Williamson Arms Griswold & Gunnison Reproduction-Anyone Heard Of Them?

[Hawk54]

Anyone ever heard of Williamson Arms? Just picked this up from an estate auction. It is a .36 caliber reproduction Griswold and Gunnison. It has a 1968 date code and the Italian proofs on the frame and barrel. Serial number is 1050. No maker marks that I can find. The top of the barrel flat is stamped WILLIAMSON ARMS ITALY. Anyone ever heard of them. Searching the internet I found one other pistol like this that sold in I think Wyoming and a Williamson Arms marked barrel for sale. All the finish looks 100% original. Locks up tight and cycles nice. Clean inside and out. The pistol like this I saw on the internet sale had the same dark grips like this one. The pistol came with the flask, mold, and powder measure, and a pistol case. I got a note in an envelope from the owner. He states he inherited the pistol from his uncle in 1982. He said he never shot it but his uncle did. He said he disassembled it and thoroughly cleaned it. He even added his name and address if any questions. Paid $275 for it so not into it for much but I am a sucker for the unusual.

 

[hawkeye2]

1968 My first thought when I saw your heading was that Williamson was an importer but now I question that. No matter what it's a good deal.

 

[kennyd]

1968 My first thought when I saw your heading was that Williamson was an importer but now I question that. No matter what it's a good deal.

 

[Mina]

Anyone ever heard of Williamson Arms? Just picked this up from an estate auction. It is a .36 caliber reproduction Griswold and Gunnison. It has a 1968 date code and the Italian proofs on the frame and barrel. Serial number is 1050. No maker marks that I can find. The top of the barrel flat is stamped WILLIAMSON ARMS ITALY. Anyone ever heard of them. Searching the internet I found one other pistol like this that sold in I think Wyoming and a Williamson Arms marked barrel for sale. All the finish looks 100% original. Locks up tight and cycles nice. Clean inside and out. The pistol like this I saw on the internet sale had the same dark grips like this one. The pistol came with the flask, mold, and powder measure, and a pistol case. I got a note in an envelope from the owner. He states he inherited the pistol from his uncle in 1982. He said he never shot it but his uncle did. He said he disassembled it and thoroughly cleaned it. He even added his name and address if any questions. Paid $275 for it so not into it for much but I am a sucker for the unusual.

Replica Arms under Val Forgett began importing brass framed .44 and .36 revolvers like that from Italy in the time frame as yours.

 

[sethwyo]

Replica Arms under Val Forgett began importing brass framed .44 and .36 revolvers like that from Italy in the time frame as yours.

I thought Val forgett was navey arms ?

 

[sethwyo]

This statement comes from Google I'm just passing it on


Leonard Frank Allen had started Replica Arms, El Paso, Texas in 1962, with the first Colt 1847 Army replica, made by Armi San Marco. In 1965 he sold Replica Arms and relocated to Santa Fe, New Mexico.

 

[TFoley]

I thought Val forgett was navey arms ?

Correct.

 

[Mina]

I thought Val forgett was navey arms His original import (from Ita;y) company was called Replica Arms.

 

[kh54]

At $275 you would have been a sucker to pass on it. Great deal with all the accoutrement and a nice gun.

 

[Mina]

This statement comes from Google I'm just passing it on


Leonard Frank Allen had started Replica Arms, El Paso, Texas in 1962, with the first Colt 1847 Army replica, made by Armi San Marco. In 1965 he sold Replica Arms and relocated to Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Google somewhere else, because I am also right. Val's name is associated with the importation of Italian made black powder pistols under the Replica Arms company name. And the one I have (now my son's) was not Armi San Marco. Mine has the Replica Arms stamped on it.

 

[hawkeye2]

Val Forgett, Jr.'s Navy Arms Company was in business selling replicas by 1960 and possibly earlier. Replica Arms (no connection) came along just slightly after with basically the same offerings. Navy Arms bought Replica Arms circa 1965 and for sometime after the products came with both names on the box. Just to confuse things there was a company, Service Armament, at about that time and it may have been associated with Navy Arms.

 

[Smokerr]

At $275 you would have been a sucker to pass on it. Great deal with all the accoutrement and a nice gun.

Maybe a fool to pass it up but a sucker? Of course that may just be me and the technician in me that likes correct terms used!

Or the sucker was the guy that bought the Bridge in Brooklyn the 2nd time.............................

 

[Whitworth]

For $ the Italians would put anybody's name on their product. You did OK at that price.

 

[sportster73hp]

Looks like a Lyman mold… that’s $95 by itself.

 

[Hawk54]

Val Forgett, Jr.'s Navy Arms Company was in business selling replicas by 1960 and possibly earlier. Replica Arms (no connection) came along just slightly after with basically the same offerings. Navy Arms bought Replica Arms circa 1965 and for sometime after the products came with both names on the box. Just to confuse things there was a company, Service Armament, at about that time and it may have been associated with Navy Arms.

Navy Arms imported their first 1851 pistols in the late spring of 1959.