How to identify makers

[AJumbo]

I have a '58 Remington repro that I bought used. I'm well pleased with it, but would like to purchase a spare cylinder (or two or three) but don't know who the manufacturer is. What are the earmarks of the various makers? I suspect this one is a Pietta, but I just don't know. Thanks in advance for any help.

 

[arcticap]

This explains the major Italian maker's marks.

http://www.powderhombre.com/mbpproofmarks.pdf

 

[Kaeto]

That certainly don't help with the Colt Navy kit I've got as the only marking on it is
"Black Powder Only- Made In Italy" and that type of marking isn't listed in the pdf. I admit it wasn't a very well made kit with all the tool marks on the barrell and it took lots of work to get it smooth. But I'm sure I didn't obliterate any makers marking.

 

[junkman_01]

What do you want......miracles? Take and post lots of pictures of the different areas of the gun and MAYBE someone can identify it.

 

[arcticap]

From time to time we have been shown guns that don't have any maker's mark that originated from most of the Italian manufacturers. Sometimes the importer's name will provide a clue.
Armi San Marco seems to have produced more guns than the others without any maker's marks. But some of those guns were marked with a New York address on the barrel.
What's ironic is that some reenactors will pay to have the maker's marks removed, which is known as being defarbed.
Then there's the guns that were exported by independent Italian gunsmiths and no one really knows who manufactured the parts for those guns or which gunsmithing outfit finished them.
Examining measurements and features and then comparing them to the maker's known spec's of the time period might help, but there's no master list to follow.

 

[Kaeto]

Found out where the kit came from.

http://www.dixiegunworks.com/product_info.php?products_id=877

 

[junkman_01]

Thank God!

(but you still don't know who made it! )

 

[Kaeto]

No, nor do I care who made it as long as I have a source for parts if needed. Oh and Junkman don't be sarcastic, you don't do it very well.

 

[junkman_01]

As a matter of fact...I do.

 

[Norton Commando]

AJumbo - I'm in a similar predicament. I purchased an 1858 Remington in about 1982 as a kit that had very roughly machined surfaces on the barrel and frame. I spent hours filling and sanding these pieces smooth and in so doing, removed any identifying marks that may have existed. The result is a gun with absolutely no unique marks on it. So the manufacturer of this gun is anyone’s guess at this point.