Very early Italian Walker

[Peter M. Eick]

I was looking at a very nice, italian walker replica. I was curious if anyone had heard of it.

It is a nicely made walker without a single italian proof mark you can find. I was told by the dealer there is a proof inside under the grips where it is out of sight. The cylinder is stainless and has a nice roll mark. The rest of the gun is blued steel, but I vaguely remember the grip frame is brass (not sure here).

My dealer (who I do trust a lot) said that the gun is one of the very first Italian walkers inported into the states and they tried to hide the proofs. He also said that after a short time Colt got ticketed and told them to stop duplicating the Walker so closly or else. They then changed the gun and the proofs so it is not such a close match.

So, have you all heard of such a thing? Just curious. My dealer wants a premium for the gun. It is a nice specimen, not fired so I am considering it just for the stainless cylinder.

 

[mec]

Some of the original Walkers had the cylinders left in the white. It sounds like the one you are looking at is a pretty good replica. Brass grip frame(s) would be right. Colt might have said that to them but wouldn't have had any legal grounds as the patent ran out somewhere around 1857. They might have had some complaint if the gun had "Colt" written on it.

 

[Peter M. Eick]

I was able to confirm that this is a "cylinder in the white" version. It is supposed to be as nearly identical copy as possible. It has not been fired, has no paperwork or box, and the lettering looks like it was engraved and not rolled into the metal.

Since this is likely a very early one, would anyone have concerns about shooting the thing? The price he is asking is more then say a Cimarron Walker but not much.

I assume standard revlover checkout rules would hold?

Thanks

 

[tex_n_cal]

The Walker is fun to play with. I had one about 15 years ago, (about $150) and it shot very well...for the first five shots. Since I was using full power loads, the balls were going rather speedily, and the barrel was thoroughly leaded in five shots

I gave it to my brother for one Christmas. He was so mortified by it he sold it at the next gun show

 

[Peter M. Eick]

Thats what I am thinking. Just a fun toy to plink at the range with. No delusions of anything else. Just living in Texas and having a native Texan Daughter, I figured she should have a Walker around the house to learn about what "real men" shot a way back then.

She has already started to ask if she can go shooting, but I figure 4 is too young. Anyway, I think she will enjoy the big huge Walker because the parts are easy to handle.

Back to the gun at hand. I spent hours on google and did not track down anything on this particular gun. I guess part of me says check it out carefully and just buy it. The worst I can do is end up with a really nicely made wall hanger and just get a new Uberti if this one has "issues".

 

[mec]

No safety problem from shooting that walker. This Uberti is accurate with the only irritation being that the loading lever drops down just like they did on the originals

It would not, on the other hand be a good idea to shoot this one. It is #39 Company E and is worth about a quarter of a mill