Navy Arms RM 51 Conversion

Dusty Morningwood · May 24, 2009, 06:58:11 PM

Was looking at an older Richards Mason Navy conversion marked Navy Arms the other day. It has the sight on the conversion ring. Who made these?

Pettifogger · May 24, 2009, 07:35:15 PM

A lot of them were made by ASM (Armi San Marco). Most were junk. If it is an ASM, unless you are absolutely sure the cylinder is properly aligned with the bore (a lot were bored off center) and you have the ability to tune and repair one, steer clear.

Dusty Morningwood · May 25, 2009, 08:41:48 AM

That is what I thought. Need to take a closer look and see if it is marked ASM. Is it obviously marked or just an obscure ASM proof?

Flint · May 25, 2009, 01:19:56 PM

If you can disassemble it, look at the helical groove on the cylinder arbor. I should be helical, cut as a thread would be, but ASM's were often just a series of annular cuts, and not especially evenly spaced. The floor of the cylinder was cut for the larger cylinder, and the frame is very thin where the bolt head comes through, the cylinder arbor center and the barrel bore center are not raised as it is on the Ubertis to allow for the larger cylinder. As stated by Pettifogger, they are next to junk. On the one I had, the firing pin spring was stronger than the mainspring.......

Dusty Morningwood · May 25, 2009, 02:09:27 PM

Decided it was not worth the drive!

But I am looking for a used Open Top in .44 Spl. as a backup.

Joss House · May 25, 2009, 02:35:03 PM

I have two ASM SAA's in .45, one is an EMF Hartford the other is AWA. I also have an ASM 1860 conversion in .44 Colt and an 1851 conversion in .38 caliber. All of my ASM's are quality made revolvers. I've been shooting all of them off and on for about six or more years. I know I'm lucky because one of my pards has an ASM Schofield and an 1860 .44 conversion purchased the same time from the same place I got mine, both of his are an absolute piece of crap.

I'm also a hobby gunsmith and I've done my share of work on Uberti's. Simply because it is an Uberti doesn't mean it may not need work, but at least they are fixable. I recently worked on two Uberti 72 open tops this past weekend at our NCOWS posse primitive camp & shoot. I also have an 1872 .44 Open top by Uberti and it was fine right out of the box.

I would never buy anything made by ASM with out giving it a good inspection before plopping down the money, but there are a few good ones out there.

Dusty Morningwood · May 26, 2009, 11:17:57 AM

Here is a pic I had sent to me. Says it is an Uberti but only markings are Navy Arms. Does not look like any of the current offerings by Uberti.

Abilene · May 26, 2009, 11:39:18 AM

1. The gun is a Richards conversion (first model: sight on the conversion ring and ring-mounted firing pin), not a Richards-Mason.

2. I don't believe Uberti ever made a first model Richards.

3. I don't know about the markings on that gun, but Navy Arms did import ASM Richards conversions at the same time that Cimarron and Traditions (and EMF I think?) imported them.

4. The picture looks a lot like some of the ASM Richards that I have seen (silver grip frame, dark case colors, unvarnished wood, blade front sight rather than brass post).

5. I'll be you a nickle that it is ASM

Flint · May 26, 2009, 12:13:07 PM

I agree, that does not look like an Uberti.

Dusty Morningwood · May 26, 2009, 01:52:24 PM

So, it's a CRAP shoot!

Pettifogger · May 26, 2009, 02:38:25 PM

Quote from: Dusty Morningwood on May 26, 2009, 01:52:24 PM
So, it's a CRAP shoot!

If you go into it with that in mind, you won't be disappointed!

Major 2 · May 26, 2009, 02:57:54 PM

OR...you just might get a shooter

... I have seen some that were

I'm quite sure it's an ASM ...Dave Anderson assembled some and they were nicely done, some had Frontier Arms stamped on them .

It seems to have dovetail front sight in German Silver ? perhaps...
You have not handled it I take it $:-\$ ...so what the bottom line $$ wise....I say get the guy to give you an 3-5 day inspection clause then, if it's a shooter and you can get it with out getting soaked

Dusty Morningwood · May 27, 2009, 09:14:33 AM

So I asked the guy about a test firing/return period. Here is the answer.

That sounds reasonable, its been fired with std 38spl target loads and performed like a champ, very crisp action and trigger. If you bid on this I'll give you seven days from the time you receive it to field test it and render a decision. Now if you find it to be defective I'll refund you the full purchase price and you'll be responsible for shipping it back. I think you'll be happy with it though, I don't make a habit of sending people junk and my feedback on ebay reflects that.

OK. He wants $250 + $40 shipping. On my end, another $28. So if it is one of the "good ones" would being into it for $318 be worth it? Also, can any Uberti parts be retrofit for these?