Thursday, March 03, 2011

Italian Black Powder Arms Manufacturing Codes...

I thought I'd published this here earlier.  Copied from elsewhere I can find no attribution.

When you purchase either a 2nd or 3rd Generation Colt Blackpowder Arms revolver it bears the Colt patent stamping on the frame and the Colt address on the top of the barrel. There is also a serial number stamped on the bottom of the frame, again on the bottom of the barrel lug, trigger guard and buttstrap. The serialization indicates the year or period of manufacture, and this is as straightforward as model identification gets. Even though many of the Colt parts for the 2nd Generation, and all of the Colt parts for the 3rd Generation were cast in Italy, the guns were finished and assembled in the United States by Colt or the Colt Blackpowder Arms Company, and Colt pistols, regardless of the origin of their components, bear only Colt markings.

The same model gun, an 1860 Army for example, manufactured in Italy and sold by Uberti or F.LLI Pietta, is stamped with a variety of markings – Italian Proof House devices, manufacturer's symbols and an encoded date of manufacture. It is usually a combination of heraldry and letters, which need to be decoded. The same is true of flintlock and percussion lock pistols and long rifles manufactured by Uberti, F.LLI Pietta, ArmiSport, Davide Pedersoli, Armi San Paolo SRL (Euroarms), and Palmetto, which comprise the major Italian manufacturers currently in production.

The Italian proof houses in Gardone and Valtrompia have been around for a very long time but as far as reproduction black powder arms are concerned, the dating begins in 1954. Prior to 1954, the year of proof was indicated in full Arabic numerals.

Following is a chart displaying the year of proof symbols used from 1954 to 2003. These are traditionally found within a box next to the individual proof house symbols. From 1954 through 1970 Roman Numerals were used. Roman Numerals and Arabic Numerals were combined in 1971, 1972, and 1973, and Roman Numerals were used again in 1974. Since 1975 two capital letters have been used exclusively.

As to the placement of proof house symbols, it depends upon the model of gun, and the level of embellishment, the latter often dictating a discrete location on the underside of the barrel or frame on highly engraved examples.

There are two standardized proof house marks. The first is the provisional Gardone proof, consisting of a star surrounded by eight lands and grooves over a coat of arms featuring a hammer and anvil and crossed bayoneted rifles; the second is a star surround by eight lands and grooves over the capital letters PN. All firearms produced in Italy since 1950, regardless of type, receive the first stamping. The second, also instituted in 1950, is the first black powder proof for Gardone and Brescia, and is only used on black powder arms. Thus all black powder arms must bear both proof house symbols.

Finally, there is the manufacturer's mark. This is often confusing unless one is familiar with the manufacturers' insignia. Most use their logo, while some combine their name and logo, or use an abbreviation as their logo. Earlier guns generally bear only their manufacturers' mark, while more recent production has been seen using both an emblem and company name.

Davide Pedersoli, one of Italy's oldest manufacturers has had three logos since 1957. The earliest was a diamond inside a circle. This is rarely seen. This mark was followed by the image of an anvil with PEDERSOLI above it in capital letters and the initials DAP inside the anvil. This again is rarely seen, except on very early models. The company logo, a lowercase dp within an oval, has been used for more than 40 years. This logo is often followed by the DAVIDE PEDERSOLI or PEDERSOLI name in capital letters. In short, there is no mistaking a Pedersoli product!

The same is true of Aldo Uberti, S.r.l, which has used the same logo since its founding in 1959 – a capital U contained within an octagonal barrel device. For Fratelli Pietta, another of Italy's leading manufacturers of black powder pistols and long arms, the initials FAP contained within a horizontal diamond identify F.LLI Pietta; often followed by F.LLI PIETTA in capital letters.

Palmetto, which manufactures a variety of black powder arms distributed primarily through Dixie Gun Works, uses a very recognizable palm tree within a circle as their company logo.

Armi San Paolo S.r.l., established in 1970, uses the last names of the original founders Grassi, Doninelli, and Gazzola as a symbol, DGG, usually contained within a circle. Beginning December 31, 2001, Armi San Paolo officially became Euroarms Italia S.r.l. The same logo is used on all Euroarms models.

Armi Sport, which produces an exceptional line of single shot percussion pistols like the French Le Page, Sharps rifles, and the popular Spencer rifle for Taylor's & Co., uses an AC within a circle, (AC for Armi Chiappa founder Rino Chiappa's last name).

Aldo Uberti S.r.l. was founded in 1959 and has always used a capital U surrounded
by an octagonal device, which is actually the muzzle of an 1851 Navy (their first gun) with six lands and grooves and the front sight. This photo of a Paterson barrel has a boxed AZ indicating a manufacturing date of 1990.

