What do you make of this 1860 Army?

[LonesomePigeon]

Seller says it was made in 1957. I think that's got to be a mistake. I think the first mass produced repros didn't start until 1958 or '59 when Gregorelli & Uberti introduced the 1851 Navy and the Griswold & Gunnison .36 caliber revolvers.

This particular revolver looks to be a Replica Arms import based on the barely readable markings on the right side of the barrel. It does look like it has a datecode of XIII for 1957 but I don't see how that could be, plus the datecode is really hard to read. I think maybe the datecode is actually XVI which would put it at 1960. An 1860 Army from 1960 would still be very early, I think.

I believe Centaure was making 1860 Army's in 1960 but this gun lacks that Centaure barrel address and I don't think Replica Arms ever imported Centaure's.

https://www.gunsinternational.com/g...-1860-army-cased-replica.cfm?gun_id=101091053

 

[arcticap]

Is there light coming through the gap where the barrel mates to the bottom of the frame or is that just my eyes playing tricks on me?
Because the mating surface seems to be same color as the light wood background, it looks like a gap.
But I'm really not sure looking at it on a laptop screen.
I suppose that it could simply be light reflecting off of metal, but hmmm....

 

[expat_alaska]

Is there light coming through the gap where the barrel mates to the bottom of the frame or is that just my eyes playing tricks on me?
Because the mating surface seems to be same color as the light wood background, it looks like a gap.

I see the gap along with the 2 frame locator pins. The wedge seems to me well seated but it seems too rounded on the right side. Could this be an indication of a bent or loose arbor?

Jim

 

[PainlessWolf]

Good morning,
Someone has wiped this revolver down with enough oil to soak the wood grips and make them shinier. Could be because of the rust on the cylinder. A 1957 import would be amazing but less so if someone at some point in it's history got busy with a die and a hammer.
regards all!

 

[whughett]

Val Forgett founded Navy Arms in 1956. A brief net search didn't turn up when his first replicas were imported so no help there. My Navy Arms 1858 (?) Remington Navy is dated 1964.

 

[forward observer]

According to this article published after Forgett's death in 2002, He and Uberti introduced the 1851 Navy in 1959. This is generally credited as the first replica pistol manufactured in any quantity in anticipation of upcoming Civil war centennial slated to kick off in 1961. They list the introduction of a bunch of other models--both pistols and rifles, but unfortunately don't list the 1860 Army. Regardless, I can't imagine a production replica 1860 being made in any quantity prior to that first 1851 Navy model from 1959.

Link found in the credits section of the Wikipedia article for Forgett.
http://web.archive.org/web/20070512...omag.com/in_the_field/forgett_0625/index.html

Cheers

 

[LonesomePigeon]

Well apparently the seller has taken down the ad. I hope my post was not perceived as negative. My intent was only to figure out if this was made in 1960 because if it was then there is a chance it was actually a Gregorelli & Uberti made 1860 Army. It would be an extremely rare bird. In fact, I don't think anyone has actually proven the existence of such.

 

[Ephraim Kibbey]

The Italian Date Codes were often unevenly struck and hard to make out in photos.