Armi San Marco History Needed

[drjldavis]

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
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