For many years, Dr. James H Davis had been working on a reference book for the replica collecting revolver world. Due to his death in the fall of 2019, he was unable to bring it to completion. Since all of his notes for that text have been destroyed, I have tried to put together as many blog posts from the notes I had received from Doc Davis before his passing.  The text that has been completed thus far and the remaining notes that he had collected over some 20 years of research are contained in these blog posts.  What follows is a section we had almost completed on “Collecting Replica Confederate Percussion Revolvers.”

There have been a number of replica “Confederate” percussion revolvers manufactured that these alone can make a very nice collection. Following is a list of these revolvers that Dr. James H Davis found in his research.

Brass Frame - (Original Brass Frame Revolvers were all .36cal.)

1. Griswold & Gunnison Prototype - Navy Arms - There were only 6 of these made by Gregorelli & Uberti. Very, very rare.

2. Griswold & Gunnison Plain Cylinder

3. Griswold & Gunnison Plain Cylinder Sheriff

4. Schneider & Glassick Octagon Barrel - Plain Cylinder

5. Schneider & Glassick Octagon Barrel - Plain Cylinder Sheriff

6. Spiller & Burr - These were produced by Pietta, Palmetto, and MOFRA di Mainardi A. for Euromanufacture (using the double diamond logo of the di Mardini brothers). Distributor markings known at this time are Cabela’s, Navy Arms, Dixie Gun Works, and Armsport. Pietta discontinued marking any revolvers for distributors around 1990 - (with a few exceptions) so those revolvers are also marked Pietta.

7. Spiller & Burr .44cal. - L. A. Jensen, Lake City, FL - This was one of the first replica percussion revolver ever produced. Very, very rare. (The .44cal. was purposely done by Mr. Jensen in order to readily identify it from the original Spiller & Burr).

Steel Frame

1. Leech & Rigdon – These were produced by Uberti, Pietta and High Standard (using Uberti parts assembled at High Standard in the United States). Distributed by Navy Arms and Cimarron. There are a few Leech & Rigdon revolvers marked “Navy Arms” with the “GU” initials on the right side of the barrel flat. These are quite rare.

2. Leech & Rigdon Sheriff - Distributed by Navy Arms. There are a few Leech & Rigdon revolvers marked “Navy Arms” with the “GU” initials on the right side of the barrel flat. Extremely Rare.

3. Leech & Rigdon - Currently made by Uberti with engraved cylinders (Historically incorrect).

4. Leech & Rigdon Prototype by Centaure - Only one known to exist. This prototype was discovered by Wolf Niederastroth in interview with Mitchell Shore and Leslie Field. Part of Sig Shore’s estate.

5. Tucker & Sherrard Co. Texas Dragoon - Offered as a cased set with “T” prefix on Serial #, only 400 made. All cased sets bear the “Western Arms” markings. A few single revolvers were also marked “Allen Arms”, “Western Arms, “A. Uberti & C. Gardone V.T. Italy”, and “Cimarron Arms”. These are very rare.

Dance Revolvers
1. Dance .44cal. - Commemorative Dragoon Prototype - Uberti - Only one in existence. Owned by Tony Gajewsky.

2. Dance .36cal. - Commemorative - Uberti - Only 44 complete sets produced

3. Dance .36cal. - Commemorative - Uberti - Frame only - Six of these

4. Dance .36cal. - Uberti - Only 50 produced. All marked “SMLS Co.” on barrel.

5. Dance .36cal. - “Dance Firearms Co., Angleton, TX” - Pietta - Only 35 produced

6. Dance .44cal. Rebated Cylinder Prototype - “Dance Firearms Co., Angleton, TX” Pietta - Only 4 in existence. RPRCA Ltd. collection.

