Why and what was the idea behind making brass frame 1858 Remington copys?

[St8LineLeatherSmith]

I was just curious as to why the Italians started making brass frame 1858 Remington models
because as far as I know the brass frame copys are not period correct as far as I know  there were never any origional brass models made.
I think this would be a very interesting topic to discuss.

[St. George]

Because brass is cheap, and they could sell them to Americans who buy cheap.

Same's true if the .44 caliber 1851 'Navy' Colts.

Scouts Out!

[Fingers McGee]

Because brass is cheap, and they could sell them to Americans who buy cheap.

That and cause they're pretty and shiny; and we all know that some people are attracted to shiny items.   

[St8LineLeatherSmith]

Well they can pass the brass frame Colts off as G&G copys with the exception of a real G&G being.36" instead of.44"

[Blair]

It starts in the late 1950's with the 1851 Colt Navy copies.
With the Civil War Centennial coming up a boxed set of revolvers were introduced, iron framed "Billy Yank" and a brass framed "Johnny Reb".
The Remington revolver was offered with an iron frame "Grant" and brass frame "Lee" set on the same promotional concept.
My best,
Blair

[Major 2]

All of the above...and the KIT market...

Remington & Navy Kits were available most everywhere...  Sears & K-mart and even Woolworth's had them
Easier to complete & polish @ 95%  and about $35-39.00 back in the sixties...

[Blair]

Major 2,

My statement was somewhat simplistic, but was meant to answer the original question as directly as possible.
"Kits" (mostly brass frames) do fallow shortly after the Centennial, but I can't remember just when they were introduced.
They were indeed "very inexpensive"! And as a result this lends presidents to the brass frames as being "cheaply made arms". (as your message implies)
One other side effect to the introduction of brass frame arms, is the association that "all" brass frame guns are CSA copies of US made arms. An untruth that still prevails in the modern gun culture to this date.
My best,
Blair

[Major 2]

I did not mean to imply cheaply made...

Just that I recall a Kit for Brasser Remington was less than $50, basically timed and assembled,
The builder needed to shape ,sand & finish the grips and remove some rough casing marks maybe and some machine marks .

They came about 95% completed ,  CVA and I think Lyman had them listed...  Brass was easier to complete is all...

FIE and others offered Kit & complete guns certainly early 70's  I think I first noticed them around 67-68 or so...

[Blair]

Major 2,

I agree with you.
Neither did I wish to imply they were "cheaply" made.
Only that they were offered very "cheaply".

Many more variables are available today than were available in a true historical context.
My suggestion is to learn your American made firearms history, and go from there.
My best,
Blair

[St8LineLeatherSmith]

I remember the CVA kits that is how I got involved in gunsmithing at an early age
I tried to buy every kit the local Otasco and Western Auto sold back in the mid 70's
at that age i was not as interested in the history as I am now.