help in identifying mfr.

[Macgille]

I finally entered the ranks of the cap and ball revolver fans. I found a beautiful 1858 remington at the Gun store and persuaded the guy to part with it for the princely sum of $175.00. When I got home I measured the chambers and the bore all of which came out to .444 dia. The pistol looks to be unfired and pristine which is amazing because the proof marks show it to be made in 1960. It is all blued, no color hardening and with a brass trigger guard. No worn spots in the blueing and no scratches either.

Timing is almost perfect with the bolt dropping just before rotation stops. There were some burrs on some of the cylinder notches from the bolt, but I removed them with a swiss pattern file.

My problem is in the mfr. mark. On the underside of the barrel is stamped in cursive writing "G. U". then "made in Italy". It has the proof marks from the proof house and the date in roman numerals XVI. This equates to 1960. I can't find the manufacturers mark anywhere except the G U I described. Can anyone tell me who made this gun? I'm pretty sure it was Navy Arms that imported it but it doesn't have the uberti mark on it.

 

[NobleSniper]

Sounds just like this one so a early Uberti

http://www.muzzleloadingforum.com/pp-classifieds/showproduct.php/product/3954/cat/9

 

[missuramoss]

Hard to believe

That a revolver mfn in 1960 can still look as good as a revolver mfn in 2008, unless its been through some major transformation.

 

[mykeal]

Not at all. I inspected a collection containing just such a gun last summer. Some people take very good care of their collections.

 

[madcratebuilder]

Noble nailed it, early Uberti. G.U.=C. Gardone & A. Uberti

I have seen many forty plus year old Italian imports that still look near new. They have had the proper cleaning and storage is all.

 

[Macgille]

Thanx for the replies fellas. While I was shopping for the remington I saw several 1860 colts and a 1851 navy in the case. I think that this is a collection recently sold. All of the guns looked mint. Either the owner took extraordinary care with his guns, or he collected but didn't shoot 'em. There was also a pocket police model and some single shot duelers.

Wish I had more money.

Since the bore is .444 what size ball should I look for?

 

[mykeal]

There are collectors and there are shooters. They are very rarely the same person. Find a serious collector and you will find some stunning hardware - very well taken care of, highly polished, void of damage and signs of use. Beautiful to look at, works of art. Almost feels illegal to handle them, and often you aren't allowed to without gloves. Find a shooter and you will find some equally stunning hardware, but from a different perspective - it'll be very well taken care of, but somewhat dull in finish, with evidence of wear very visible. It'll look like that old flannel shirt and light blue denim pants with a pair of worn leather boots: very comfortable, coming easily to a hand with a little dirt under the nails, ready to go to work.

I have some of both. Which is better? I do not know.