7. Dance .36cal. - Pietta - Only 75 produced

8. Dance .44cal. Rebated Cylinder - Pietta - 105 produced

9. Dance .44cal. Straight Cylinder - 8” Barrel - Pietta - Current production

Foreign Manufacture for CSA

1. LeMat Army Model - Plain Cylinder

2. LeMat Army Model - Engraved Cylinder

3. LeMat Navy Model - Plain Cylinder

4. LeMat Navy Model - Engraved Cylinder

5. LeMat Cavalry Model - Plain Cylinder

6. LeMat Cavalry Model - Engraved Cylinder


7. LeMat Army Model Case Hardened Frame - Plain Cylinder - Very Rare

Augusta Confederate
Replica Revolvers marketed as Augusta Confederate, mainly by Uberti in around 1982, were more accurately Colt Model 1851 Navy with brass frame and engraved cylinders. These Replicas made by Uberti are rare. Uberti produced mainly the Griswold & Gunnison with a brass frame. The Augusta Armory originally did not produce brass frame revolvers. They only produced a copy of the steel frame 1851 Navy, octagon barrel browned finish, with both 6 and 12 cylinder stops. Another revolver produced in Augusta, Georgia was the Rigdon-Ansley. This revolver, similar to the Leech & Rigdon, had steel frame, six or twelve cylinder stops, and a Dragoon style barrel.

Commentary:

The High Standard black powder revolvers were a tribute to the Confederate States firearms. The frames were made by High Standard and the balance of the parts by Uberti. The revolvers were fitted, assembled and finished at High Standard. They are of exceptional quality. The Leech & Rigdon can be found with both a brushed silver finish and polished in white on the frame.

The above information under the Leech & Rigdon reflects the fact that a Leech & Rigdon Sheriff model was acquired for the RPRCA collection. As a bonus it is a very early production with the "GU" initials. This is the first and only one of these that Dr, Davis had seen or heard of in the last 28 years. The Leech & Rigdon Sheriff Model is no longer a myth.

The only Leech & Rigdon manufacturers that he had observed are Uberti, Pietta, and High Standard. Other markings that he had seen are Navy Arms (by Uberti and Pietta) and Cimarron (by Uberti). He had never heard of a Leech & Rigdon by ASP (Armi San Paolo or ASM (Armi San Marco). However, this does not mean that they may have also manufactured the Leech & Rigdon, just that he had never run across these. Who knows what may pop up tomorrow. Also, if it is a kit it would be very rare, something to hold on to. Kits, however, usually do not have proof marks.

Regarding the list of Leech & Rigdon replicas and to add to Dr. Davis's list: our Belgian friends of Fabriques d'Armes Unies de Liège made at least one L&R prototype. The only mark is MADE IN BELGIUM stamped on the butt. There are no proof marks present nor a serial number visible. That pistol got its cylinder engraved with the Ormsby naval scene (not period correct) and 2 grip panels kept together by a screw (not period correct either). This prototype is part of the Collection of early Centaures at Shore Galleries, Lincolnwood, IL. For pics see www.1960nma.org. This information was relayed on by Long Johns Wolf at FROCS.

Also, another marking has surfaced on a Tucker & Sherrard Texas Dragoon that is reflected in the list above. Uberti produced all the Tucker & Sherrard Texas Dragoons which were sold exclusively by Western Arms. However, one "scrap" Dragoon has surfaced. It is a Armi San Marco 2nd Model Dragoon with a "scrap" Tucker & Sherrard marked cylinder.

In his research Dr. Davis had continually come across strong evidence that there was a close working relationship between several of the major manufacturers of replica revolvers. Parts were purchased from each other as well as completed revolvers. There is very strong evidence that Armi San Marco may have actually been the sole supplier of revolver parts for the big frame and small frame revolvers which ASM had the sole market on until into the 1970's when Uberti then started selling these revolvers. In actuality, ASM ended up with some left over parts from the 2nd Generation Colts that Lou Imperato sold to them and they tried to use but were thwarted by Colts Industries. Yet some of these revolvers did end up on the market with and are somewhat rare.

In reference to a set of Griswold & Gunnison revolvers listed by Joe Salter, Dr. Davis was tempted to purchase for the RPRCA collection, but he already had several of the GU marked Griswold & Gunnisons. This particular set was from a collection that was assigned to Joe Salter. The Augusta Armory designation in the listing was a mistake by Joe Salter in his listing.

