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Old March 22, 2016, 10:26 PM   #1
Soakland
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FIE Italy black powder revolver

I came across a revolver and tried to google some info on the gun. Basically trying to find out if it's a replica and what it's worth. Mark on the side of the gun says XX8 which when I looked it up it said its date was 1872. Not sure if I'm right or not. Only other markings I could find was a tiny picture that looks like two swords crossed. Previous owner told me its not a replica and a few years ago it was worth $600. I don't want to sell it I just want to know if it's authentic. I read that if it has a PR it means it's a replica. I found in two spots it has a small stamp saying PN. My guess is it's a replica but I would like anyone's input.
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Old March 23, 2016, 01:25 AM   #2
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Would help greatly if you gave any info at all on what it is.

Single-action?
Colt lookalike?
Brass frame?
Steel frame?
5 shot?
6-shot?
Caliber?
Barrel length?
Opentop?
Solid frame?

What IS it?


If it has FIE marked on it, and it was made in Italy, it's a replica of SOMETHING.
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Old March 23, 2016, 10:55 AM   #3
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As stated, if it was marked FIE ( Firearms Import and Export ) Italy, It is indeed a modern , " inexpensive " ( read cheap ) replica ,600 dollars? either he is blowing smoke or he has a very inflated concept of it's value ( by about times 6 ).
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Old March 23, 2016, 06:06 PM   #4
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With out more information it would be a guess and a poor one at that but I think that RJay is right.
I bought these two Italian repo's several years ago and they are good quality cap and ball revolvers and paid only 360$ for the pair.
Uberti are the upper end cap and ball and your talking < 400$ and they are worth the price.
http://www.uberti.com/
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Old March 23, 2016, 08:25 PM   #5
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If I remember correctly ( and that is not a given ) the FIE's were Ami San Marcos.
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Old March 23, 2016, 09:31 PM   #6
Hawg
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If I remember correctly ( and that is not a given ) the FIE's were Ami San Marcos.
Not by a long shot. PR is questionable but the general consensus is they were made by Pierino Ruschetta. XX8 is the date code for 1972. The PR that I have is very poor quality and all I see are brass frame models that never existed. I'd say value if it works and is in time would be 100 bucks tops for a brass frame. Maybe a little more for steel but I never saw a steel frame PR. Parts are pretty well non existent.
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Old March 23, 2016, 11:20 PM   #7
jolly1
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Due to modern regulations, all replicas should have punched stamp:
"for black powder only", or similar.

Old original guns from 19th century do not have this, as using anything else was not possible, since at that time there was no smokeless powder, and modern regulations.
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Old March 24, 2016, 12:00 AM   #8
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My '69 Italian repro does not have "BP only" anywhere on it.
I don't know when that became the requirement, but it hasn't always been so.
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Old March 24, 2016, 12:05 AM   #9
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The FIE, PR manufacturers logo, Italian proofs and the date code are more than enough to decipher it's lineage.
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Old March 24, 2016, 11:57 PM   #10
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PN is the proof for black powder.
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Old March 25, 2016, 04:11 PM   #11
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PN is the proof for black powder.
Yes and done by the Gardone proof house. The star and shield is the Gardone inspection proof used for all Italian firearms.
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Old March 26, 2016, 12:53 PM   #12
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Soakland is asking the same question, with the same lack of detail, in another forum here.
Apparently seeking an answer he likes more.
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Old March 26, 2016, 03:14 PM   #13
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Quote:
Soakland is asking the same question, with the same lack of detail, in another forum here.
Mods just closed that one, and considering the lack of information, or a responce from the OP, this one might as well end to.
Just hope for him he didn't pay that $600 for it!
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Old March 26, 2016, 05:26 PM   #14
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If he paid anything over $100 on it, he's hopefully learned a valuable (or at least expensive) lesson.
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Old March 26, 2016, 06:39 PM   #15
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Quote:
Soakland is asking the same question, with the same lack of detail, in another forum here.
Apparently seeking an answer he likes more.
Denis
He won't find it
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Old March 26, 2016, 06:42 PM   #16
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That's what I told him there.
He could still show up in General Discussion or Curios.
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Old March 26, 2016, 08:17 PM   #17
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After that he could try the forum where it should have been in the first place! Black Powder and Cowboy Action Shooting.
But I don't think he'll get the value up any more than the $100-$125 range.
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Old March 27, 2016, 04:03 AM   #18
gyvel
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FIE, if I recall was based in Hialeah, FL.

I vaguely recall buying one of those from a toy store chain called Lionel's Playworld in the late 60s or early 70s for $27.95. It was supposed to look more or less like a '49 Pocket. (Things were different back then.)
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Old March 27, 2016, 12:37 PM   #19
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FIE was a Floridian importer of cheap guns.
They didn't manufacture anything to the best of my knowledge, and they certainly did not make century-old Italian revolvers.
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Old March 27, 2016, 01:13 PM   #20
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They didn't manufacture anything to the best of my knowledge, and they certainly did not make century-old Italian revolvers.
Denis
No, they didn't manufacture anything. PR was the manufacturer of his gun, FIE was the importer. 1972 wasn't exactly a century ago.

I may be mistaken. His may not have been made by PR. I reread his post and he said he saw if it had PR on it it was a replica but didn't actually say his had it. Regardless of who made it it is a replica.

Last edited by Hawg; March 27, 2016 at 01:29 PM.
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Old March 27, 2016, 01:33 PM   #21
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10-4, Rubber Duck.
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Old March 28, 2016, 01:38 AM   #22
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Soakland PM'd today, said something about re-posting because he couldn't bring up the first thread on his phone & would not be posting again.

I invited him to stick around, but next time he asks a question BEFORE buying to include as much relevant info as possible.

Said he'd paid $100 for it as a wallhanger gift.
Denis

Last edited by DPris; March 28, 2016 at 01:52 AM.
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Old March 28, 2016, 08:38 PM   #23
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Ok, with that we'll shut this one down. If Soakland wants to try again, he is welcome and encouraged to do so.
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