Navy Arms Company imported Uberti Revolvers

[Southern Shooter]

I have found a 5 1/2" barreled revolver that is in about 95% condition. Fired very little...maybe a dozen times. It is stamped, "Navy Arms Co. Ridgefield, NJ Made in Italy" on top of the barrel with "S.A. Cal. 45 LC" on the side, and "A. Uberti--Italy" on the bottom of the barrel. On the frame it is stamped, "Pat. Sept. 19, 1871 July 2, 72 Jan. 19, 75" It has the bullseye button on the ejector rod. There are no stamps on the wooden grips.

What can ya'll tell me about this revolver?
Which model is this gun?
What is the reputation of this revolver?
What years did Navy Arms Co. important Uberti replicas?
In this condition, what would it be worth?

Thanks

 

[tipoc]

Navy Arms has been an importer since 1958. They began importing surplus military firearms, ammo and material. They own "Old Western Scrounger" ammo company. IIRC in the 1960s or 70s they began contracting with Italian companies for the production of replica "Western" rifles, shotguns and revolvers. They have worked with Pedersoli, Pietta, Uberti and others over the years on the production of black powder and smokeless replicas. They have produced some very well made guns. They have also imported Chinese made pistols, copies of the Tokarov, TTOlympia and others.

You can read more about them here...

http://www.navyarms.com/

They have imported so many guns over the years that it's hard keeping track.

It's also hard to say much about the gun you describe without a picture or a more complete description. As they made replicas of Colts, Remington's, Smith and Wesson's and others.

The quality of the guns is usually very good.

Next time you're at the gun store or books store look at a copy of the Blue Book of Gun Values (or any of the collector's value books) for an idea of what they have done and the prices they fetch.

http://bluebookofgunvalues.com/Gun_Values/Manufacturers/NAVY_ARMS_COMPANY?id=NAVY_ARMS_COMPANY

http://www.gunbroker.com/All/BI.aspx?Keywords=navy+arms

tipoc

 

[DPris]

The age of the gun is a factor.
If it pre-dates the new Uberti factory, guts were known to be RELATIVELY soft now & then & quality was variable.

You could have two identical guns in hand, one good, the other....not.
Quality improved with the new plant.

I don't know when Navy stopped importing Uberti handguns, but they haven't for a while, as noted in the other forum.

The older guns could shoot & hold up quite well over the years, if not pushed too hard.
They could also wear & need repairs fairly soon.

No way to tell where your gun falls.
In condition you describe, depending on the area of the country & how bad somebody wants it, could be worth $300 or so. Probably less.

Not rare in configuration, Navy was one of several importers who brought Uberti guns in & sold them under their own "brand".
That's pretty much why Val pinched the Navy operation down to what it is now, as I understand it.
Denis

 

[Southern Shooter]

Underside of the Frame--- BL stamped

On the underside of the frame, just ahead of the trigger guard, are stamped the letters, "BL". Does that give any information about the gun?

 

[DPris]

Not to me.
I'd assume an inspection mark, or something similar.

The Italian government required & requires various markings & Uberti has used their own for internal purposes, could be just about anything.

Steel or brass frame?
Denis

 

[Southern Shooter]

Frame

It is a steel frame.

 

[Driftwood Johnson]

Howdy

BL is the year of proof symbol for 1998.

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

It is a replica of the Colt Single Action Army, chambered for 45 Colt. That's what the inscription 'S.A. Cal. 45 LC' means. The patent dates are what Uberti usually stamps on the sides of their SAA replicas.

I have had several of these over the years. This one was imported by Cimarron and went under the name Cattleman. The year of proof symbol on it is BP which translates to 2001.

Sorry for the hazy photo.

 

[DPris]

I've never bothered to keep up on various makers' date coding, handy to have somebody who does.
Denis

 

[Southern Shooter]

Driftwood...

Driftwood,
Thanks. That answers a number of questions and brings to mind others....

Does this mean the "BL" stamped gun was produced before the newer Uberti factory was operational?

How do you rate the quality of your 2001 production compared to more current productions?

Thanks

 

[DPris]

1998 would have been done at the old factory.
Denis

 

[Driftwood Johnson]

How do you rate the quality of your 2001 production compared to more current productions?

No idea. It is the most recent one I own.

When I went inside it to smooth it out I found the same rough surfaces that I have always found inside Uberti products. They run their CNC machines too fast so there are rough surfaces and burrs left behind. They all look beautiful on the outside, but they usually are a bit less than perfect on the inside. Then again, you ain't paying Colt prices, so you get what you pay for. I have not shot that Uberti in several years now after getting my hands on a couple of Colts.

I bought a brand new Uberti 1860 Henry a few years ago. Same story, rough surfaces left behind on the parts and burrs that needed cleaning off. That is to be expected for the price you pay. You cannot give the attention to detail required and for a truly well fitted gun for the price of an Uberti. That's one reason Colts cost so much more. Colt does not run their CNC equipment as fast as Uberti does, so the parts come out with a better finish. The tradeoff is Uberti can make more parts per hour and so the price of each part is cheaper than running the machines slower.

You pays your money, you takes your choice.

Not saying Uberti makes bad guns, they just ain't Colts.