These are the three standard stampings on every Italian-made black powder revolver, pistol, rifle and shotgun. From left to right: year of manufacture, Gardone V.T. black powder proof house stamping, and Gardone proof house stamping. Armed with this information it is now possible to identify the maker and year of manufacture on any black powder rifle, shotgun, pistol, or revolver produced since
1950.

SymbolYear of Proof
X1954
XI1955
XII1956
XIII1957
XIV1958
XV1959
XVI1960
XVII1961
XVIII1962
XIX1963
XX1964
XXI1965
XXII1966
XXIII1967
XXIV1968
XXV1969
XXVI1970
XX71971
XX81972
XX91973
XXX1974
AA1975
AB1976
AC1977
AD1978
AE1979
AF1980
AH1981
AI1982
AL1983
AM1984
AN1985
AP1986
AS1987
AT1988
AU1989
AZ1990
BA1991
BB1992
BC1993
BD1994
BF1995
BH1996
BI1997
BL1998
BM1999
BN2000
BP2001
BS2002
BT2003

13 comments:

Keelytm said...

My dad was always a firearm collector. He had a particular fascination with Italian black powder firearms, so I really appreciated your description of those and how the serial numbers work. Now I feel like I can relate to my dad just a little bit more.

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the info

Buffalo said...

Thanks for the info on marking, however I have .50 cal Italian made muzzleloader with out any manufaturer name. It has the proof marking date BA with the other two proof marks. Then what appears to be a crest of arms but I cannot clearly identify the marking. Next to it is the cal.; black powder only; and made in Italy. It is an in-line style. A friend thinks it may be a Pietta. Thank you for your time.

Coconut said...

I have a brand new "Armi San Paolo Model 1858 New Army Model .44 Stainless Steel with Hexagon Barrel" still in the original box. It was made in 1980 and I have the original receipt dated October 1980. Been researching for information on this pistol to find out what it is worth. Have been offer numerous prices, so I am not what it is actually value at. Can anyone guide me to a website that could educate me of this? THANK YOU!

Unknown said...

Greetings,
I have a a PERDERSOLI 12 ga. shotgun that i bought from a friend 15 years ago for $200. The markings show an anvil with the letters "DAV" not "DAP" inside the anvil. The name PERDERSOLI is above the anvil like you said. Do you believe this is greater than 40 years old?

Unknown said...

Hello to all :) I have here a 36 cal Black powder Pistol that has a heap of hallmarks on it i was hoping that someone could help decode them for me, Top of barrel- A.Uberti & C.Gardone V.T.Italy The hallmarks are as follows- 2 of them have circles that have spikey edges with a star in the middle one of which has a PN under it and the other has a coat of arms as shown in this link http://www.marksandlibrary.com/marks/firearms-accessories/mark-105427_coat-arms-star-shield there is also what looks to be an AC with a box around it that only has three sides top,left,bottom right side worn/missing or never there. There is also a Hexagon with a cog inside of it and the letter U inside of the cog, On the revolver it has beautiful engravings of ships and ocean and writing that says -ENGAGED 16 MAY 1843, It also says PATENT NO but has no number? very interested in any information that would help me find out more about this beautiful gun thankyou.

Anonymous said...

You do not mention FIE. I have an Italian 45 cal long rifle date code XX8. I understand they went out of business

Shane

Jack Buckley said...

I recently purchased an Armi San Marcos Walker kit. Unfortunately I have no parts list or instruction sheet. Does anyone know where I could obtain these? Thanks. Jack Buckley 541 779 8220, jacdotmos@hotmail.com

hvolk said...

Thanks for the info. I helps a little. The XXI on my revolver now i know it was manufactured in 1965. Problem is I still don't know who makes it. When i bought it I was told that it was a remake of a 1857 Confederate Navy black powder revolver. The barrel is marked F.A.R.A. made in Italy. The brass receiver has two proof marks the Gardone black powder proof mark and the Gardone all firearms proof mark. The only other markings are an 09 or 06 depends which way you look at it beside the trigger guard. Also upon field stripping the gun, many parts are stamped with a 64.


Question:

1. What does F.A.R.A. stand for? Is it made by Pietta as I was told by the sales person?
2. How/where do I find out the caliber and serial number?

Thanks in advance.

Horst

Unknown said...

I have a black powder muzzleloader with the markings of a star surrounded by 8 lands and a box underneath but can't make out what's in it and then it has the same star surrounded by 8 lands over the Capitol letters pn. Who is the maker. It's a 1985 with the serial number 202901.

Rem870 said...

Thanks for the info! I was searching for information about stampings on Italian guns.

Cindy said...

My husband bought a made in italy black powder only Cannon 46 Caliber it has other markings on it was wondering if you can tell me any more about it I know it's old

Unknown said...

This is awesome. Just helped me clear up quite a few black powder pistols I just bought. Thanks for the research!