Ranson 1863 Zouave

[BlackPowderBurner]

Hi everyone,

I just picked up a repro zouave musket at a gun show today, it's marked "RANSON ITALIA spa made in Italy" has the prefix C58 then a space with the serial number.

I read somewhere the Ranson company was in business 1945-1980, can anyone tell me how to date mine? If anyone has experience with these 58cal rifles I'd love to hear it!
I'll link some pics tomorrow when I have natural light.

 

[gunsaholic]

From the 50's to 1974 there were roman numerals stamped in it for the year or after 1974 there should be 2 letters for a date code. I have the same gun and it's from the early 70's.

Italian Date Codes
1945 = 1 1967 = XXIII 1989 = AU
1946 = 2 1968 = XXIV 1990 = AZ
1947 = 3 1969 = XXV 1991 = BA
1948 = 4 1970 = XXVI 1992 = BB
1949 = 5 1971 = XX7 1993 = BC
1950 = 6 1972 = XX8 1994 = BD
1951 = 7 1973 = XX9 1995 = BF
1952 = 8 1974= ### 1996 = BH
1953 = 9 1975 = AA 1997 = BI
1954 = X 1976 = AB 1998 = BL
1955 = XI 1977 = AC 1999 = BM
1956 = XII 1978 = AD 2000 = BN
1957 = XIII 1979 = AE 2001 = BP
1958 = XIV 1980 = AF 2002 = BS
1959 = XV 1981 = AH 2003 = BT
1960 = XVI 1982 = AI 2004 = BU
1961 - XVII 1983 = AL 2005 = BZ
1962 = XVIII 1984 = AM 2006 = CA
1963 = XIX 1985 = AN 2007 = CB
1964 = XX 1986 = AP 2008 = CC
1965 = XXI 1987 = AS 2009 = CD
1966 = XXII 1988 = AT 2010 = CF
Prior to 1945 date codes were in Roman numerals and included the month and the last two numbers of the year, so January 1922 would be rendered IXXII.

 

[BlackPowderBurner]

From the 50's to 1974 there were roman numerals stamped in it for the year or after 1974 there should be 2 letters for a date code. I have the same gun and it's from the early 70's.

Italian Date Codes
1945 = 1 1967 = XXIII 1989 = AU
1946 = 2 1968 = XXIV 1990 = AZ
1947 = 3 1969 = XXV 1991 = BA
1948 = 4 1970 = XXVI 1992 = BB
1949 = 5 1971 = XX7 1993 = BC
1950 = 6 1972 = XX8 1994 = BD
1951 = 7 1973 = XX9 1995 = BF
1952 = 8 1974= ### 1996 = BH
1953 = 9 1975 = AA 1997 = BI
1954 = X 1976 = AB 1998 = BL
1955 = XI 1977 = AC 1999 = BM
1956 = XII 1978 = AD 2000 = BN
1957 = XIII 1979 = AE 2001 = BP
1958 = XIV 1980 = AF 2002 = BS
1959 = XV 1981 = AH 2003 = BT
1960 = XVI 1982 = AI 2004 = BU
1961 - XVII 1983 = AL 2005 = BZ
1962 = XVIII 1984 = AM 2006 = CA
1963 = XIX 1985 = AN 2007 = CB
1964 = XX 1986 = AP 2008 = CC
1965 = XXI 1987 = AS 2009 = CD
1966 = XXII 1988 = AT 2010 = CF
Prior to 1945 date codes were in Roman numerals and included the month and the last two numbers of the year, so January 1922 would be rendered IXXII.

Thanks! That would make mine a 1975. What kind of bp load do you shoot with yours?

 

[gunsaholic]

To be honest, I haven't shot it yet.