In order to participate in the GunBroker Member forums, you must be logged in with your GunBroker.com account. Click the sign-in button at the top right of the forums page to get connected.
Options
No date code on BP repro brasser revolver
rossowmn
Member Posts: 1,959 ✭✭✭
I found a brass-frame .36-caliber reproduction revolver at the Tulsa show. It's a Griswold & Gunnison style. The imprints are: "Black Powder Only 36 cal." on the left side of the round barrel; "Navy Arms Co. Ridgefield N.J." on top of barrel; and "made in Italy" on right side of barrel. I have many Italian BP revolvers and all have a date code on the brass frame. This one has nothing. The brass and screws show no obvious signs of buffing and the steel parts and wood grips look almost like new. Other than someone having buffed out the typical Italian date code, I'm baffled. I think the date codes should go back to the 1940s, and this gun isn't anywhere near that old. Any ideas on who made revolvers for Navy Arms and why there's no date code?
Comments
Lunch break oversight? Mistakes happen, quality control doesn't catch everything.
http://www.cabelas.com/product/Pietta-Griswold-and-Gunnison-Caliber-Black-Powder-Revolver/1167468.uts
There is a Pietta section with serial numbers, nothing for the Griswold & Gunnison though.
According to this BB, some of these revolvers were made as to be non functioning prop guns. Maybe that is why, their are no Italian proof marks on yours?
I saw several other BP brassers without date and maker markings, including at least one Navy Arms, at a gun show Saturday, so I guess many just came without the markings. I'm still curious why, though.
My WAG. If they were manufactured in Italy, as non functional, "prop" or replica guns. They would have avoided the expense. Of being sent, through the Italian government proof houses. Once they got over here, all they had to do was replace the non functional dummy barrel. With a real one.