Pietta and Uberti

Well - on the casehardening issue, it may be 'fake' as you say, but (and that is to indicate a real point of differentiation) I have used breakfree (as one gentleman describes), rem-oil, Cabelas BP Solvent, and just about every other solvent, oil and cleaner that I ran into on the gun and haven't affected the case hardening at all.

It would surprise me if the casehardening were an applique, as easy as it is to do, even under production conditions. It would seem to me to be more difficult to apply a finish than to actually caseharden the frame to my way of thinking.

Not saying that someone can't wear off casehardening - I have worn the casehardening off of parts that I have actually done bone hardening on myself - not all that easy, but it can be done. I did a period Hall flintlock replica and wore the casing off of the lock assembly over a period of about a year using only soap, hot water, a dash of simple green and a stainless steel brush... and a little elbow grease.
 
Uberti and Pietta use a chemical process to get the CCH look and is a reasonable facsimile of the real thing. Ruger did use a paint like product that would come off with gunscrubber. I think they(Ruger) have quit using it. The 2nd and 3rg gen Colt C&B use the real bone and charcoal process and actually hardens the surface of the metal.
 
Ruger has stopped doing the fake case coloring. New Vaqueros are now done in a bright polished all-blue finish.
 
Well, Ubertie parts cost more than Piettas--but if you order them you better make sure they are gonna send you what you specified. I ordered a trigger bolt spring for a 1861 Navy---I got a spring that was amost as wide as the frame!
Also, hammerhands are on backorder. Now, Pietta parts are cheaper and can be delivered quickly. The grips on Piettas are not finished as Uberties -- also springs aren't blued--but you tell me. I'm getting disgusted with Uberties.
 
I don't understand why Uberti insists on using that orange stain.
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That's easy Hawg, so you can find it if it falls out of your holster when in the deep woods.:D


Isn't that stuff hideous, beyond ugly, approaching fugly.
 
Do they still do that? I always wondered the same thing. Is it possible to sand down past the stain without making the grips too small? I assume there is some nice walnut under that orange gunk.
 
I don't think you need to mess w/the ubertie grips. Now the Piettas, yo might want to take a little time looking at the wood and then decide if you want to put an extra finishing touch w/ very very light sanding. Or if you like them that way I would suggest linseed oil. That's what we used on guitars back in the 70's:D But guitar slingers and gun slingers may be different--but probably not a whole lot:)
 
I don't think you need to mess w/the ubertie grips. Now the Piettas, yo might want to take a little time looking at the wood and then decide if you want to put an extra finishing touch w/ very very light sanding.
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I don't understand that statement.

Uberti grips
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Pietta grips.
Pietta1860.jpg



remmy.jpg


cch.jpg
 
Um, I see your point there. Interesting grips on that Ubertie. :) My Pietta 1860 Army has grips that could use a little more finish. The brassers could also. That's my assessment. All I was trying to say is that the Uberties grips are more heavily coated. Did you refinish that grip or did it come that way?
 
Do they still do that? I always wondered the same thing. Is it possible to sand down past the stain without making the grips too small? I assume there is some nice walnut under that orange gunk.
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Use stripper to get the clear coat off the wood. It may take three or more coats to get it all. After they dry you can lightly sand them, most are walnut, sometimes nice looking.
 
You know, when I started on my little adventure last March I was told Ubertie was the cadilac and pietta was the Vega. What happened? Uberties are still more expensive -even their parts. Do they know that Piettas are now more in demand. Italy was on vacation-all August. I'm having trouble getting Ubertie parts. I'm not gonna order any more of their guns unless a customer wants a special order:mad
 
This is a hold over from the past. the new Piettas have better internals. The Old Ubertis have better fit and finish. I buy Piettas because my guns get a lot of hard work and minimal care.

I just refinished the fore end and stock of an Uberti 1866 carbine. The underlying wood is rather attractive rather than the Uberti orange. Stripped it and coated it with Tru Oil. Nice.
 
Here's a Pietta 1860 Army Colt [BH] 1996 ... notice the <fap> and stampings how small they were at that date...
http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c277/Smokin_Gun/October2009/1860PiettaBH1996d.jpg
http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c277/Smokin_Gun/October2009/1860PiettaBH1996e.jpg
1860PiettaBH1996.jpg

1860PiettaBH1996c.jpg

1860PiettaBH1996f.jpg

This is the one with the Peso front site i can't miss with
Pietta1860sites1.jpg

Pietta1860ArmyBH2.jpg

This 1860 Pietta has had locating pins sheared off, hand made new ones...has a beer can shim between the barrel and arbor, I bottomed the arbor with washers, it survived Triple Se7en ... still clickin' and a hittin' ... I can say Piettas have been good to me.

And come to think about it that's my last Pietta ... ooops no it ain't I have an 1863 STARR Single Action Army .44 also.
 
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ou know, when I started on my little adventure last March I was told Ubertie was the cadilac and pietta was the Vega. What happened
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?

That was true 15-20 years ago. About 2005 Pietta installed new cnc machines and their quality has gone way up.

I have read many times about the poor quality of ASM. I sure don't see it. The four ASM's I own are as good or better than Pietta or Uberti. YMMV.
 
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