Hello I'm new to this so please be patient. I have just bought a new Euroarms Colt 1860 serial number 0001 can anyone tell me anything about it. The finish is quite good but it took five hours work with a set of needle files to make it go bang. the hammer was 1mm short of hitting the nipples. Is common from this manufacturer? I was wondering with the serial number 0001 was this gun a prototype never meant for sale? Or do Euro arms have a strange system of serial numbering. Any information would be appreciated.
Euroarms 1860 Colt
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Woodlander
Member
A few pictures would be appreciated, especially of the markings on the barrel, cylinder, frame and backstrap.
AlexanderA
Member
The Euroarms revolvers were made by Armi San Paolo.
Take a look at this thread:
https://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=338117
Take a look at this thread:
https://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=338117
HI Woodlander. I have not managed to up load any images as of yet. But the details are as follows; The box is Euroarms of America. and describes it as Colt Army steel frame round barrel. The barrel has for black powder only made in Italy on one side and the other side says model army.44 cal. Below the wedge is the serial number 0001 and above that is a circle with a poorly stamped 18 in it. On the right hand side below the cylinder there are three marks the first is a circle with a star in it directly under this is a shield with two crossed swords over a unidentifiable object. to the right of this is XXX. Further right is a circle with a star in it over the letters PN. just in front of the brass trigger guard is the serial number again 0001. That is the only markings on the revolver. Not sure if this is much help. Cheers Bob.
44 Dave
Member
The XXX is the build date 1987.
Sorry 1974, I read the chart wrong.
Sorry 1974, I read the chart wrong.
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Woodlander
Member
Thank you for these details, Bob. The markings you describe are the Italian proof test markings. The XXX tells the revolver was made in 1974. The other two tell it has been tested for black powder shooting. Regarding the "poorly stamped 18" in a circle, may it not rather be the maker's mark (interlaced DGG) :
This is the mark of Armi San Paolo who produced black powder replicas for Euroarms.
Armi San Paolo was created in 1971 and was bought out by Euroarms in 2002.
As for the 0001 serial number, I still have to check when Armi San Paolo started to produce their 1860s. It may be their first ever 1860 (not very likely), or the first replica produced in 1974, with their serial numbering starting from 1 every year (as several other Italian replica makers did).
This is the mark of Armi San Paolo who produced black powder replicas for Euroarms.
Armi San Paolo was created in 1971 and was bought out by Euroarms in 2002.
As for the 0001 serial number, I still have to check when Armi San Paolo started to produce their 1860s. It may be their first ever 1860 (not very likely), or the first replica produced in 1974, with their serial numbering starting from 1 every year (as several other Italian replica makers did).
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expat_alaska
Member
As far as I know the hammer is not to contact the nipples when in dry fire mode in a perfect world as that would damage them. The hammer should squarely contact the caps when on the nipples to ensure ignition. Most modern replicas will allow the hammer to hit the bare nipples: not good, but the manufacturers may do this to insure good cap ignition as opposed to misfires, which may lead to capsucking.
Your call...
Jim
Malachi Leviticus Blue
Member
Was/is the cylinder sloppy shifting fore and aft? What did you file? In my experience Armi San Paolo was pretty decently mediocre to mediocre plus in quality, but at least fairly consistent. (I like their grip size and dimensions, which are relatively accurate historically)
The nipples might not be original, and could just be short.
The nipples might not be original, and could just be short.
Thank you for these details, Bob. The markings you describe are the Italian proof test markings. The XXX tells the revolver was made in 1974. The other two tell it has been tested for black powder shooting. Regarding the "poorly stamped 18" in a circle, may it not rather be the maker's mark (interlaced DGG) :
This is the mark of Armi San Paolo who produced black powder replicas for Euroarms.
Armi San Paolo was created in 1971 and was bought out by Euroarms in 2002.
As for the 0001 serial number, I still have to check when Armi San Paolo started to produce their 1860s. It may be their first ever 1860 (not very likely), or the first replica produced in 1974, with their serial numbering starting from 1 every year (as several other Italian replica makers did).
