ASM 1847 Walker

Cooked Off · April 7, 2024, 10:56 AM

What do these marks mean?

Is there any way to find out what year it was manufactured?

**44 AMP** · April 7, 2024, 01:15 PM

The markings are called "proof marks" and are stamped on the gun to show it has passed certain proof tests (like not blowing up when fired, etc) required by various nations (European, primarily) before the gun can be sold or exported.

I don't know of any way to date the manufacture, sorry.

ASM usually refers to Armi San Marco, an Italian firm that made replica firearms from the 1960s through the 1990s and went out of business about 2004.

My personal experience with their guns is that they are well finished, (some very well finished) on the outside, but mechanically they are a crapshoot, and the one I had was crap. I do not recommend them for anything but static display (they can be very pretty) but if you want a shooter, you are better off with a gun from someone else.

44caliberkid · April 7, 2024, 05:19 PM

There should be two letters, usually on the right side of the frame, above the trigger guard. That is the year of production letter code. Tell us the letters and me or someone else on here can tell you the year. The ASM Walkers were pretty decent guns.

**44 AMP** · April 8, 2024, 01:29 AM

The ASM "Schoefield" I had, wasn't. Beautiful to look at, misfired and "shot off the face" when used. They made a beautiful looking gun. They could have made a good working gun. They didn't.

jaguarxk120 · April 8, 2024, 09:48 AM

The "BD" in the box is the date code for 1994, the year the gun was made.

bedbugbilly · April 8, 2024, 10:26 AM

Look for Roman Numerals or two letters within a "box" - i.e. rectangle. Then Google "Cap and Ball Revolver Date Codes". Roaan Numerals were used (up to 4 "digits" or letters) and then "Capital Letters" were used to designate the year of manufacturer.

ASM - Armi San Marco - was an Italian maker. Over the past 60 years I have owned several ASM revolvers that I got through trades or purchased outright because the price was right. Personal Opinion - some were better than others as far as fit and finish. BUT . . . I have also owned many (and still do) Uberti and Pietta that the same could be said for. The ASM revolvers had a reputation for "soft" internal parts, but that didn't necessarily mean they work out quickly, or would ever wear out as such a thing depends on a lot of different things.

IIRC, ASM produced cap and ball revolvers for CVA - they were stamped with CVA's logo. I picked up one at a gun show probably 16 or so yers ago - new in the box. It was made for CVA. It was a beautiful 1861 Colt Navy clone. I bought it because of the price and put it up on the shelf as a "spare" to shoot once in a while (I have a fetish for 1851 Colt Navies). It sat on the shelf for a couple of years and I ended up seeking it to a fellow who wanted it in the worst way. As far as I know, he has put thousands of rounds through it and it is still going strong. I also ran across a ASM 1861 Richards & Mason conversion - 38 seal- that was made as a conversion model with a .357 bore one time. At the time, I was dealing on a 1910 Colt Army Special and a S & W M & P early 6" 39 spl. Target Revolver. I bought those and passed on the ASM R & M '61 Navy conversion. I have kicked myself many times for not getting the ASM Conversion as it was a beautiful handgun. All of the ASMs I have had have had nice clean and crisp actions. Others may have had other experiences - like any manufacturer - it depends on the individual handgun.

Enjoy that Walker - a nice historical model and fun to shoot!

44caliberkid · April 8, 2024, 03:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jaguarxk120

The "BD" in the box is the date code for 1994, the year the gun was made.

Thanks. That’s a really bad strike on that BD, I wasn’t sure what it was.

Cooked Off · April 10, 2024, 12:40 PM

Quote:

The "BD" in the box is the date code for 1994, the year the gun was made.

Cool, then from what I understand this Walker is one of the last years they made them.

I just got the mold for the balls so I'll cast some this weekend and see how it shoots.

April 7, 2024, 01:15 PM	#2
44 AMP Staff Join Date: March 11, 2006 Location: Upper US Posts: 28,906	welcome to TFL The markings are called "proof marks" and are stamped on the gun to show it has passed certain proof tests (like not blowing up when fired, etc) required by various nations (European, primarily) before the gun can be sold or exported. I don't know of any way to date the manufacture, sorry. ASM usually refers to Armi San Marco, an Italian firm that made replica firearms from the 1960s through the 1990s and went out of business about 2004. My personal experience with their guns is that they are well finished, (some very well finished) on the outside, but mechanically they are a crapshoot, and the one I had was crap. I do not recommend them for anything but static display (they can be very pretty) but if you want a shooter, you are better off with a gun from someone else. __________________ All else being equal (and it almost never is) bigger bullets tend to work better.

April 8, 2024, 01:29 AM	#4
44 AMP Staff Join Date: March 11, 2006 Location: Upper US Posts: 28,906	The ASM "Schoefield" I had, wasn't. Beautiful to look at, misfired and "shot off the face" when used. They made a beautiful looking gun. They could have made a good working gun. They didn't. __________________ All else being equal (and it almost never is) bigger bullets tend to work better.

April 8, 2024, 10:26 AM	#6
bedbugbilly Senior Member Join Date: November 19, 2009 Posts: 3,287	Look for Roman Numerals or two letters within a "box" - i.e. rectangle. Then Google "Cap and Ball Revolver Date Codes". Roaan Numerals were used (up to 4 "digits" or letters) and then "Capital Letters" were used to designate the year of manufacturer. ASM - Armi San Marco - was an Italian maker. Over the past 60 years I have owned several ASM revolvers that I got through trades or purchased outright because the price was right. Personal Opinion - some were better than others as far as fit and finish. BUT . . . I have also owned many (and still do) Uberti and Pietta that the same could be said for. The ASM revolvers had a reputation for "soft" internal parts, but that didn't necessarily mean they work out quickly, or would ever wear out as such a thing depends on a lot of different things. IIRC, ASM produced cap and ball revolvers for CVA - they were stamped with CVA's logo. I picked up one at a gun show probably 16 or so yers ago - new in the box. It was made for CVA. It was a beautiful 1861 Colt Navy clone. I bought it because of the price and put it up on the shelf as a "spare" to shoot once in a while (I have a fetish for 1851 Colt Navies). It sat on the shelf for a couple of years and I ended up seeking it to a fellow who wanted it in the worst way. As far as I know, he has put thousands of rounds through it and it is still going strong. I also ran across a ASM 1861 Richards & Mason conversion - 38 seal- that was made as a conversion model with a .357 bore one time. At the time, I was dealing on a 1910 Colt Army Special and a S & W M & P early 6" 39 spl. Target Revolver. I bought those and passed on the ASM R & M '61 Navy conversion. I have kicked myself many times for not getting the ASM Conversion as it was a beautiful handgun. All of the ASMs I have had have had nice clean and crisp actions. Others may have had other experiences - like any manufacturer - it depends on the individual handgun. Enjoy that Walker - a nice historical model and fun to shoot! __________________ If a pair of '51 Navies were good enough for Billy Hickok, then a single Navy on my right hip is good enough for me . . . besides . . . I'm probably only half as good as he was anyways. Hiram's Rangers Badge #63

April 7, 2024, 05:19 PM	#3
44caliberkid Senior Member Join Date: May 15, 2017 Location: Iowa Posts: 1,110	There should be two letters, usually on the right side of the frame, above the trigger guard. That is the year of production letter code. Tell us the letters and me or someone else on here can tell you the year. The ASM Walkers were pretty decent guns.

April 8, 2024, 09:48 AM	#5
jaguarxk120 Senior Member Join Date: February 28, 2008 Location: Michigan Posts: 2,620	The "BD" in the box is the date code for 1994, the year the gun was made.