[aehall10]

Experts,
I just received my first blackpowder handgun won at auction and I'm not certain who made it. I see these marks, which I believe have these meanings: PN=Black Powder, BU=2004, Crossed rifles=Gardone, and a serial number of A44387.

The proof marks on the gun barrel, and manufacturer's marks, seem to have been removed? All that's left is part of the crossed rifles in a square, followed by the letters PN.

Stamped also on the frame is "Colt's Patent." The ships are on the barrel of the gun.

Thoughts?

[Rachen]

What does it say on the left side of the barrel?

If it says "black powder only .44 cal", then it is certainly built by Pietta. Ubertis keep their writing under the barrel.

[aehall10]

The left side and underside of the barrel are mysteriously blank.

[mykeal]

It's obviously an Italian gun; I vote for Uberti. My Uberti 1861 Colt Navy (made in 2006) also has an 'A' prefix serial number, as does my Uberti 2007 Walker. However, Pietta has occasionally used letter prefixes (my Starr has a 'G' and my 1858 Remington has a 'D'), so that's not conclusive proof. Uberti has moved their stamps around over the years so the location can't be conclusive either. I don't have anything made in '94, so I can't check on where they put things then for sure.

[Rachen]

I think i'll go with Uberti too.

HOWEVER, lets try one more test.

Since you won the gun at an auction, there is a good chance that someone, perhaps a Civil War reenactor, could have "defarbed" the piece so it would look more authentic and period-correct. Aehall10, take a magnifying glass and a strong flashlight and examine both the bottom of the barrel and the left/right sides. Look for any furry/fuzzy looking polishing marks. These will be the evidence of a "defarb". Even if the original owner reblued the spots afterward, the worked on spots can still be seen with a keen eye.

Go ahead and try it, come back and tell us what you see.

[aehall10]

Son of a gun.

The fuzzy markings appear along the length of the barrel, on the left side, along the lower half. All of the defarbing is below the midpoint. It wraps around to the underside of the barrel as well.

[Rachen]

Now, I believe that piece is built by Pietta. Pietta has their warning markings on the left side of the barrel. It makes sense to me now. Uberti only has their markings on the underside of the barrel, never in the visible areas.

If there are defarbing marks on the left side below and around the midpoint, that is the exact location where the "black powder only .44 cal" would be at before the defarbing.

[mykeal]

I believe Rachen is correct based on the evidence we have so far; that is in fact where Pietta usually marked their revolvers. I must restate, however, that both Uberti and Pietta have used other locations, including visible ones, over the last 30 years. I don't have any 1994 guns at hand so I can't say for sure what either company did then. Not saying Uberti did or didn't mark there, only that it's a possibility.

[aehall10]

I think you guys have been a great help. I'm glad I joined the forum.

[Rachen]

No problem man, any time:)

[StrawHat]

I just looked at the Uberti revolvers I have.

The 1861s have the importers name and address on top of the barrel. Nothing else.

The Pocket Navy's have the importers name and address on the top flat and BLACK POWDER ONLY on the side flat.

The 2nd Dragoon has the importers name and address on the top of the barrel.

The 1860 is the one I defarbed so I can not tell where the markings were.

The proof marks on all these guns are only on the frame, not on the barrel.

On two of these Uberti's the words "COLT'S PATENT" are stamped on the frame in the same location as the poster's 1861.

Five of these guns were produced between 1970 and 1995 so maybe the newer guns have been marked differently.

I can not get to them now but I believe only my Pietta's have any proof marks on the barrel.

[scrat]

Those hand grips sure do look Uberti to me though

[Tommygunn]

A lot does look Uberti ... but when did Uberti put a dovetailed front sight on a Colt Navy Roundbarrel?

[scrat]

That Barrel could have been replaced. VTI parts. I sure would not doubt it.