Navy Arms .36 target revolver, circa 1973

[Gatofeo]

Anyone ever seen one of these?
I recently purchased a like-new Navy Arms reproduction of the Remington cap and ball revolver in .36 caliber. It has target adjustable sights.
I purchased this revolver from a man on the east coast. I've seen plenty of .44-caliber target Remingtons, but never a .36 -- although I now find that Pietta is offering a .36 target Remington, according to its website.
I'd like to know who made this revolver. Navy Arms imported it, but I find no manufacturer's marks. All I find are proofmarks. This revolver is like-new, with a spotless bore and chambers.
Here are the specifics:

On the barrel:
(top) NAVY ARMS CO. RIDGEFIELD N.J. MADE IN ITALY
(left side) MODEL 1858 NEW BELT CAL .36
(right side) BLACK POWDER ONLY - MADE IN ITALY
The barrel also includes the typical Gardone proof house marks but no stamp to indicate manufacturer.

On the frame:
Gardone proof house marks and XX9. The XX9 is proof house code indicating that this pistol was made in 1973.

Serial number 356XX
There are also assembly numbers of 1362 on the underside of the barrel, cylinder, loading lever and grip frame under the grips. This would indicate that all parts match.

Barrel length: 6-1/2 inches (165mm)
Overall length: 13 inches (310 mm)

Rear sight: Fully adjustable Patridge target sight.
Front sight: Blued post, mounted on a ramp. Both the ramp and the face of the front sight have horizontal lines to reduce glare.

Does anyone know who was making Remington reproductions for Navy Arms in 1973? This is a very well-made revolver, though the bluing is not highly polished like a premium grade modern revolver.

I began shooting cap and ball revolvers about 1970. At that time, few had highly polished bluing. Gaps between metal and wood, and light machine marks were common. This revolver was not the norm in 1973 and was very finely made for its era.

There's a foot of snow here in the remote Utah desert. The days are overcast, cloudy and cold. Looks like it will be that way for a while, so I haven't had a chance to get out and fire this revolver.
It should be a fine shooter.
I'm a fan of the .36 caliber and have a number of fixed-sight revolvers in this caliber. This is the first adjustable-sight, target type cap and ball I've seen in .36 caliber.

Any comments or information?

 

[madcratebuilder]

I see reference in a two year old DGW catalog for a 58 new model belt revolver. Made by Pietta, it has fixed sights and is .36 with a 6 5/8 barrel.

I have a 58 "Shooters" model (Navy Arms), made in 87 by Pietta, it's their high end revolver with progressive rifling and fixed sights.

Your 58 .36 with it's adjustable sights makes it unusual.

 

[[email protected]]

This was made by Pietta around 2004 and was imported by Deercreek

 

[Hellgate]

Look under the rammer on the barrel for a manufacturer mark if it is not on the frame. If you see a circle with the letters DGG superimposed on each other it is a Euroarms/Armi San Poalo. If you see an octagon with a "U" inside it is a Uberti. The Armi San Marcos will have an ASM or SM lettering on the frame or barrel. Navy Arms, Replica Arms, Dixie gun Works, CVA, etc. are merely importers and not manufacturers.

 

[Gatofeo]

I've looked under the rammer, griips and throughout. The only mark under the rammer is 3162, presumably the assembly number. I've been over this revolver's parts with a magnifying glass, after I cleaned it. Not a mark on it, other than proofmarks and NAVY ARMS, etc. Weird.
But a contributor at another message board said that in 1973 Navy Arms was buying all its cap and ball revolvers from Uberti. He too was puzzled by the lack of a manufacturer's mark.
To my knowledge, Navy Arms never made firearms with its own machinery. It purchased from other manufacturers, having them built to its specifications.
So, I remain puzzled. I guess a little mystery on a gun is a good thing.

 

[Scooter14]

Gatofeo, I like .36 Remingtons and would enjoy seeing a picture of your gun.

 

[Scooter14]

Nevermind. I saw it on another forum. Very nice!

 

[Gatofeo]

Odd.
I never posted a photo of it. Leave me a private message as to where you saw it. I don't think you can mention other message boards in the main room.

 

[oam]

bonjour,

it look look like a gun i sold somme weeks ago:

it was an UBERTI




You can find lot of pictures of it here:
http://tblhsub.free.fr/

 

[Riot Earp]

Leave me a private message as to where you saw it.

PM sent.