Stainless Steel Percussion Colts
I am seeking the location of, and any information available on a line of stainless steel percussion revolvers made by Uberti and imported by Allen Firearms, Santa Fe, NM; and Southwest Muzzleloaders Supply, Inc. Angleton, TX in the early to mid '80s. Phil Spangenberger did an article about these stainless revolvers in the October 1983 issue of Guns and Ammo Magazine. According to the article, the models that were being imported were the 1851 Navy, 1860 Army, 1861 Navy, 1862 Pocket Navy, and 1862 Pocket police. Thanks to Dr. J.L. Davis of RPRCA, Claremore, OK, I now know that there were fourteen different models of Stainless Steel Colts produced by Uberti. Dr. Davis was good enough to send me a 1984 price list from Southwest Muzzleloaders Supply, Inc. that lists the fourteen models that were available. They are:
1851 Navy, Oval Triggerguard Revolver, Cal. .36
1851 Navy Squareback Triggerguard Revolver, Cal. .36
1851 Navy “Sheriff’s Model” Oval Triggerguard Revolver, Cal. .36
1851 Navy “Sheriff’s Model” Squareback Triggerguard Revolver, Cal. .36
1860 Army Military, Cut For Stock, Cal. .44
1860 Army Military, With Fluted Cylinder, Revolver, Cal. .44
1861 Navy Military, Cut For Stock, Revolver, Cal. .36
1861 Navy Civilian, Revolver, Cal. .36
1861 Navy Military, With Fluted Cylinder, Revolver, Cal. .36
1861 Navy Civilian, With Fluted Cylinder, Revolver, Cal. .36
1862 Police, Semi-Fluted Cylinder, Revolver, Cal. .36, Barrel 5 ½”
1862 Police, Semi-Fluted Cylinder, Revolver, Cal. .36, Barrel 6 ½”
1862 Pocket, Engraved Cylinder, Revolver, Cal. .36, Barrel 5 ½”
1862 Pocket, Engraved Cylinder, Revolver, Cal. .36, Barrel 6 ½”
So far, I have two of these revolvers and know of seven others in hands of other collectors. The revolvers known to me are:
1. Uberti / Allen 1851 Navy with standard barrel length - serial number 117XXX - AL (1983) date code.
2. Uberti / Allen 1851 Navy in a Sheriff Model configuration (5 inch barrel). SN and date code unknown.
3. Uberti / Allen 1860 Army four screw model - serial number 117XXX - AL (1983) date code.
4. Uberti / Allen 1860 Army four screw model - serial number 121XXX - AN (1985) date code.
5. Uberti / Allen 1860 Army four screw model - serial number 116XXX - AL (1983) date code.
6. Uberti / Allen 1861 Navy - SN unknown - Date Code Unknown - four screw model cut for shoulder stock but no notch in backstrap.
7. Uberti 1861 Navy four screw model - serial number 118XXX - AM (1984) date code. This one has the A.UBERTI&C. / ITALY frame stamp, but does not have the Allen barrel address. Additionally, although it has four frame screws and the recoil shield is cut for a detachable shoulder stock, there is no notch in the backstrap.
8. Uberti / Allen 1862 Pocket Police - serial number 116XXX - AL(?) (1983) date code
9. Uberti / Allen 1862 Pocket Navy - serial number 119XXX - AM (1984) date code.
From the serial number range of examples identified so far, it would appear that somewhere in the neighborhood of 6,000 of these revolvers could have been produced.
Anyone with information concerning Allen Firearms, Southwest Muzzleloaders Supply or any other Uberti Stainless Steel Colt style revolvers is requested to contact fingersmcgee@embarqmail.com. I am seeking information as to models, manufacture dates, and serial numbers, as well as any catalog, brochure and original packaging information.
Of course, if anyone has any they would be willing to sell, I would be interested in that also.
Fingers (Show Me MO smoke) McGee