Japanese Zouave Musket?

[Zerstoerer]

Picked up this musket at a gun store in Colorado today:

Looks like a Zouave Percussion Musket, .58 cal.

The barrel marking have a proofmark, then “Japan” and a 3 digit number on the left side.
On top of the barrel “HAWES FIREARMS COMPANY, L.A., CALF.”

The sidelock has an Eagle engraved
The hammer and trigger are extremely smooth and it has a three leaf flip up sight.
Very solid with a very thick barrel. Brass barrel bands.

Who knows anything about manufacturer and importer?
Safe to shoot and did I get robbed with a price of $195?

 

[arcticap]

A Zouave imported by Hawes is listed in my 1980 Gun Digest as also being available from Hawes in kit form which had a list price of $114.95 at the time.
Hawes was a well known importer and some of the Japanese guns were highly regarded and also sold by Dixie Gun Works. At least some of them were made by Miroku, the famous maker of many Browning firearms to this day.
So yes, you received a fair deal on a bona fide shooting Zouave as long as its condition is satisfactory.
Let us know how it shoots and show us a photo if you can.

 

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I might be wrong, but as I remember the Zouave's that were made in Japan
had the breach plugs welded in. Not to worry you, but have it checked out.

 

[arcticap]

The barrel marking have a proofmark...
...Very solid with a very thick barrel.

I wonder what a gunsmith would be able to discover about the gun and what method he would use?
Inspect the bore with a bore scope or what?

 

[Zerstoerer]

Looking down the bore I see a slotted screw head at the far end, so I don't know about the welding.
I will take the stock off and check it out.
Thanks for the concern.