Armi San Marco .36 caliber

Status
Not open for further replies.
Dog Soldier

Dog Soldier

member
Joined
Sep 8, 2016
Messages
2,205
Location
S.W. Wyoming
I picked up an ASM today at the gun show. It is a brass frame barrel marked Mason Dixon Commemorative. It is a well made and polished revolver. I know it is not a valuable item. I am curious however and there is no Info on it, Does anyone know about these guns?
 
ASM did a lot of commissioned runs, presumably for anyone who would commit to their minimum order
I'm not sure about your Mason Dixon Commemorative, but ASM did several commissioned runs of various revolvers for The Sportsman's Guide back in the 80's and/or 90's
 
Thanks so much. I did see one on the Gun Broker auction. I think you fellows are correct. This had something to do with the Mason Dixon Commission? I would never have thought of that.
I bought it for a shooter. It does have the original box and paper work.:)
 
I have a plain jane ASM 1851 Navy in .36. Despite one of the cylinders bored so far off axis and out of position, it's a fun little gun to shoot. I just pulled the nipple from that chamber, and use that one for the hammer rest. Enjoy your new plinker!
 
From the EMF catalog and price list of 1979:

"The New Custom Deluxe Commemorative Revolver"
"Mason-Dixon"
".36 or .44 Caliber Revolver"
"Specifically manufactured to commemorate the Civil War. Beautiful polished blue finish. Engraved cylinder. Frame Genuine nickle [their spelling] finish. An unusual collectors and shooters item."

"Stock No. PER104-36MD"
"Stock No. PER104-44MD"

"Complete cased set with Mason-Dixon Revolver. Brass bullet mold. Colt flask. Beautiful walnut type case with red felt. A real collector's find."

"Stock No. PER104-36MD-C"
"Stock No. PER104-44MD-C"

The list price in 1979 was $105 for both calibers of the revolver alone and $145 for the cased sets (including the revolver.) The exact same ad page appears in my earliest EMF catalog (early sixties) but I do not have a dated price list for it and have only dated it by the address on the cover. EMF only dated later versions but they moved around several times as their business grew. My last EMF catalog is 1997 and the exact same ad page is included. The list price in 1997 was $184 for the revolver alone and $300 for the cased set. I guess the price of fitted wood cases skyrocketed!

Does your revolver look like the nickel plating is rubbed off (most nickel plated Italian imports seem to be brass underneath) or was never there?
If you let me know what year yours was made I may be able to give you a more accurate EMF list price.
Is your box ASM's or is it marked with the importer?
 
Last edited:
Wow!! EK that is the information needed. The receiver appears to be nickle? The nickle is perfect , engraved cylinder no fading ? The Box is ASM. The date of manufacture on the box is 1951 Brass frame cal. .36 . COD N 8CA501851NA36 RV600 864566 104 ND.
The finish is above average for these imports. The timing is correct and it is well fitted. The revolver was found by a family selling an old estate. Any idea it's value? I bought it for a shooter.
 
entrophy, this gun does index and the timing is perfect. I own a pile of B/P revolvers but no .36 caliber. I decided to get a .36 and found this one. My favorite is the ROA, I have 10 of these. I bought them years ago when they sold for around $200 dollars or less. Thanks for your message.:)
 
Sorry Dog Soldier, I do not have any 50's EMF catalogs or price lists.

Your M-D definitely qualifies as the earliest ASM product known to me!

I have only seen one other M-D and it was on GunBroker a few years back.

Sadly, GB erases their files after some period of time and I do not remember what it went for.
 
The revolver is 64 or 65 years old. Humm, I doubt that it carries any value above what any .36 Brass frame is worth? What do you think about just using it as a shooter?
 
I am skeptical it was made in 1951. I thought the earliest of any Colt replicas was Gregorelli & Uberti in 1958 and I thought ASM didn't start making them until 1960 or so.
 
I don't know? The box is in nice but faded condition. The ASM label looks very original and is dated 1951. This revolver has the M&D logo on the top barrel flat. I can not imagine anyone faking an Italian import. The one EK posted sold for $276 bucks 12 years ago. It is not an expensive piece.
 
I think you are right about the ASM being made in the 1960s. The label is very faded. We used a power magnifier to study the date. It seems to be 1851 which would make some sense. The 1851 Colts were steel.
 
1851 makes a lot more sense.

30bmptk.jpg


In 1951, Robert Abels was selling genuine Colt 1851 Navy revolvers for $80, and there was no market for reproductions.
 
Dog Soldier,

What is the date code on the right-hand side of the frame, if any? If it was made in Italy, it will be right there with both proof marks.

Jim

ItalianDateStamps_zps1bjf73js.jpg
 
I am skeptical it was made in 1951. I thought the earliest of any Colt replicas was Gregorelli & Uberti in 1958 and I thought ASM didn't start making them until 1960 or so.
Click to expand...

The replica market didn't start until 1956 when Navy Arms was formed. First 16 revolvers made in '58 were 10 1851 Navies and 6 Griswold & Gunnisons
 
Berkley - Your copy and graphics are identical to the Mason-Dixon page in my EMF catalogs except for the stock numbers and the .44 caliber option.

ASM must have supplied them to all their importers.

You mention a Robert Abels; is it from his catalog?
 
Well it seems I ask the right gun collectors about my "Impulse" purchase. The knowledge you fellows are sharing is priceless thanks so much.
 
Expat Alaska, There are no stampings on the right side of the frame. The proof marks and the date code "AZ" forward of the front trigger guard screw. "AZ" on your chart dates it 2003. It is stamped made in Italy on the bottom barrel flat under the rammer. Does this sound correct?
 
Ephraim,
These old catalogs with their prices always seem so amazing - until you remember that gas was 19 cents a gallon.
2h570ur.jpg
 
MLBlue, Thanks so much for the correction. Were these ASM revolvers considered serviceable BP handguns? I bought this one to shoot.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

Fingers McGee
  • Locked
Armi San Marco makers marks
Replies
5
Views
2K
arcticap
arcticap
L
  • Locked
Armi san marco 1858 remington compatibility
Replies
2
Views
3K
Tommygunn
Tommygunn
LeftyTSGC
  • Locked
Armi San Marco Revolver.
Replies
0
Views
552
LeftyTSGC
LeftyTSGC
B
  • Locked
Armi San Marco History Needed
Replies
3
Views
2K
scrat
S
arcticap
  • Locked
Armi San Marco Lever Action
Replies
13
Views
3K
arcticap
arcticap
Back
Top