Inherited Piece...no clue

T

tynimiller

New member
So it's been sitting collecting dust but I really wanna get this piece up and running again. From the data on the gun itself it is an Armsport Inc. Model 5018 blackpowder pistol.

It doesn't say but appears to be a 44 cal, but again brand new to the blackpowder pistol scene.

Anything I need to know about these things?

I am taking it in to a gunsmith as soon as I find one with knowledge on BP pistols to have it cleaned and checked over. It doesn't cock without putting the trigger forward and the cylinder can just spin freely so I know it has some issues.

Say I get all that fixed, is this a model that can have a conversion cylinder put in to shoot low pressured cowboy loads with modern cartridges instead of manual loads?

Crappy cell phone pics but best I can do at the moment:
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Well--from, a quick google it appears that a Armsport 5018 is a 8"
steel frame copy of a Remington Army.
 
I'll get some pics up tomorrow fellas. It is an octoganal barrel and not a brass frame. It is 8in if I measured and searched appropriately.
 
The (square) AC says made in 1977.
The proof marks say it has been fired at least once.

The nipples are missing.

The failure to index and lock sound like the hand spring and the trigger/bolt spring are broken, bent out of line, or missing.


An Armisport reproduction was made by Armi Sport in italy, the company now doing business as Chiappa... with no current revolvers.
A search found a gunboard post in which an Armi Sport was said to accept a Uberti cylinder. I would want a return guarantee from R&D or Kirst before I paid for a conversion cylinder, those things are more expensive than the value of the revolver.
 
Thanks Jim, great info and all seems spot on from what I can tell. It is getting looked over on tuesday by some buddies of mine at a local gun shop...see what they say and whether I'll be taking it to a more knowledgeable hand or not after them. Thanks for the info and keep it coming guys if anything else!
 
As a recommendation you might try...

....Just selling it and then start from scratch with a new revolver.

Sell it on eBay first the frame with the cylinder out of it and then sell the cylinder in a second listing. Put the nipplies back in the cylinder. Start the listing for the frame at 125.00. There is a Remington frame (Newer) which is now up to 161.00. List it at 12.00 Priority shipping and throw it is a flat rate box. Start the cylinder out at 40.00. Six dollars priority shipping. The n say that you will merge shipping on multiple auctions. I will bet that when the fools are done bidding you'll have 200.00 out of it. Bidders on eBay as a rule either do not follow black powder prices or they just don't care.

Right now a brand new Remington is selling for (I think it is back up to) 229.00 from Cabelas. You know it is new. You know you can get a converter for it.

Jim is right. You can easily have as much in a converted BP cap and ball revolver as you would pay for a cartridge revolver.
 
If there is no sentimental value, then what ^^^^ they all said. Sell it on eBay in 2 pieces and walk the money to someplace else and buy a nice new 1858 Remmie copy and a conversion cylinder.

If there is sentimental value, IE: It was your Grandfathers, then things get more interesting. A good smith can likely get it timed and locking right, nipples installed, and maybe reblue the cylinder a bit and you'll have a shooter for about what you would have paid for a new one...


Willie

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Doc I'd be all about doing that if the history of the gun wasn't like it was. It belonged to my wife's grandfather and I inherited it after his passing. The nipples are long gone from what I can tell as they're in nothing I've gotten from his wife since his passing. I know it's gonna be expensive but gonna get this one shooting even if it's just a little at a time.
 
It won't be THAT expensive to get it shooting again. Since it came from family, I'd get it going again!

Keep us posted!

Birch
 
Will do birch. If I were to call someone about a conversion cylinder what companies would you guys recommend that would know for sure yes or no on if it takes one?
 
1858

Good advice from the guys. As you are going to keep it I would recomend going to (You Tube) click on vidieos type in 1858 rem. Many different ideas in the loading process. New nipples are not a problem.
 
tynimiller said:
...Anything I need to know about these things?
Click to expand...

Yes. They're fairly simple to work on yourself.

tynimiller said:
i'am taking it in to a gunsmith as soon as I find one with knowledge on BP pistols to have it cleaned and checked over.
Click to expand...

This will probably cost more than the gun is worth unless it has specific sentimental value to you. If it has sentimental value you have to figure out how much that's worth. I know I've spent way more than some things were "worth" just because they were family specific items.

There is a ton of information on YouTube about disassembly & reassembly. And the Pietta website has PDFs with parts breakdown. If its not a Pietta, but an Uberti, then substitute search terms.

Cabelas sells a Pietta rebuild kit, as do others I'm sure. But I don't know if it has a replacement hand spring in the kit.

VTI has individual parts.

If you want to do it yourself, and want examples you can pick up a new one in working order to learn on. Cabelas had them on sale last week. Not sure if its still going on.
 
I'm not trying to tell you what to do, but if it was my family heirloom I would not put a conversion cylinder in it. I don't see the point in the whole conversion cylinder thing myself, The things cost more than the gun. If I'm gonna shoot 45LC I will buy a SAA. Track of the wolf can hook you up with nipples, and Dixie gun works may have the parts needed to get her going again. Just my .02
 
thanks guys...I'm also starting to debate whether I want to get a conversion kit....I may just grab another BP cylinder for quicker reloading (believe that's possible if research is right).

I don't trust myself enough to mess with it but perhaps I'll delve deeper into it...
 
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