Having recently visited my first Civil War battlefield (Gettysberg), I felt the itch to obtain a period ML.
Today I stumbled into a Miroku replica (Japanese?) at the local gunshow, it needs a buttplate and patchbox assembly, but then I talked it down to $150. The bore is crisp/ shiny with no signs of fouling & no pitting, and the nipple is pristine (No dry firing mushroom!). My biggest hurdle will be stripping the blonde stain (!) and poly from the light wood stock (Maple?). It will get a dark walnut finish- maybe Aqua Fortis? I'm gonna guess that it was a kit that never got completed since the brass fitting are rough-ish and the steel parts (band springs and sling loops) are in the white.
From what I've read so far it seems like I ought to start with a .570 RB mold and patch combo to fit the bore, but has anyone tried the LEE .58 R.E.A.L. CB in a Zouave?
No I just need a repro bayonete, hanger, belt, cartridge box, cartridge box tins, cap box, Kepi, Tunic, brogans, ....