ASM 1851

How does a ASM 1851 revolver compare to a Pietta or Uberti 1851 , 36 caliber revolver ?

I saw one for sale at what I thought was a good price , but it looks like parts will be hard to find , so it might not be such a good price .

 

ASM was all over the place on quality.
Some are real gems as good or better than anyones while others were junk.
In General ASM was the closest in dimensions to the original Colts than any of the major reproduction makers.
There shouldn't be any replacement parts you would expect to need that you can't find, make or fit.

 

Sounds like to much trouble for what you might get to me , $230 used vs $300 Pietta . Just can’t find one .

 

If it was made in the 80's or before it should be good to go. ASM's are closer in size to the originals.

 

Not to mention, the arbor won't be a problem (ASM as well as all others are short), replacement parts will be plentiful, you can easily fit different barrel lengths . . . most Smith's/tuners I know won't fool with them. As far a being close to a Colt, the outside is a whole lot different than the inside!!! Lol!! They aren't even close!!
The parts of the S.A.A. copies they made were spot on but outside of that I wouldn't care to own any ASM's today. What's funny is ASM is what my lgs pushed when is was big into bp. I know them well. I've also worked on several original Colt 1860's as well as a few conversions . . . ASM's they are not!!! Lol

The copies from Uberti and Pietta today are far better than any we had in the 70's, 80's 90's. (That includes Colt 2nd gens. They are definitely harder to get "right" than today's copies (but they are nice when fixed!! )). Heck, as far as that goes, any of them are nice fixed! It's what you have to do to get there that's the biggest difference.

Mike

 

I will be the voice of descent here.

I love ASM & collect the ASM with colt addressed barrels..

When holding my 1982 ASM 51 navy vs a modern pietta, the pietta feels like a cheap toy.
That being said the actions on all my piettas feel leaps and bounds better then my ASM save one asm who's action is the best ive ever felt out of all my BP revolvers.

Every single ASM I have had a short Arbor.

 

It kind of depends on when you want it. The ASM you could have today.....the new gun......who knows. ASM's work fine and can be fixed. The ASM may have already visited a gunsmith. A far as new, we're seeing a few coming out of Cimarron, we've received 2 in the past 4 months. They have been very nice out of the box. But both sold within a day or 2 of getting them in. The new market will remain in extremely short supply for a while.

I wouldn't be afraid of the ASM as long as it's in solid working order. But if you want to wait a good while....there may be more options. Basically I'm with BPWarrior.....they are great pistols....

 

I can say the same, they can be made really nice as long as you have something to work with. I own 6 ASMs, only one is low quality, a brass frame " bison" model with a 12 inch barrel. It shoots great but it has a lot to be desired.

 

At what point shuld we expect the new market to be better supplied? It's been almost 2 years.

 

LOL....your guess is as good as mine. Could be a year....could be 5. Depends on when Italy gets back to whatever is "normal". All I can say is that right now there is literally nothing available new that we can find. If you can find a good used gun.....it might be your best choice. That's what the shop is doing.

 

I can’t find primers either , so it’s not just the Italian’s . If I found a used revolver , I still wouldn’t be able to shoot it .

 

I have assembled a collection I am happy shooting. What I am hankering for is a 12 gauge side by side muzzleloader. Scarce.

 

Seems like the best advice would be to (if either/any of our great 'smiths are willing to work on an ASM)(I know of one that's working on a Junker ASP, now that is dedication!!!!) pick up the used ASM, and ship it to one of them fine Pistola Smiths and let them have their way with it. You'll wind up with a better pistol than you can buy new, now or five years from now. Something you'll truly love and not just a pistol that "works okay". "Working okay" is probably the best you'll get "out of the box", or "new in the box". Just a thought. If I ever buy another new pistol, it will ship directly to the 'smith. Seriously.

 

Availability is worth twice as much as price

 

Attached is my "2019" pietta 1860 army . to get it where I wanted it I stripped the finish off and refinished it in a distressed French grey. I added slixshot nipples and I also added a uberti rammer to not deform conicals upon loading. I also opened up the loading port, I honed the action and polished some internals. I also cut a crown into the muzzle.

Also attached is my "1982" ASM 1851 navy with silver plated square trigger guard.

All I have done to the ASM is fix the short Arbor. I also added slixshot nippled and smoothed the action parts.

This particular model gun I have 2 of and very close in serial numbers.

This is the best one and its action is the best out of all the pistols I have.

Interestingly during Colts run on 2nd gen percussion revolvers Uberti contracted ASM to make barrels for them for the 2nd gen colts.

I think they also made the cylinders as well. Note the colts patent cylinder and colts addressed barrel. These particular ASM are heavy and the steel feels vastly superior and harder then on my piettas.
Almost all parts from this gun will interchange with a 2nd gen colt perfectly.

Also attached is a picture of my "2021" pietta 1851 navy London model.

I have only added slixshot nipples and honed and smoothed the internals.

In my opinion Pietta makes a FINE pistol. Most of them perfect straight out of the box.

But I love the feel of my ASM pistols and prefer them. But the Pietta is Extremely reliable and very precisely built with damn near drop in parts.

 

Good looking pistolas. Glad to hear of them Piettas working good out-of-the-box. Pietta must make a better box?

 

And sometimes costs twice the price.

 

They can all use work but I have yet to get a Pietta that didn't function as it should. They can all use work but for most people they're good to go out of the box. My only complaint with Uberti is the short arbors but for most people that wont be an issue either.

 

@Ugly Sauce
Thanks brother. Pietta makes a fine box ;-) pretty damn good guns too!

 

I'll have my next Uberti shipped in a Pietta box.

 

Sometimes true, but I'm not recommending buying a piece of junk.
If one has the opportunity to inspect the ASMs, one can find a revolver worth having.
An ASM on your hip is worth a lot more than a Pietta half built in Italy.

Buying a 30-50 year old replica sight unseen comes with some risks though that may not pay off.

 

VTI is stocking some ASM parts, just received some parts to fit an antique. What's odd is they had internal parts but back ordered on screws.

 

You guys are aware midway is near fully stocked on piettas atm

 

Available: I just saw this 1851 on Midway. They also have an 1861 and some brass framed 1851's as well.
https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1023745599?pid=271227