expat_alaska
Member
I FOUND THE THREAD ABOUT THE FIRST C&B REPRODUCTIONS:
The Gun That Started It All -->>> https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/the-gun-that-started-it-all.845902/
That would be my thread from a while back.
I'm going out on a limb by saying that IMO the date code is at least XVIII which would make it 1962 or later.
My reason is because part of the left side of the PN is missing, and also part of the left side of the proof mark to the left of the PN. It wasn't stamped evenly in more than one spot, very possibly including the proof date code.
This is why I am leaning toward it being an ASM revolver. ASM has been noted for light/not squarely-stamped proofs and datecodes, especially in the later models where all of the info was on the bottom of the frame next to the barrel lug.
And also because 1952 seems a bit too early for me.
Exactly, as seen in your first quote on this post.
We can see the letter "A" in the photo. Uberti also used alpha prefixes.
That is how ASM prefixed their revolvers nearly all of the time.
That seems to be a very low serial number and whether it was made by GU or ASM, if it's one of the 1st 2,000 or so 1860's made, then you have an early production gun. Maybe it's an early enough production that the company trademark stamp hadn't even been made yet.
More on that later.
Gregorelli & Uberti made revolvers for Navy Arms (stamped as such) from 1959-1962 and also made revolvers for their own sale stamped G.U. on the right side of the barrel lug during that same time period. All were versions of the 1851 Navy .36, with both steel and brass frames and octagon and part round/part octagon barrels, respectively (think 1851 Navy and 1863 Griswold & Gunnison). Gregorelli had the Italian manufacturer license and Uberti had the factory. In 1963 Uberti secured a manufacturer license in 1962-1963 and they parted ways.
Replica Arms started up (1963-1964) in El Paso Texas, and those revolvers were marked as such on the left side of the barrel lug. They imported ASM 1848/1849 Colt Pocket pistols, but the revolvers had no ASM markings. Around 1965, the owner of Replica Arms sold the business and the name to another outfit in Marietta Ohio, moved to either AZ or NM, and eventually created Cimarron Firearms using Uberti revolvers. Replica Arms Marietta used both ASM (early) and Uberti (late) revolvers, and was bought out by Navy Arms around 1972. Navy Arms continued to mark the R.A. guns with a stylized RA on the left side of the frame, and afterward substituted Navy Arms in place of it.
This is a Replica Arms El Paso 1848 Pocket Pistol (XIX/1963) with no ASM stamps I acquired in 2015 from a GB auction. I posted it on a forum (THR I think) inquiring as to the manufacturer and got a reply from Dr. Jim L. Davis stating that it was an ASM first-year of manufacture. (Arcticap, look it up: you are good at this sort of thing!). Doing more research about it on my own, it is plainly an ASM gun due to the very slight shoulders on the trigger guard and the style of the load-lever at the rammer pivot.
Since it is an 1860 Army, insofar as the datecode is concerned, I am leaning toward it being XXVIII/1972. Uberti was never this sloppy with any stamps.
At any rate EF, I hope you enjoy your "new" slicked-up revolver. I have read about the Kid's work from others on this forum and two others, and have never heard anything derogatory about his work nor the fantastic turnaround time. His price for the work shows he is trying to establish a good rapport with folks and establish a base.
Regards,
Jim