Armi San Marco History Needed

B

bprevolver

New member
Gentlemen, I really need your help. I am trying to put together the history of Armi San Marco. I seem to have misplaced the file containing all my research about this manufacturer, worse still I am afraid that it may have been in my warehouse which was recently destroyed by fire along with three collectable Mercedes automobiles. Now I am starting from scratch about ASM.

ASM was one of the first Italian manufacturers back in 1960 along with Uberti. Replica Arms was the first importer for ASM revolvers, the first being the 1847 Walker. I do remember an article about this first revolver in that it was so exactly copied from an original that even experienced Colt collectors had difficulty in telling the prototype from an original. Changes were made in the production guns to make sure they could not be passed off as an original. Also, ASM use forged frames instead of castings on many of their revolvers.

Replica Arms of El Paso, TX was started by L.F. Allen. This was sold and moved to Marietta, OH., and then, in around 1973, was sold to Navy Arms. Allen then started Western Arms which became Allen Arms, and then to Cimarron.

I remember that ASM was sold to American Western Arms who only produces cartridge revolvers. ASM attempted to revive its percussion revolvers with limited success and finally closed its doors several years back.

I need sources of information to reestablish the history of ASM and fill in holes. Any help provided will be gratefully acknowledged in out book when published.

Email: rprca@hotmail.com
Web: http://rprca.tripod.com
http://drjldavis.tripod.com

Toll free telephone: 866-322-6854
 
Would an anecdote help?

All I know of ASM is that they introduced a S&W Schofield replica to compete with the initial Uberti offerings. A friend and I each ordered one from Cimarron, based on advice from a shooter in the Cowboy Chronicle who said they were of superior quality. One did not function out of the box and was returned for exchange. One of the originals and the replacement would fire, but not hit much. A gunsmith's range rod showed appreciable curvature in the barrels. They were returned for repair, eventually going back to Italy. They did not return. After about six months, Cimarron issued a refund for the wholesale price. Since we had ordered them through a low markup dealer, we were not out too much money. I applied my refund to a Model P which has been satisfactory.
 
Hi,
All that i can say about ASM :
The brand was over around 1999 - 2001.
The lastest production were not really nice, and the price very cheap than PIETTA (20% less).
I have bought an ASM replica Colt 1851 cal .44 brass frame in 1991, on the supermarcket ! -(in France, that was possible until 1995) not in the armor dealer.
The revolver is not so good finition and not accurate too. I have disable it, and remixed with an Uberti frame.
But some friends had old ASM revolver told me that were good revovlers, nice materials used.
Seb
 
I wonder if that Armi San Marco barrel could have been straightened? A metal rod placed into it to support the inside so that it won't collapse and then a whack of the mallet at the high spot? Alternatively, a replacement barrel in fitted to it in lieu of the original. Worse case, bore it out and line a crooked barrel (expensive and not cost effective considering it is the manufacturer's fault for making a bad barrel).
 
They straighten barrels every day at the factories.
Why should I have to pay to have mine done?

The word was at the time that the ASM Schofield project almost put Cimarron out of business. They certainly went to Uberti, I think before ASM folded.
 
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