Author Topic: Who made this $#^$%# Thing???  (Read 1297 times)

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Offline rocklock

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Who made this $#^$%# Thing???
« on: August 17, 2003, 02:33:35 PM »
Are there any markings on the Italian C & B replicas that would tell me who made a couple of revolvers that I have?


TIA

Offline Flint

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who made?
« Reply #1 on: August 17, 2003, 07:03:26 PM »
The maker's name. if it's Pietta, is on the side of the barrel.  Uberti is sometimes on top of the barrel, if it says Cimarron, it's an Uberti.  If it says Navy Arms and is recent, it's probably a Pietta, older NA are Uberti.  Uberti may be under the loading lever on the bottom of the barrel, as would be ASM (Armi San Marcos).  Uberti's symbol, if not spelled out, looks like a ship's propeller, or a gear.  If you find any other marks, describe them, we mmay figure it out.
Flint, SASS 976, NRA Life

Offline John Traveler

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Italian maker cap and ball guns
« Reply #2 on: August 18, 2003, 05:38:48 AM »
and finally, if NO distinguishing maker's markings can be found, you can safely say that the gun was assembled from parts made in any of the many dozens of small "job shops" in Val Trompia, Italy where the gun making tradition has been centered for more than 500 years.

Italian gun proofing law requires that BP firearms have the required proof marks, but does not require the maker/assembler to stamp his name on it!
John Traveler

Offline rocklock

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Who made this $#^$%# Thing???
« Reply #3 on: August 18, 2003, 02:37:52 PM »
No makers name on either.

Pistol #1: 1851 Colt in .44 caliber (yes, I know...<G>)

On the right side of the barrel above the wedge, there is (L to R) BP in a square, PN under a wreathed star, and what appears to be crossed rifles in a shield under a small star. The last one is faint so I could be wrong. These three stamps are repeated on the right side of the frame under the cylinder.

The last barrel flat before the bottom is marked "BLACK POWDER ONLY 44 CAL MADE IN ITALY.

There are no other markings except for the serial number "E47443"

Pistol #2: 1858 Remington Army .44 caliber

Left barrel flat - "BLACK POWDER ONLY CAL 44 MADE IN ITALY"
Right barrel flat - "HOPKINS & ALLEN ARMS CORP NJ USA"

On the right side of the frame is the same BP as above and a faint A and aother letter I can't make out in a square. The cylinder has the PN under a star. No other markings.

Any ideas?

Offline John Traveler

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No-Name Black Powder revolvers.
« Reply #4 on: August 20, 2003, 12:03:54 PM »
Yes, I got ideas!

First, maybe your No-Name Black Powder Revolvers were made for the classic Clint Eastwood cinemas, "The Man With No Name"???  hahahahahhah!

Just KIDDING!

Okay.  Serious Now!

I've seen similar markings on black powder repro revolvers, and they were explained to me as follows:

1.  The "PN" acceptance proof markings are abbreviations for Italian that means "black powder".  They stand for "poivre negra", or some such.  Maybe I got my French confused with Italian.  That complies with Italian proof law.

2.  No, the M1851 Navy Colt was never made in .44 caliber, only .36 caliber.  The modern black powder repro M1851 guns in .44 caliber have the bottom of the frames cut out and "rebated cylinder" (larger diameter front portion) to handle the .44 diameter holes.  It seems to work, but is not authentic.

3.  Hopkins and Allen only imported BP guns.  they didi not make any Colt or Remington copies.

HTH

John
John Traveler