A couple of 1860's the top one is by an unknown maker from an unknown time???
The bottom one is an antique made in 1863 and likely a veteran of the Civil War.
The nipples on the antique are too big for #11 caps so I use the cylinder from the "unknown" gun in the antique and it fits perfectly.
Curious about the upper pistol in the picture.
To me (and I'm no expert, by any means) it appears to be a modern repro, the barrel, cylinder, loading lever assembly, and hammer purposely "aged".
Any serial/assembly numbers?
There are no Italian proof marks or other markings that I can see. Pietta, Uberti, ASM, or other Italian makers must have those to market those guns. Pietta profusely marks their guns on the sides of the barrel and frame, and Uberti under the barrel, so those would have had to be removed prior to "aging".
That said, the frame still has some case colors, but that can be accomplished with a propane torch and motor oil (I did that on a Remington #5 Rolling Block .45-120 conversion more than 20 years ago and the colors were much better than any of the modern Italian copies: sorry, no pics: too long ago) and using vinegar to "age" the colors.
It is a modern repro 4-screw frame (for a shoulder stock). It appears to have a blued steel backstrap which does not meet up properly with the frontstrap on the brass triggerguard. The wood is too good and too new, and has the upward "flare" from the lower grip frame, and does not have the Pietta "tail", so I lean toward a Uberti frame or other (ASM, et al).
I am striving to create a somewhat realistic 1851 Navy Second Model. It will have a squareback trigger guard (wedge below screw) with a shoulder stock using Pietta parts. The trigger guard/grip frame will be brass as opposed to blued and/or silver-plated brass parts of the original. I'm awaiting a call/email from Taylors' insofar as their ability to obtain a brass squareback from the Pietta factory and it sounds promising, so far. I also bought (from the pics) a nice looking walnut one-piece grip that puts my original 2014 Pietta wood (piss elm) grip to shame. I will post pics when it comes to fruition (in stages).
I just love the original Colt (the lower revolver pic). Do you actually shoot it? OMG, no way I would do that.
Just my $.02 worth.
Nice guns! If you ever want to discard them, give me a jingle!
Sincerely,
Jim