Help ID this c&b

[Texas Moon]

Help ID this c&b. Pics added 2/23

Picked up an older C&B revolver today.

Poor thing hasn't been cleaned for years.
Broke it down and started cleaning it.
It is a .31cal 5 shot Colt Pocket Model with a brass frame.
Italian made.
Barrel stamps are a small shield shaped stamp and what looks like an asteric with a PN under it. These are just in front of the wedge slot on the right side. No other marks on barrel.
On the right side of the frame beneath cylinder area is the same PN stamp and shield along with an XX7. I believe thats the date code?
The cylinder has a stagecoach scene. There are the same shield and PN stamps.
On the base of the grips is what appears to be a square with an R inside of it, ITALY, and what appears to be FTF? I think this may be FIE? This mark is faint and worn.

The gun is in pretty good condition but the fit and factory finish is quite poorly done.
When I tried to remove the nipples I hit a problem. The nipples were screwed down so far down into their thread I couldn't get the nipple wrench on them. I ended up filing down a nipple wrench to where it would just get a bite in the lug and I was able to get them all out. Any idea of what size these are? I will get some TRESO replacements if possible.
The mainspring is a beast to cock. Holy moley it is strong! Easily twice the power of my Uberti Colt Pocket Models.

What do I have?

Thanks

 

[Patocazador]

Photo??

 

[LonesomePigeon]

Not 100% sure but I think this might be the nipple wrench you need: http://www.trackofthewolf.com/Categories/PartDetail.aspx/65/1/NW-130
And these might be the nipples, scroll down to item numbers PTC-PI and PTC-PS: http://www.trackofthewolf.com/List/Item.aspx/64/2

 

[Crawdad1]

The PN stamp is an Italian 'Proof' mark and the XX7 is the year of proof date stamp for 1971. Can't help you with the makers name though unless you can find another stamp somewhere on the revolver that can be read. Back in 1971 there were a lot of Italian makers, not so anymore.

 

[PainlessWolf]

Good evening,
That sounds like the proof mark ID for Ruschetti ( or Bruschetti ). They also made shotguns. I have one of their 1860 Army(s) with the Goon. They were imported for a while by F.I.E. This is the sum total of the information I was able to find out here and on the Web back when I won the Army from an auction. Enjoy your revolver!
regards all,

 

[BHP FAN]

PN is the proofmark for black powder guns made in Italy, and proofed in Brescia, or Gardone.
http://www.powderhombre.com/mbpproofmarks.pdf

 

[Crawdad1]

The 'proof' mark doesn't designate a manufacturer but Wolf could be on to something with that maker. But, parts may be long gone or very scarce for that revolver.

 

[Texas Moon]

I'm out of town until Wednesday. I'll get some pics up then.
Thanks for the responses.

 

[PainlessWolf]

Heyas,
Apologies folks, for the misconstrue. I was replying to this part of his description: "On the base of the grips is what appears to be a square with an R inside of it" That's what led me to think of the Ruschetti manufacturer.
regards!

 

[Crawdad1]

Good eyes Wolf, good eyes!!!

 

[Texas Moon]

Here are the pictures

 

[desidog]

It was imported by Firearms Import Export; you can see "FIE" on the butt to the right of "Italy".

 

[expat_alaska]

Yes, the importer was FIE and the manufacturer's logo to the left of "ITALY" is GLB.

This is possibly Giacosa Luciano Brescia who started Euromanuarms.

I refer you to the last post on this forum link:

http://thefiringline.com/forums/archive/index.php?t-459377.html

There is also a reference to Giacosa Luciano (Brescia being the city) on this link (look under the "G" section):

http://www.earmi.it/A-Enciclopedia/G.html

You might also ask Dr. Jim L. Davis who has this collection:

http://rprca.tripod.com/

Jim

Edit: I also noticed that the rammer/plunger pivot screw enters from the right side (which is not period correct for original 1848 Colt Pocket pistols), just like early Armi San Marco 1848 replicas, but it has the thick "shoulders" on the trigger guard (where the rear two trigger guard screws enter the frame). According to Ephraim Kibbey's excellent collection of ASM catalogs from the period, I believe this is replica period correct for the year 1971, but early ASM manufacture has the thin shoulders starting with ASM first year of manufacture in 1963.

Yours appears to be a 4" barrel with load lever.

To wit, my Replica Arms Texas, Colt 1848 Baby Dragoon .31 5-3/4" barrel with load lever (made by ASM but not marked, but confirmed by Dr. Davis as an ASM first year of manufacture) with the thin shoulders.



Jim

 

[Jim K]

FWIW, "PN" stands for "polvere nera" or black powder in Italian. In many proof marks from other countries, NP or PN indicates Nitro, or smokeless powder, so don't make a mistake thinking that a Italian gun has been proven with nitro powder when it has been proven only with black powder.

Jim