Pietta and Uberti

In 1974 I got an authenic c/b revolver from a roadside shop on my way to Statesboro,Ga. I received that, a can of BP in an old colgate tooth powder can and some caps and balls. I had no idea what to do w/it but loaded and fired it anyway. It had Gunnison stamped on it and realized when I sold it a year later that I had sold something very valuable for $100.00. In 1979 I bought some kit guns and shot them and there was a magazine you cold buy anywhere called "Black Powder." They never emphasized how much powder to put in the chambers and even suggested that you can't overload one of these--so never worried:) I had never shot one of these again since last March of 09 when someone stirred up my (very limited knowledge) interest in these again. So, after talking w/ some dealers across USA, I was told that Ubertie was so much better than Pietta. Now after 6or 7 months I believe Pietta is the better product---but why was I told only then that Piettas were bad. 7 mo's ago were they bad? I have 2 44 pietta "Lawmakers" steel frame w/black grips. Are thery good? I don't see them in any catelogues -

WBH
 
Pietta's quality used to be hit or miss. Uberti's quality was much better. Somewhere around 2000 (I believe) Pietta acquired new CNC machinery and their quality went way up. From what I've heard in CAS circles Uberti's quality has dropped. Now a lot of folks remember Pietta's bad rep and continue to spread it around. Some say the fit and finish of Uberti is better but Pietta internals are better. I've had two new Pietta's and one made in 2000. All of them have been top notch in my book with the newer ones having slightly better triggers than the older one.

I don't think you can find fault with the fit or finish on this one.
Pietta1860.jpg


Or this one. It has the lightest hammer spring of any 58 I've ever handled.
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Or this one made in 2000.
remmy.jpg



Pietta's 58's also now have taller front sights than originals so don't shoot high like older ones do.
 
I gathered some info most of you might already know.

Mckeal was right about hammerhand assemblies--the swissman was wrong and I was wrong about weak parts causing the cylinder to rotate too hard to the right breaking hammer hand springs.

Your last cock on a lot of piettas will feel a little rough. Those are burrs on the frame of each side of the hammer. they have to be polished. If the hammer is too loose within frame then thin brass bushings have to be inserted on each sides of hammer attached to inner frame. Also, the channel has to be polished. And, cocking the hammer back too hard like maybe fanning:) will also break that spring. So, polish inside of your Pietta frames and check the feel of final cock to make sure it is smooth.
WDH
 
Too bad Pietta doesn't have a CNC barrel aligning machine. One of mine has the sight lined up a couple degrees past 12 o'clock and the other one's barrel points off to the right by a couple degrees. Both have smooth actions and shoot straight though. :) ... and for a couple hundred dollars, what more could one expect?
 
I guess you're right grm. I think the Roy Rogers/Gene Autry looking 1860 Pietta Army w/ nichol and gold cylinder is a great gun but too fancy. I wish they made the other guns as smooth. You're right--you can get these Piettas for next to nothing and everyone has one---but they break:D
The Twin
 
Let me reiterate---everyone that comes in our store with a c/b pistol has never brought in anything but the cheapest Pietta (The unscrolled brass Reb Navy 44)----None will buy a higher quality or even bring one in to show. Our good ones are collecting so much dust:eek:
 
Here is a question for Hardy

Hardy,

You may be in a position to validate a feeling that I have had for a lot of years. I am of the opinion that there is a significant portion of cap and ball pistol purchasers who never shoot their pistol(s).

I think the profile is of a person who gets a maximum of three pistols whether new or used. They are usually brass frame pistols, because brass frame pistols are pretty to those who favor the appearance of shining brass. Brass frame pistols are cheaper so the person who is indifferent to the relative qualities of brass and steel (I don't mean to resurrect the brass versus steel discussion) has no reason to spend the extra 40 or so bucks.

So in your business you see a lot of pistols that fit this description:

Pistols which are never or very seldom fired, pistols that are brass frame, and pistols that are generally at the low end of the cost spectrum. (I am not trying to put words in your mouth here.)

I would draw from that information that the owner fits a certain profile as well:

I am reaching way out here but I would presume that the person who owns the pistol does not know a lot about black powder revolvers or black powder shooting. They have a good bit of unused stuff with the pistol. They have largely lost interest. I have bought two of my pistols in this way plus one Kentucky rifle which I traded as part of a deal on a milling machine.

Nothing wrong with this profile. People do with their money as they please and as an ardent libertarian I am the last person on earth to criticize.

But is this what you see?
 
:DDoc-I agree. But--here in Sc I think they want to make sure they have a REB model. Anyway that's a good excuse for getting one way under 200.00. I was talking about the cheapest Pietta,an unscrolled cylinder 1851 navy 44c. I don't like the cocking action. It seems to go from half cock to full cock too quickly. Now the Brass Navy 44 w/ scrolled cylinder is a pretty good feeling gun w/no roughedge in the feel of last cock. It cost maybe 20 or so more but well worth it. I would put all my treasures away and fire that one at the range. You get what you pay for. Check out the scrolled cylinder brass navy and compare it to the unscrolled one. I don't want to fill chambers of BP in a gun and shoot it if I think a malfunction might occur with me laying on my back with parts laying all over my chest. But BP shooters do get tired of them and lay them up on their mantel. I did. It was March of 2009 before I shot one since the late 70's I think you guys should order that gold and nichol 1860 Army from Cabella--our gunsmith said it was the bestest of the best as far as looks, feel etc. And perfect polishing and action. But it might be to fancy for you,but it is a beautiful gun though.I'm glad I orderd one for the shop--and if no one buys it soon--it's mine:)
WDH
 
Years ago many years ago, you could buy a kit that allowed you to fill the lettering etc with gold. Not sure these are still available, but if they were I'd do my 1851 Navys.
 
You're right, the gold won't last long but it is well put together. I guess you could put a spare cylinder in it or just shoot it and keep it polished. The more economical pietta is not polished well and will break with inexperienced users. Then they have to order new springs etc. We are not gunsmiths but we wan't to sell guns that are reliable and somewhat user friendly. I have a gunsmith that is retired(knows these guns backwards and foward)and checks everything on all of our display. Many need work after they are bought by us!! But some don't. The guns in our display are good:)
 
Hardy I had a pair of the faux Ivory grip Piettas nickel&gold plated 1860 .44 Army Colts with an 1861 Navy grip. They are well balanced and feel great, I liked um. Although maybe not 100% authentic still a period revolver for the 19th Century.
I sold both a mine in 3 days at a Gunshop on the self...New with boxes $500 for the pair or $300 ea. was the price. I got $500...
The standard 1860 Army, 1861,or 1851 Navy Blued sell much better and are more sought.
Remingtons sell even better sold the one below for $450.
ColtsSilverGold.jpg

SBparialeng.jpg
 
Smoking!? how many guns do you have or ever had of c/b!!? You amaze me:cool: Not every young shooter including me:D knows enough bout um. We got every gun looking good, inspected---but that 1860 Army Colt w/gold and nichol got a big thumbs up from our gunsmith:D Shoot it and let the gold go!

Twin
 
Alot ... got about 15 P Revs 4 rifles and a SxS now in C&B and Cart BP. Had 34 BP Revs at one time. Jus' sold twelve last month neeed cash... thought you'd a seen the ads :O)
Get one a them Brass Rem Pietta Rems off a GunBroker get it on a Bid. Bet they'd sell ... get a Steel one and a Brass Rem used even in good cond.
I sold 12 online and local about 3 weeks.
 
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