Importer in Princeton, NJ?

[Brian B]

Was looking at my L42A1 and I was trying to make out the importer on the underside of the barrel.

Can't make out the importer, but the address appears to be Princeton, NJ.

Any ideas?

Thanks,

Brian

Information

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[jmoore]

Navy Arms? They brought in the bulk of them, if I remember rightly, which is often suspect!

ETA: According to the Google thing, they were previously in Ridgefield, NJ, now in Union City, NJ.

[madcratebuilder]

Navy Arms? They brought in the bulk of them, if I remember rightly, which is often suspect!

ETA: According to the Google thing, they were previously in Ridgefield, NJ, now in Union City, NJ.

Six of my rifles have import markings. I have never observed a Navy Arms imported LE. I have several Navy Arms fire arms but no LE's

Wasn't CAI in Princeton at one time?

[Brian Dick]

If I remember correctly, it'll read "Gemco, Princeton, NJ". That was the importer for the Navy Arms L39 and L42 rifles in the early 1990's.

[Tom in N.J.]

The Navy Arms Address in Union City is no more. Navy Arms office and retail store was in Ridgefield, NJ, the warehouse and 'factory' was in Union City, NJ. Both closed and the stock that was not sold off went to the "Gibbs Rifle Co." subsidiary, Martinsburg, W VA.

[Brian B]

Thank you all!!

I think Brian nailed it. It looks like GEMCO. I remember Brian telling me when I purchased my L42A1 in Reno a few years ago that it was a Navy Arms import.

Forgot that I had a picture on photobucket that I could have posted this morning.



Thank you all for the help.

Brian

[Brian Dick]

I was lucky enough to get to know the founder of Navy Arms, Val Forgett Sr. a little bit when I first started out in the trade. He told me that he brought in around 700 rifles that were about half L39 and L42 along with Inglis No.2Mk.1pistols and many other various MoD surplus weapons back in the early 90's. There were L59A1 drill rifles and huge crates full of British flare pistols. I remember wanting one of the 1940 Smith & Wesson light rifles they had in that load and not having the money to buy one. I see what they bring now and it makes me wince. He told me at a show in Charlotte, NC that it was one of the best deals he ever made in his long career. He was an original founder of the NC Arms Collectors and when I worked those shows I loved sorting through all of the stuff at the Navy Arms tables. The good old days for sure.

[madcratebuilder]

Val Forgett Sr. was truly a great pioneer in the industry. He is the father of the black powder revolver replica industry. He brought the first Colt 51 Navy into Italy so it could be reproduced. How the collectors screamed! Look at it now.

[Brian Dick]

You're correct. he was also one of the big dewat MG importers back in the 1950's. I'm still waiting to find that dewated, transferable Bren with it's $5 registration paperwork in some old lady's attic. Hopefully never fired and only driven to church on Sunday!

[tr63]

Val was a great person and very well liked .