Allen Firearms Stainless Steel Colt style revolvers

[Fingers McGee]

Stainless Steel Colts

I am seeking information on a line of stainless steel cab & ball revolvers made by Uberti and imported by Allen Firearms, Santa Fe, NM in the early to mid '80s. Phil Spangenberger did an article about these stainless revolvers in the October 1983 issue of Guns and Ammo Magazine. According to the article, the models that were being imported were the 1851 Navy, 186o Army, 1861 Navy, 1862 Pocket Navy, and 1862 Pocket police.

So far, I have two of these revolvers and know of five others in hands of other collectors. The revolvers known to me are:

1. Uberti / Allen 1860 Army four screw model – serial number 117XXX – AL (1983) date code.

2. Uberti 1861 Navy four screw model – serial number 118XXX – AM (1984) date code. This one has the A.UBERTI&C. / ITALY frame stamp, but does not have the Allen barrel address. Additionally, although it has four frame screws and the recoil shield is cut for a detachable shoulder stock, there is no notch in the butt.

3. Uberti / Allen 1862 Pocket Navy – serial number 119XXX – AM (1984) date code.

4. Uberti / Allen 1861 Navy four screw model cut for shoulder stock but no notch in backstrap.

5. Uberti / Allen 1851 Navy in a “Sheriff Model” configuration (5 inch barrel).

6. Uberti / Allen 1860 Army four screw model - serial number 121XXX - AN (1985) date code.

7. Uberti / Allen 1851 Navy with standard barrel length - serial number 117XXX - AL (1983) date code.

From the serial number range of examples identified so far, it would appear that somewhere in the neighborhood of 4,000 of these revolvers could have been produced.

Anyone with information concerning Allen Firearms/Uberti Stainless Steel Colt style revolvers is requested to contact [email protected]. I am seeking information as to models, manufacture dates, and serial numbers.

Of course, if anyone has any for sale, I would be interested in that also.

Fingers (Show Me MO smoke) McGee

 

[Fingers McGee]

Anyone?

FM

 

[mykeal]

FM - I'm not aware of having seen or handled any of the Allen importations, although it's certainly possible. I expect you're already aware of the following information, obtained from the 27th edition of Fjestad's Blue Book of Gun Values:

Previous importer located in Santa Fe, NM importing A. Uberti firearms until early in 1987. After Allen Firearms closed, Cimarron F.A. Mfg. Co. located in Houston, Tx purchased the remaining inventory (in addition to ordering new products under their name.

Allen Firearms was fomerly called Western Arms and manufactured both modern and black powder reproduction firearms and accessories patterned after famous older models...

...A complete listing of older Allen Firearms models can be found in Blue Book editions Eleven and Twelve...

The 27th edition simply refers to the Uberti listings for valuation of Allen's imports, but perhaps you can find a library or someone with a copy of the Eleventh or Twelfth editions of the Blue Book.

Sorry I couldn't be more help. I could perhaps post a copy of your opening post in the pistol section of The Muzzleloading Forum, if you thought that might help.

 

[Fingers McGee]

Mykeal, Thanks for the reference. I'll see if I can dig up an old copy of the Blue Book.

I've contacted Cimarron and Uberti for info. Mike at Cimarron emailed me with the overview. Allen had gone bankrupt & owed Uberti. Cimarron bought the business and remaining stock from Uberti.

I had forgotten about the ML forum. I'm a member there too, I'll post it.

If, in your travels, you come across any of the Allen SS revolvers, keep me in mind, will you?

Fingers

 

[mykeal]

Will do.

Edit: There are 3 11th edition BBoGV on Amazon.com for $10.

 

[Fingers McGee]

and there are some 11s and 12s on Ebay for around the same. I'll be buying one soon.

Correction. I'm a member of Muzzleloading Life forum. If you are member of other ML forums I'd appreciate you posting the search.

Thanks again Mykeal

FM

 

[bprevolver]

Stainless Steel Revolvers

Leonard Frank Allen started Replica Arms 1962. Replica Arms was an early competitor of Navy Arms. They were first located in El Paso, Texas. In 1965 the company was sold and moved to Marietta, Ohio, with Ken Phelps as President. In 1973-74 Replica Arms was bought out by Val Forgett and Navy Arms. During this transition Replica Arms were marked “Replica Arms Ridgefield NJ” on the barrel. Navy Arms revolvers will be found with the Navy Arms markings on the barrel and with the Replica Arms logo on the frame. Replica Arms used ASM, Uberti, and Pietta as manufacturers for their guns. I checked back through all my old Replica Arms Catalogs and price sheets. There were no stainless steel revolvers listed.

Leonard F. Allen then started Western Arms in 1976. He ran into a problem with Winchester over the name “Western Arms” being their ammo name. Allen changed the name to Allen Arms in around 1981. In 1983 Mr. Allen introduced a line of Stainless Steel revolvers made by Uberti. Fingers McGee has listed the seven revolvers carried by Allen Arms.

I have 1985 price sheets from Tony Gajewsky's company, Southwest Muzzle Loaders Supply, that list fourteen (14) Uberti stainless steel Colt Models that were manufactured. Manufacturers that produced stainless steel models of both Colt and Remington revolvers are Uberti, Armi San Marco, Armi San Paolo/Euroarms, Pietta, and Colt.

I am enclosing a copy of the RPRCA Collector’s Guide table of contents listing the various Stainless Steel models that have been uncovered. If you have seen others that are not listed I would appreciate knowing about them.

Colt Models in Stainless Steel

1. Paterson “Texas” Engraved Stainless without loading lever
9” barrel Pietta

2. 1851 Navy

1) 1851 Navy - Colt 2nd Generation
2) 1851 Navy Oval TG
3) 1851 Navy SqBk TG
4) 1851 Navy Sheriff Model Oval TG
5) 1851 Navy Sheriff Model SqBk TG

3. 1860 Army

1) 1860 Army CSS
2) 1860 Army Polished Stainless CSS
3) 1860 Army Full Fluted Cylinder

4. 1861 Navy

1) 1861 Navy CSS
2) 1861 Navy Civilian NCSS
3) 1861 Navy Half Fluted Cylinder CSS
4) 1861 Navy Half Fluted Cylinder NCSS
5) 1861 Navy Sheriff Half Fluted Cylinder
6) 1861 Navy Sheriff CSS Half Fluted Cylinder

5. 1862 Models

1) 1862 Police Half Fluted - 5 ½” Barrel
2) 1862 Police Half Fluted - 6 ½” Barrel
3) 1862 Pocket Navy - 5 ½” Barrel
4) 1862 Pocket Navy - 6 ½” Barrel

Remington Models in Stainless Steel

1. Remington Beals Army Model - Stainless - 8” Barrel
2. Remington Beals Army Model - Stainless - Target
Sights -8” Barrel
3. Remington New Model Army - Stainless - 8” Barrel
4. Remington New Model Army- Stainless - Target Sights -
8” Barrel
5. Remington New Model Army - Stainless - Buffalo - 12”
Barrel
6. Remington New Model Army - Stainless - 5 ½” Barrel