A Recent ASM 1860 Army Acquisition

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expat_alaska

expat_alaska

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I bought this Armi San Marco 1860 Army .44 from a guy on another board. The date code is [BC] (1993) and it is in very nice shape for a 25-year-old gun. I am a fancier of Pietta 1851 Navy .36 revolvers and this is my first foray into the 1860 Army .44 revolvers.

ASM-1860-Army-003.jpg


ASM-1860-Army-004.jpg

I would eventually like to obtain a full-fluted cylinder and maybe a half-fluted cylinder for it. I know ASM has been out of business for quite a while and ASM parts are scarce as hens' teeth.

I do not have a dial caliper to measure the length of my cylinder, and I am wondering if any of you very knowledgeable folks would know if either a Uberti or Pietta cylinder would work with this pistol.

I know on the replica 1851 Navy .36 guns that the Uberti and Pietta cylinders are of slightly different lengths and that the bolt stop slots (between the two) are not in the same place.

Any information about this would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance!

Regards,

Jim
 
In my very limited experience a Uberti cylinder is more likely to fit an ASM. NO GAURANTEE.

I have a few old ASM revolvers; they were what got me into black powder. I did some cross-fitting of parts, usually screw attached parts.
My experience with ASM was in the early 1990s, the time period yours is from. In my recollection, the ASM guns had very soft metal.
I later obtained Piettas, which I thought were better. I do recall seeing a boxed Colt 1861 Navy I thought was really very nice, and thought it was Uberti, but it turned out to be an older ASM, so their earlier guns were nicely made.
 
arcticap said:
It's a handsome looking gun.
IMHO just enjoy it the way it is, don't worry about the appearance of the cylinder and hope that the hammer cam doesn't wear out anytime soon.
Click to expand...

Yeah, but just like my Pietta Navies, I want to know what fits. ;)

Regards,

Jim
 
I know first hand that Pietta wont fit... Might try Uberti. I actually have the same gun in brass but some knucklehead busted the arbor before I got it... Was thinking that a steel Uberti frame MIGHT work, as my Pietta frames or cylinders dont. Havent had the money to throw away on hoping it fits to try it out though..
 
expat_alaska said:
I am thinking ASM and Uberti had some sort of connection in those days, but I could very well be wrong.
Click to expand...
The head guy at ASM went to work for his father-in-law at Uberti after ASM went out of business in the early 2000's, so the story goes.
EMF bragged in their catalogs that their reproductions' (ASM's) parts would fit original Colts.
I'm not sure if that was 100% true or if it was true in 1993.
Nice purchase Jim it looks great!
I have always been very satisfied with my ASM's both for their looks and for their quality of function.
As for the cylinders, go to ebay and save a search for Black Powder Cylinder with email notices enabled.
ASM parts show up pretty regularly from the guys who break up guns and sell their parts.
 
You know how I feel about it Jim. Congrats on your first Army model! I'm anxious to hear how you'll like shooting it with the longer grip and larger caliber, since you're a Navy man at heart.
 
Thanks, Jim!
I missed that one.
I just strained my budget to buy this one on GB or I would bid on that one.
https://www.gunbroker.com/item/797975660
The ASM you linked has a RIGHT hand barrel address like the legitimate Colts.
Interesting that he is not advertising it in his title.
I wonder if he is hoping someone will think that they are bidding on a real second gen. without making it seem that he is suggesting that it might be one especially as he has 2 pics of the address that he CLAIMS not to be able to read?
 
Ephraim Kibbey said:
Thanks, Jim!
I missed that one.
I just strained my budget to buy this one on GB or I would bid on that one.
https://www.gunbroker.com/item/797975660
Click to expand...

You did yourself good with this ASM Baby Dragoon. If the Bid List is correct, you outbid the next highest bidder by a mere $.70. Congrats!

The ASM you linked has a RIGHT hand barrel address like the legitimate Colts.
Interesting that he is not advertising it in his title.
I wonder if he is hoping someone will think that they are bidding on a real second gen. without making it seem that he is suggesting that it might be one especially as he has 2 pics of the address that he CLAIMS not to be able to read?
Click to expand...

I can easily read (from the seller's pictures) the barrel address as did you. It also has the unmistakeable ASM logo, date code, and proofs on the underside of the frame at the barrel lug. No mistaking that for a Second Gen Colt.

Jim
 
Expat, I have a circa 1982 ASM 1860 at Mike B.'s getting Goonerized right now...I can tell you that this particular vintage ASM is rock solid, I've put pounds of lead through it (or I wouldn't pay for Goonerization).

As far as the the cyl goes, though, it does seem Uberti is closer...but I talked to Kenny Howell about ordering a .45 conversion cyl, and he was adamant that any ASM would have to be hand fitted. They didn't even want to send me an Uberti conversion cyl to send to Goon for him to fit...an indication that it's hit or miss.
 
Brad, thanks for the heads up! Down the road when I have a few extra bucks, I will look for a fluted ASM cylinder on Ebay as Mr. Kibbey suggested but I don't think my prospects are very good for that. If that does not pan out, I may take the plunge and try an Uberti cylinder.

I should get my copy of Pate's book Monday so that will occupy me for several days.

Regards,

Jim
 
Last edited:
I am bound and determined to find a full-fluted 1860 Army .44 cylinder for my ASM.

If anyone has a Uberti 1860 Army .44 cylinder of any type, I would appreciate a caliper measurement of the cylinder length. I don't have a dial indicator caliper but my BIL has one that I could borrow for a few minutes to measure my ASM cylinder length.

Any help would be appreciated.

Regards,

Jim
 
Okay. The OAL, including the ratchet is 1.965" and just for giggles, I measured it's widest point across the front. It is 1.608"

Hope this helps you in your quest.
 
Yes, I guess so. I guess I am sort of the anal retentive type person, and have been so all my life. It just bugs me that many sellers on GB do not take the time to accurately present what they have for sale, and sometimes have no clue what they have. Blame the woman who raised me: my Mother.

I used to address the seller with corrections as to what they have to sell. I have stopped doing that because knowledgeable buyers will see past it and possibly get a better price with their bids.

Jim
 
Sometimes it's good when sellers don't know exactly what they have. I got a Colt 2nd Gen Dragoon in near mint condition with no box for about $375 because the seller advertised it as a Uberti and the pictures were not very good. You couldn't really read any markings but I could tell the grips were not the reddish Uberti varnish but the satin American Walnut of Colt.
 
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