The “GU” marked Gregorelli & Uberti replicas have become very collectable due to their being among the very first replicas to be made, starting in 1959, and to their scarcity, as the production was still handmade in those days. On the 1851 Navy, the first revolver to be marketed, the “GU” will be found into the 5000 serial number range. The highest number in the Jim Davis collection is 5080. The “GU” can also be found on the first Griswold & Gunnison, Leech & Rigdon, Remington New Model Army and New Model Navy.

On the Griswold & Gunnison and Leech & Rigdon the “GU” appears on the right side of the barrel flat the same as on the 1851 Navy. NAVY ARMS is on top of the barrel and on left side of frame. Our Leech & Rigdon #6546 does not have the NAVY ARMS on the left side of the frame but only on the top of the barrel.

In reference to the 6 Griswold & Gunnison Prototypes, those 6 revolvers have several issues relating to design. Bill Edwards had received No.1 of the Colt “Yank” and No. 13 of the “Reb” revolvers. The incorrect details on these revolvers is what makes them so rare. There were some dozen changes between the prototypes and what should be produced by machine. Two obvious changes were a blade dovetailed in from the front of the flat muzzle on the Navies and the screw heads of the guard screws were too large. Secondly, on the Griswold & Gunnisons, the brass of the guard plate had been left wide at the rear screws to surround the bigger heads. The brass projected out slightly and was not flush with the thickness of the frame due to this. Less subtle was the end of the guard plate was chopped just beyond the front guard screw and the grips of both the “Yank” and “Reb” were like the Colt but slightly off. Bill Edwards had deliberately not had them copy the inner curve and the beveled angle on the back of the guard plate to make a quick distinction between the reproduction and the original.

The incorrect front sight on the Navies was altered to a bead screwed into the barrel top like the original Colt when the revolvers went into production. But the remaining distinguishing factor between the 6 Griswold & Gunnison prototypes and the Navy No 1 were the markings. The barrel tops from the No. 1 of the production series were marked NAVY ARMS CO. on the barrel lug. THE PROTOTYPES ARE UNMARKED! The prototypes also had 7 grooves with right hand twist and the production revolvers have 6 grooves.

Dr. Davis was able to purchase another set from Joe Salter from the same collection that contained an 1851 Navy and a Leech & Rigdon, both with GU initials. The set also contained an extra octagon barrel that was marked “Gregorelli & Uberti” on the bottom. Dennis Russell obtained first hand information when he was able to go through some of Navy Arms original records that Navy Arms had available extra barrels in the early 1960's. Actually, Gregorelli & Uberti was a separate company in the beginning because Gregorelli had the manufacturer's license and Uberti did not. They split in about 1962-63 and Uberti formed his own company when he received a manufacturer’s license. The Leech & Rigdon in the set he got from Joe Salter has a date code for 1965 and a 6000 range serial number, way past the split up of Gregorelli & Uberti. According to records whatever parts that were left over were used on Uberti’s guns. From all the revolvers he had seen, only one continuous string of serial numbers was used for all their model guns rather than a separate serial number range for each model. This can also be observed in the sixteen prototypes 1851 Navy and Griswold & Gunnison that were produced.

Dr. Davis had posted an article by Dennis Russell on the RPRCA web site that might be of interest. It is entitled, “The Gun That Started It All”. It relates the history of Colt 1851 Navy Serial #82, from William Edwards assembling the gun at the Colt factory to it being smuggled into Italy for Gregorelli & Uberti to make the prototypes. Dennis now owns this #82 revolver and Chad Fisher now owns the Prototype number 1. It sure would be nice to discover Navy Arms 1851 Navy production serial number 1, but it has not surfaced to date.

