Since I posted this two people have posted that they also had a G&G Dated 1971.
Since Uberti made very few brass framed 1851 revolvers, I wonder if this was a one-year run. It has been done concerning ASM revolvers in the 1970's.
When Navy Arms contracted with
G&U for their repro 1851 Navy, Val Forgett wanted a less expensive brass framed model for him to sell in the US. It also had a part round/part octagonal barrel (cheaper to produce than a full octagonal barrel) with a non-engraved cylinder, thus a G&G, but it was not marketed as such. William B. Edwards stated such in his book
"Civil War Guns" (1962) starting on p. 422.
This is from a small treatise from Dennis Russell that I found on the RPRCA site quite a while back. The last paragraph talks about the "Yank" and the "Reb" revolvers. The 'Yank" was the 1851 Navy steel frame with an octagon barrel. The "Reb" was an 1851 Navy brass frame and part round/part octagonal barrel, most likely a smooth plain cylinder to cut costs, thus a G&G. Both were in .36 caliber.
Maybe Uberti decided in 1971 to do the same. I would be curious to see if Uberti made similar revolvers with any other date code.
As an aside, I am really hoping that Dennis Norton can obtain Dr. Davis' files/notes so as to create the book that Davis did not get around to completing. That, to me, would be a revelation.
Regards,
Jim
