Hi Fingers, I know that stainless steel BP replica revolvers hold a special interest for you. Can you give us some information on how many of these stainless steel revolvers were made by Uberti and Pietta? Is it just the rarity of the stainless steel BP revolvers that holds your interest? Do you shoot them? Does stainless steel when used with BP have less corrosion than blued revolvers?
I remember that when Colt began making stainless steel handguns that many workers would call in sick when there was going to be a production run of stainless steel handguns. Seems that the stainless steel used was gummy to machine and was hell on tooling. I really like and own a number of modern stainless steel handguns, but shy about buying stainless steel for BP revolvers. They cost more and IMO lack the historical perspective appearance of BP revolvers of the time.
Regards,
Richard
Interesting, does that mean Uberti made 8,000 of these SS 1851 Navy's? That seems like way too many for how rarely they show up.
Another interesting thing about these SS Uberti '51's is they seem to have the exact same contours on the barrel lug and the exact same trigger guard shape as the 2nd Gen Colt's. These are just my impressions but on the normal Uberti Squareback 1851 Navy it seems the barrel lug is more forward-slanted and the trigger guard is a little deeper top to bottom.
The best I can figure, it is possible that over the five years of production that I have identified so far from date codes, there could have been 8,000 total. There were 16 different models of the SS Colts being made, not just 1851 Navies. Spread over 5 years and 16 models, the 8000 total would mean about 100 of each were made each year. Uberti was the only maker, Pietta had nothing to do with them. The 1982 Colt's catalog had five SS models listed, only 3 of the models actually got made. Since Uberti was the primary parts kit maker for the 2nd Gens, it would be likely that Uberti was cutting their losses by bringing out the SS models in 1983.
Here is the thread I've been updating for the last few years about the SS models and how many have been found so far.
In the early to mid 1980s, Uberti produced a line of stainless steel percussion Colt revolvers that were imported to the US by Allen Firearms, Santa Fe, NM; Southwest Muzzleloaders Supply, Inc. Angleton, TX, Uberti USA, and possibly others. They are now also known to have been sold in Europe under the HEGE dealer name.
Phil Spangenberger did an article about these stainless revolvers in the October 1983 issue of Guns and Ammo Magazine. According to the article, the models that were being imported were the 1851 Navy, 1860 Army, 1861 Navy, 1862 Pocket Navy, and 1862 Pocket police. Thanks to Dr. J.L. Davis of RPRCA, Claremore, OK, I have a 1984 price list for Uberti products that lists fourteen different models of Stainless Steel Colts produced by Uberti at that time. Subsequent price lists expanded the line to 16 models by adding 4 ½ inch barreled Pocket Navy and Pocket Police. The complete model list, known so far, is:
1851 Navy, Oval Trigger guard Revolver, Cal. .36
1851 Navy, Square back Trigger guard Revolver, Cal. .36 *@
1851 Navy, Sheriffs Model Oval Trigger guard Revolver, Cal. .36 *
1851 Navy, Sheriffs Model Square back Trigger guard Revolver, Cal. .36
1860 Army, Military, Cut For Stock, Cal. .44 *@
1860 Army, Military, With Fluted Cylinder, Revolver, Cal. .44*@
1861 Navy, Military, Cut For Stock, Revolver, Cal. .36 * @
1861 Navy, Civilian, Revolver, Cal. .36
1861 Navy, Military, With Fluted Cylinder, Revolver, Cal. .36*
1861 Navy, Civilian, With Fluted Cylinder, Revolver, Cal. .36
1862 Police, Semi-Fluted Cylinder, Revolver, Cal. .36, Barrel 4 ½@
1862 Police, Semi-Fluted Cylinder, Revolver, Cal. .36, Barrel 5 ½*@
1862 Police, Semi-Fluted Cylinder, Revolver, Cal. .36, Barrel 6 ½
1862 Pocket Navy, Engraved Cylinder, Revolver, Cal. .36, Barrel 4 ½*
1862 Pocket Navy, Engraved Cylinder, Revolver, Cal. .36, Barrel 5 ½*@
1862 Pocket Navy, Engraved Cylinder, Revolver, Cal. .36, Barrel 6 ½
(* - have identified location of examples of these models)
(@ - have this model)
The current total of known revolvers is 31. I have nine of these revolvers and know of twenty two in the hands of other collectors or BP shooters. The latest two that have been identified were listings for two 1851 Navies on Gun Broker. Two of the known revolvers are in Switzerland, and one is in England. The Swiss models are marked Hege and the English model has the typical Allen Firearms barrel address.
Anyone with information concerning Allen Firearms, Southwest Muzzleloaders Supply or any other Uberti Stainless Steel Colt style revolvers is requested to contact fingersmcgee@charter.net I am seeking information as to models, manufacture dates, serial numbers, barrel markings, barrel lengths, trigger guards, and any other characteristics as well as any catalog, brochure and original packaging information.