In his research, Dr. Davis added Gregorelli & Uberti as a separate company that evolved into Uberti. This means the “GU” initialed and “Gregorelli & Uberti” marked revolvers are truly the first mass produced replica revolvers with Centennial Arms made in Belgium coming in a very close second (matter of months), both of these being the results of William B. Edwards efforts. Leonard Allen with the Replica Arms Co. El Paso, TX being the third out of the gate in 1962-63 with the 1847 Walker and other big frame revolvers as well as the Baby Dragoons and Pocket Model .31cal. revolvers. Interestingly, EIG impoerted the first accurate replica of a Schneider & Glassick brass frame 1851 Navy type. This appeared in 1963-64. These had the GLB logo on the butt which is Luciano Giacosa. He also made revolvers imported by EUROMANUARMS . Euromanuarms was created in the 60s by Giacosa Luciano in Brescia who distributed antique weapon reproductions he made and then distributed in the USA under the brand name Euromanuarms. The marking on weapons was the same stylized GLB punch. This firm no longer exists today.

Most of the current 1851 Navy brass frame type revolvers have engraving on the cylinder which is a little inappropriate for a Confederate revolver. In the Blue Book under Uberti there was an Augusta Armory revolver listed. To the best of Dr. Davis’ knowledge there has never been a replica of an Augusta Armory replica with 12 cylinder stops and a steel frame. In 2010, he purchased a “Fake” Augusta Armory revolver with the 12 cylinder stops on a Kull House Auction along with a “Fake” Schneider & Glassick. Both of these guns sold as originals back in the early 2000’s and were not discovered as being “Fakes” until around 2009 and were re-auctioned as Fakes on the Kull House Auction. There was a Fake .44cal. Dance revolver also in the same lot and it brought $1000 as a Fake. Sorry guys, but there is no way to Fake a .44cal. Dance from a replica because no such size replica exists. Dr. Davis had the good fortune to hold and examine three different original .44 Dance revolvers. The Dragoon is larger than the original Dance and the 1851 Navy is smaller than the Dance .44. Tony Gawjewsky had a complete set of blueprints made up from an original .44cal Dance with the anticipation on manufacturing this revolver totally in the U.S. under the Dance Brothers Arms trademark which he gained title to from the Dance Brothers estate. They were to also be made in Angleton, Texas, the site of the original Dance Brothers factory on the Brazos River.

An interesting side note to the Fake Schneider & Glassick he acquired had the serial #2. Only two weeks before this Fake turned up on auction, Jason Schubert, Curator for the J. M. Davis Gun Museum here in Claremore, OK, called Dr. Davis to help him verify a Schneider & Glassick that someone had brought into the museum to display. Of course Jason was very concerned about the Museum’s liability if anything happened to the gun while in the Museum’s custody, that is, if the gun was truly an original. The owner didn’t declare the gun to be original and was also interested in verifying its authenticity. After very close examination it was verily easy to see that it was a Fake. It had the original Schneider & Glassick Memphis, Tenn markings on the barrel which was the biggest connection to being an original. Dr. Davis dug through his many notes and some of William B. Edwards notes that Virginia Edwards had left in his care. He found that William had seen these identical markings on other Fakes. A die is floating around out there with these markings. Now for the interesting part of this tale is that two weeks after my examination of the Museum Fake another comes up for auction on Kull House. Dr. Davis got this revolver and was able then to compare it to the one at the Museum. Almost identical with a serial number only two numbers different. Obviously made by the same person using the same dies.

Dr. Davis spent a great deal of time trying to pin down who produced those Italian made 1860 Army revolvers that Replica Arms sold. Wolf Niederastroth (Long Johns Wolf) obtained information from the Uberti people in Italy that Uberti starting making the 1860 Army in around 1963-64 and the used an “A” prefix on the serial numbers. What is strange is that no one seems to have ever seen any Uberti logos or markings on these revolvers. It possibly could be that Uberti and Navy Arms had some kind of “exclusive agreement” in the early 60’s that prevented Uberti from openly entering the 1860 Army into production. It would really be nice to know about any Uberti 1860 Army revolvers made in the early through middle 1960’s. I have not seen any to date. But to coin a phrase from Dr. Davis, all I can say at this point is, “The more I learn the less I know”.

~ from the notes of Dr. Jim Davis