.  The Rifle Shoppe built and turned the lock.  Took about a year and a half to receive the lock.  Would be better with a hollow under rib and the lock mortise should not be  preinlet in the stock.  I had to notch the breech plug to aline the pan  to the barrel.

It should have the radius rifling Coleraine barrel.

Great price for that kit.2

[Long John]

I have no experience with that particular parts set from TRS.  But I have used parts from TRS over the years.  My experience with TRS is highly varied.  I used their 603 locks for my doublegun.  I initially ordered both locks assembled.  I had to rebuild both with replacement parts ordered from them that were received in a couple of days.  I ordered an additional pair of locks.  They never arrived.  Then about six months later I got a telephone call from them telling me that the locks I ordered were now in stock and asking if I still wanted them.  I ordered two left parts sets and two right parts sets and they arrived in about four days.

TRS has had some challenges.  The state extended an interstate highway through their house and place of business.  They had to move both their home and business location at the same time!  This has taken a couple of years to get over, quite understandably.  They have an incredibly wide product line.  They appear to accumulate orders for a given parts set until they can justify going for a production run.  Then the parts become "in stock" and they sell that inventory until depleted.  Then the cycle starts over.  The capital investment to stock every part in the catalog would be enormous.  So I am inclined to be "forgiving" and to plan on the limitations that they have as a small family business.

I generally assume that assembled locks from them will need "refinement".  as a consequence, I have learned over the years to be able to assemble a lock from castings.

Best regards,

JMC
John Cholin