DGG/ASP Revolver proof/date code question.

[Ugly Sauce]

I have this old gun. You know the one, the DGG 1860 Colt that Mr.Jack Rabbit recently rebuilt and perfected. Gave it the works!

The issue is, it is a very low serial number (03XX) but the Italian date code, or proof date code is "XXX", which I cannot find reference to. I see "XX", "XXIV", XX9, etc. on the charts but not the XXX. On the charts I have looked at, "XXX" is not on any of them. ?

I've always been intrigued by three digit serial numbers on firearms. I have two Miroku "Zouave" rifles with three digit serial numbers. I've seen a few posts lately on the 'net from people citing the serial number on their DGG pistols, and they are always quite high, like six or seven digits. ? Anyhow, beside the point!

Any thoughts, insights?

 

[hawg]

XXX is 1974.

 

[Ugly Sauce]

Thanks Hawg, I could not find a chart that had that. Must have been the first year of production. ? I bought it in 1976 or '77, something like that, used.

 

[Ugly Sauce]

Dang, my serial numbers do not correlate with the year. From what I can gather, the DGGs/ASP's and Euroarms revolvers were around way before 1974. Not that it matters!

 

[Malachi Leviticus Blue]

From what I've heard from folks who I trust to know what they were talking about, back in the 70s C&B revolver replicas were all the rage and there were umpteen plus cottage industry suppliers in Italy churning them out.
You could buy cases of revolvers for a few bucks a piece with whatever brand label name you came up with and have what ever serial numbers you wanted.
There is little if any reason to believe that most of the replica C&B revolver manufactures back then consistently used chronological order year over year to select the serial numbers.

 

[Ugly Sauce]

I did read something to that effect lately. Probably no rhyme or reason to them.

 

[hawg]

Serial numbers don't mean much. I think they're more for in house use.

 

[Ugly Sauce]

Maybe someone's lucky number. ? It does match the cubic inches of the engine powering my big generator. ! (yes, I have a BIG generator)

Still odd that other DGG pistols, where someone posted their serial number, or where you can see it in a pic, those numbers were really high. Of course it's not unusual to start a serial number sequence with a higher number, and not zero.

 

[Lyle]

XXX is 1974.

My list also shows 1974.

 

[Ugly Sauce]

Way too late for a three-digit serial number. (1974) But on the cottage industry thing, you would have to have a pretty sophisticated cottage to stamp serial numbers in a line, do case hardening or even fake case hardening, and you would not be casting steel parts. Boring barrels and rifling...? I don't think Tony and Sophia would have a roll-engraving machine to do cylinders in the back bedroom.

A more logical explanation, to me, would be that DGG would make a run of guns for a specific customer, and give that run it's own serial numbers. ? I see a "cottage industry" casting brass parts and making springs, hands, stuff like that. Perhaps bluing.

It's a mystery, I wonder if anyone has published a book about the making of the early Italian guns. ?

 

[hawg]

I don't think he wrote a book but Dr. Jim Davis AKA bprevolver was probably the foremost expert on Italian replicas. He could probably have told you whatever you wanted to know about cottage industry.

 

[Ephraim Kibbey]

I don't think he wrote a book but Dr. Jim Davis AKA bprevolver was probably the foremost expert on Italian replicas. He could probably have told you whatever you wanted to know about cottage industry.

According to Sourdough/Ex Pat Alaska (may he RIP,) Someone bought all of Dr. David' book notes and was going to finish his book. The name of that person is probably somewhere in an old thread.

I think that a possible explanation is that this frame was made and serialized and then got misplaced at the Armi San Paulo factory. It was discovered in 1974 and proofed for export that year!?!

 

[hawg]

I think that a possible explanation is that this frame was made and serialized and then got misplaced at the Armi San Paulo factory. It was discovered in 1974 and proofed for export that year!?!

Probably will always be a mystery.

 

[Ugly Sauce]

If anyone has a ASP proofed in 1974/XXX it would be interesting to me to know what serial number (generally) it is, or what range it falls in.

 

[Malachi Leviticus Blue]

Are you certain your date code is a clean XXX ?
could it be XIX or XX then something else?
Could one X be a V ?
Just a thought since I'm not looking at it first hand.

 

[44 Dave]

If "ghost guns" ever need serial numbers, bet they will be even more random!

 

[Ugly Sauce]

Are you certain your date code is a clean XXX ?
could it be XIX or XX then something else?
Could one X be a V ?
Just a thought since I'm not looking at it first hand.

Positively and clearly a triple/XXX.

 

[Ugly Sauce]

If "ghost guns" ever need serial numbers, bet they will be even more random!

DANG! It's a GHOST gun!!!!! Should have thought of that!