Navy Arms .36 Remington target model, circa 1973

[Gatofeo]

Anyone ever seen one of these?
I recently purchased a like-new Navy Arms reproduction of the Remington cap and ball revolver in .36 caliber. It has target adjustable sights.
I purchased this revolver from a man on the east coast. I've seen plenty of .44-caliber target Remingtons, but never a .36 -- although I now find that Pietta is offering a .36 target Remington, according to its website.
I'd like to know who made this revolver. Navy Arms imported it, but I find no manufacturer's marks. All I find are proofmarks. This revolver is like-new, with a spotless bore and chambers.
Here are the specifics:

On the barrel:
(top) NAVY ARMS CO. RIDGEFIELD N.J. MADE IN ITALY
(left side) MODEL 1858 NEW BELT CAL .36
(right side) BLACK POWDER ONLY - MADE IN ITALY
The barrel also includes the typical Gardone proof house marks but no stamp to indicate manufacturer.

On the frame:
Gardone proof house marks and XX9. The XX9 is proof house code indicating that this pistol was made in 1973.

Serial number 356XX
There are also assembly numbers of 1362 on the underside of the barrel, cylinder, loading lever and grip frame under the grips. This would indicate that all parts match.

Barrel length: 6-1/2 inches (165mm)
Overall length: 13 inches (310 mm)

Rear sight: Fully adjustable Patridge target sight.
Front sight: Blued post, mounted on a ramp. Both the ramp and the face of the front sight have horizontal lines to reduce glare.

Does anyone know who was making Remington reproductions for Navy Arms in 1973? This is a very well-made revolver, though the bluing is not highly polished like a premium grade modern revolver.

I began shooting cap and ball revolvers about 1970. At that time, few had highly polished bluing. Gaps between metal and wood, and light machine marks were common. This revolver was not the norm in 1973 and was very finely made for its era.

There's a foot of snow here in the remote Utah desert. The days are overcast, cloudy and cold. Looks like it will be that way for a while, so I haven't had a chance to get out and fire this revolver.
It should be a fine shooter.
I'm a fan of the .36 caliber and have a number of fixed-sight revolvers in this caliber. This is the first adjustable-sight, target type cap and ball I've seen in .36 caliber.

Any comments or information?

[Elijah Gunn]

I'd like to know who made this revolver. Navy Arms imported it, but I find no manufacturer's marks. All I find are proofmarks.
The barrel also includes the typical Gardone proof house marks but no stamp to indicate manufacturer.

I have the same problem with my 1861 Whitney. It was made in 1978, and imported by Richland Arms.

[cwlongshot]

I have a very early, near mint colt 1851 navy made by navy arms. its a fine revolver, not at all like the more recent trash they have produced...

I haven't shot it and would be surprised if anyone has based on condition.

Congrats on acquiring yours!!




CW

[Elijah Gunn]

 cwlongshot. Can't you hear that fine pistol asking you to take it out and shoot it?!

[RhinoDave]

I hope someone can give you an answer. I asked the same thing about my .44 that I picked up last September. It's an early Navy Arms but there are no proof marks, mfg marks or date stamps. Mine has Navy Arms Ridgefield NJ on the top. Made in Italy on the right and Black powder only .44 cal on the left. I also have matching assembly numbers on the barrel, frame and grips that match. The cylinder assembly number is different from the rest. The finish isn't great and the grips are not even close to fitting properly but it shoots very well and it was a $50.00 garage sale special including holster and a hundred balls.
 

[Gatofeo]

Since posting my inquiry here and on other message boards, I've been told that in 1973 Uberti was making revolvers for Navy Arms.
Though there are no markings to indicate so, my revolver is apparently Uberti-made.
Sounds like you got a heck of a deal.
I have an Uberti-made replica 1858 Remington in .44 caliber, with fixed sights. Purchased it new a few years ago. It's quite a shooter. One of its better six-shot groups was fired last year at 20 yards from a benchrest, placing five bullets into a vertical group 1 inch tall, all holes touching. I threw the sixth shot over to the left a quarter inch, widening the group a bit.
Still, all shots would have landed within a 50-cent piece.
Load particulars are:
Uberti-made Remington 1858 .44 caliber, with fixed sights.
20 yards, benchrest
Goex FFFG black powder -- 26.5 grains by volume.
Lee 200 gr. conical bullet, cast of very soft lead
Gatofeo No. 1 lubricant on bullet
Remington No. 11 percussion cap, pinched into U shape to cling to nipple
Bullet seated directly on powder, no felt wad used.

I've obtained roughly the same accuracy with .454 balls, felt wad lubricated with Gatofeo No. 1 Lubricant between ball and powder and 30 grains Goex FFFG.