Wow, a big thanks for all the detail and for all the responses. To answer some of the replies on close inspection it is the makers mark poorly stamped DGG. the cylinder has a few thou movement back and forth, I changed the original nipples for some made by D. Pedersoli but they were exactly the same. what I found was the throat of the hammer was hitting the back of the frame, so I polished the area and used some engineers blue to see which part needed filing. I took the revolver to the range the other day and it preformed well for 25 shoots then it started to clog up. I'm surprised that the revolver is so old I bought it new in it's box a few weeks ago. But here in Great Britain getting a licence for a pistol is very difficult black powder revolvers are all we are allowed. Semi automatic rifles are limited to .22 anything above has to be bolt action. Cheers Bob.
Dog Soldier
member
The Euroarms Roger & Spencer Target is a fine upper end BP handgun. These handguns are around $1,000 dollars U.S. The are very accurate. 
http://www.gunmart.net/gun_review/euroarms_rogers_spencer_match_revolver
http://www.gunmart.net/gun_review/euroarms_rogers_spencer_match_revolver
whughett
Member
Dog Soldier, so nice I own two and one has a conversion cylinder. Neither has that adjustable (?) rear site or ramped front sight pictured on yours. Are those features factory or aftermarket. Both of mine are Euro Arms.
Sorry it has taken a while to get back. Well the Euroarms Colt 1860 has had some use now and all is good I shot fifty rounds last Saturday with only a light spray of WD40 oil to keep it moving freely. At first I was having big problems with the fired caps jamming the cylinder to reduce this I drilled a .5mm hole in the side of each nipple in a position that when the cap is pushed on the nipple the hole is covered. This blows the cap to pieces, to make sure the blast from the cap reached the main charge I opened out the holes in the nipples to .5mm. This has made a vast improvement to the revolver and after hundreds of shots I have never had a miss fire. Cheers Bob.
daboyleroy
Member
Good morningThe Euroarms Roger & Spencer Target is a fine upper end BP handgun. These handguns are around $1,000 dollars U.S. The are very accurate.
http://www.gunmart.net/gun_review/euroarms_rogers_spencer_match_revolver
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Very good read
BullSlinger
Member
Glad you got it up and running. Never tried your trick with the caps/nipples but if it works go for it.
Post some pics if you get a chance.
Post some pics if you get a chance.
buffalohunter
Member
Euroarms is either out of business or close to it. I bought a Euroarms Zouave from Dixie gun works and returned it. I talked to Dixie and they told me that Euroarms quality was now very bad since they are running their inventory out as fast as possible.
Ephraim Kibbey
Member
I think Euroarms sold out to Pedersoli around 2011. Maybe they would be able to help.
BCRider
Member
If they are assembling guns from parts to clear the inventory that may well explain how you have a 1974 part on a gun bought new only a few months back.
I understand that back in the day it was pretty common to raise the gun upwards and cock it. That tended to push the cap shards from the shot out and allow them to fall free through the cap placement cut. These days at a typical range having a cocked gun aimed to a point over the berms is often cause for panic and chastisement. So what I've done to encourage the shards to fall clear is roll my hand strongly to the right as I'm cocking the hammer so any shards fall free to the side instead of down into the hammer and lower guts. This takes me a fraction longer to do during my cowboy action matches but it sure does beat having to clear a cap shard while on the clock. A matter of "pay me a little now or a lot later" sort of option.
The side holes you did mimic what is done with the Slix Shot nipples. I'm using a couple of sets of those and they are working very nicely. Most are just gone but the odd one is strangely intact and needs some poking out to remove it. But nicely done on doing this as a home shop remedy ! ! !
I understand that back in the day it was pretty common to raise the gun upwards and cock it. That tended to push the cap shards from the shot out and allow them to fall free through the cap placement cut. These days at a typical range having a cocked gun aimed to a point over the berms is often cause for panic and chastisement. So what I've done to encourage the shards to fall clear is roll my hand strongly to the right as I'm cocking the hammer so any shards fall free to the side instead of down into the hammer and lower guts. This takes me a fraction longer to do during my cowboy action matches but it sure does beat having to clear a cap shard while on the clock. A matter of "pay me a little now or a lot later" sort of option.
The side holes you did mimic what is done with the Slix Shot nipples. I'm using a couple of sets of those and they are working very nicely. Most are just gone but the odd one is strangely intact and needs some poking out to remove it. But nicely done on doing this as a home shop remedy ! ! !
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