1851 identification

[Rigderunner]

Found This old 1851 navy arms 44 in an old wooden box I’ve had tucked away for several years. My father bought me this pistol when I was young for 20 dollars at a reenactment in tunnel hill Georgia by our house. Dad was an old reenactor and he probably knew the guy that’s why it was so cheap if I had to guess. Like a lot of old revolvers and rifles it was dressed up to play the part so someone ground most of the markings off leaving navy arms and 44 cal. You fellows are better at this than me so I was wondering who manufactured it. After cleaning it up a bit me and my 4 year old niece shot some blanks just to hear a boom and smell some powder smoke.

 

[cynthialee]

Navy Arms was an importer and their pistols came from Uberti.

Round barrel, it is an 1860. The 1851 has the octagon barrel.

Brass frame, don't load more than 30 grains of powder.

How many years ago did your pop spend $20 bucks on a pistol?

 

[Rigderunner]

Navy Arms was an importer and their pistols came from Uberti.

Round barrel, it is an 1860. The 1851 has the octagon barrel.

Brass frame, don't load more than 30 grains of powder.

How many years ago did your pop spend $20 bucks on a pistol?

Thanks for the info, it was around 15 years ago I was 12 or 13 at the time. We bought the pistol an enfield rifle two camp chairs a table and rain fly, it was all cheap but I remember I wanted this revolver bad so he said give me 20 for it

 

[Rigderunner]

Mine looks identical to this one in the screenshot. That’s why I said 1851 but I could be wrong

 

[cynthialee]

well hell of a deal, looks like I am wrong...kinda

they can call it an 1851 but that don't make them right


1851 octagon barrel .36 caliber
1860 round barrel .44 caliber

 

[Hawk54]

well hell of a deal, looks like I am wrong...kinda

they can call it an 1851 but that don't make them right


1851 octagon barrel .36 caliber
1860 round barrel .44 caliber

Negative. It is not an 1860. It is a copy of an 1851 Griswold and Gunnison. It is the reb version of the 1851 Navy .36. The Reb version was brass framed, .36 caliber, round barrel, and plain cylinder. His is a .44 caliber copy of an 1851 .36 caliber Griswold and Gunnison. .

 

[Rigderunner]

Negative. It is not an 1860. It is a copy of an 1851 Griswold and Gunnison. It is the reb version of the 1851 Navy .36. The Reb version was brass framed, .36 caliber, round barrel, and plain cylinder. His is a .44 caliber copy.

Thanks for the info

 

[Hawk54]

Thanks for the info

You are welcome.

 

[Rigderunner]

You are welcome.

I had kinda thought it was a griswold copy but I wasn’t completely sure. Do you have any idea who made this one

 

[ppg1949]

If you look under the loading rammer, there should be the manufacturer’s cartouche. One of my Navy Arms was a a Armi San Paulo (DGG) the other is a Pietta (FAP in a diamond).
Uberti would be a U in an octagon. Let us know what it is or shoot a picture of it.
Cynthialee gives good advice on keeping your loads under 30 grs.

 

[Rigderunner]

If you look under the loading rammer, there should be the manufacturer’s cartouche. One of my Navy Arms was a a Armi San Paulo (DGG) the other is a Pietta (FAP in a diamond).
Uberti would be a U in an octagon. Let us know what it is or shoot a picture of it.
Cynthialee gives good advice on keeping your loads under 30 grs.

No marks there either

 

[Hawk54]

I had kinda thought it was a griswold copy but I wasn’t completely sure. Do you have any idea who made this one

Like PPG1949 said it may still have the manufacturers mark on it. Navy Arms was the importer. It is Italian manufacture for sure. The Navy Arms .36 Griswold pistols with round barrels only have the Navy Arms on the round part of the barrels. Did see one with Navy Arms on the brass frame on the left side.

 

[Hawk54]

I had kinda thought it was a griswold copy but I wasn’t completely sure. Do you have any idea who made this one

Did some looking. Replica Arms Griswolds are marked on the left forward side of the brass frame. The Uberti plain Griswolds are marked right above the wedge screw and engraved ones are marked on the other side above the wedge. High Standard Griswolds were marked on the very top of the flat behind the barrel. So from that it looks like each maker did something different so I would think that applies to other makers as well. Do a search for Italian cap and ball makers marks. There is a list with pictures of each makers mark.

 

[Hawk54]

I had kinda thought it was a griswold copy but I wasn’t completely sure. Do you have any idea who made this one

It was made in 2001 (date code is the BP in the square). The maker mark may be under your thumb in the picture or on top of the flat. Don't see any in your pictures but they don't show all the surfaces.

 

[cynthialee]

I didn't even think of the Griswold and Gunnison. I have never actually seen one other than pictures. Not many of them in comparison to the '51 and the '60

I read .44 and looked at that round barrel and went to 1860.

The G&G were made like this but chambered in .36

 

[Hawk54]

I didn't even think of the Griswold and Gunnison. I have never actually seen one other than pictures. Not many of them in comparison to the '51 and the '60

I read .44 and looked at that round barrel and went to 1860.

The G&G were made like this but chambered in .36

Correct. The Reb G&G's were .36. There has been talk that a few .44 caliber ones were made but don't know if there is any substantiation so the .44 Italian copies are made for people who prefer a .44 over a .36 and don't care that it is not period correct. Looks the same except for the size of the hole in the end of the barrel.

 

[Rigderunner]

It was made in 2001 (date code is the BP in the square). The maker mark may be under your thumb in the picture or on top of the flat. Don't see any in your pictures but they don't show all the surfaces.

Done a bunch of searching online and looked really hard at the barrel. I can barely make out the pietta mark where they ground it off to reenact with. So I’m 90 percent sure it’s a pietta made revolver.
Thanks for the help

 

[Rigderunner]

I don’t plan on parting with it being as my dad bought it for me and he is no longer with us. He gave 20 and I’m sure it’s worth a few more bucks but to me it’s worth way more.
Thanks to everyone who helped me figure it out

 

[Hawk54]

Done a bunch of searching online and looked really hard at the barrel. I can barely make out the pietta mark where they ground it off to reenact with. So I’m 90 percent sure it’s a pietta made revolver.
Thanks for the help

Here is a picture of a rare 1974 High Standard .36 G&G with the Griswold & Gunnison stamping. To my knowledge High Standard was the only company to produce one with the G&G stamping on the side.

 

[Rigderunner]

Here is a picture of a rare 1974 High Standard .36 G&G with the Griswold & Gunnison stamping. To my knowledge High Standard was the only company to produce one with the G&G stamping on the side.

Very nice. Is that yours?