I have posted recently concerning this .31 caliber revolver by Pietta. I feel strongly that potential buyers should be aware of the facts. Apparently there have been some purchasers of this revolver who are quite satisfied. I will reiterate the problems I have had with mine out of the box! Loading lever will not latch in place, plunger too large to enter cylinder mouth, it is completely useless. I had these problems corrected, loaded the revolver and went to the range eager to fire my new revolver. I placed #10 P.C. (properly seated on the nipples) and brought the hammer to the firing position. I decided not to fire immediately so I eased the hammer forward until it rested upon the capped nipple of a live chamber. I then attempted to place the hammer in a safety notch by easing the hammer backward to the half cock position, it would not enter the half cock position. I had to solve this problem by removing a live cylinder which I DO NOT RECOMMEND very gently and then bringing the hammer to the half cock position, after which I replaced the cylinder. This convinced me that the revolver is unsafe to operate. Having had the above problems and not wishing to sell the revolver to anyone not knowing whether they would have the additional repairs made rendering it safe, I decided to discard the revolver after rendering it not usable. For those who are quick to think here is a novice who does not know what he is doing, I started firing black powder revolvers in the seventies and had no problems with them (Italian imports, ROA,) I only wish I still had them. You would think that with the passage of years, quality would have improved, IT HAS NOT! Anyone thinking about buying a Pietta or Uberti for that matter need to be absolutely sure to deal with a well known and reliable company with a no nonsense and a hassle free return policy! Good luck to you!
1863 Pocket Remington by Pietta
- Thread starter Whately
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junkman_01
member
Geez, I wish you had sent it to me! Those kinds of problems are easy to remedy.
Packman
Member
Yeah really. There are so many qualified people on here who'd have been happy to had it and made a good shooter out of it.
If nothing else, why not render it inoperable and then make a nice wallhanger out of it? I know I'd like a nice shadowbox display, but all my guns are shooters.
If nothing else, why not render it inoperable and then make a nice wallhanger out of it? I know I'd like a nice shadowbox display, but all my guns are shooters.
HisSoldier
Member
- Joined
- Sep 26, 2007
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- 1,330
In the future simply disassemble the gun and sell it as parts. Whoever reassembles it will have any liability. A lot of people who build airplanes do that, because they are paranoid about liability. That whole way of thinking is so foreign to me that I cannot understand it beyond saying that it's another way that lawyers have screwed up this world.
1863 Remington Pocket Revolver by Pietta
I wish to thank all who responded to my post. The revolver was purchased from Taylor and Company of Virginia. I agree that the revolver was reparable, however, I have already spent too much money on repairs that should not have been necessary if Pietta was a manufacturer of QUALITY reproduction revolvers! They are not and this can be written in concrete. As I approach the age of seventy I am certainly qualified to note certain changes. Quality is definitely not what it was in the seventies or any where close, it has grown steadily worse over the years. Those who are accustomed to buying poor and inferior quality items because they have not experienced real quality and are willing to pay for inferior products can only expect more in the future and worse!
I wish to thank all who responded to my post. The revolver was purchased from Taylor and Company of Virginia. I agree that the revolver was reparable, however, I have already spent too much money on repairs that should not have been necessary if Pietta was a manufacturer of QUALITY reproduction revolvers! They are not and this can be written in concrete. As I approach the age of seventy I am certainly qualified to note certain changes. Quality is definitely not what it was in the seventies or any where close, it has grown steadily worse over the years. Those who are accustomed to buying poor and inferior quality items because they have not experienced real quality and are willing to pay for inferior products can only expect more in the future and worse!
PRM
Member
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- Apr 14, 2008
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- 2,111
You can get a lemon with any product. Pietta makes a decent gun. I have a co-worker who recently purchased a pair of Pietta 1858s that are as good a fit, finish and quality as any of my Colts (2nd Generations an Signature Series). The only negative are all the "Made in Italy," and warning stamps. After going to the range with him ~ they kind of make me want one.
Hate you had problems and got rid of your gun.
I understand your frustration. I own two Cimarrons which are supposed to be top of the line Uberti guns. One had to have a firing pin right out of the box and the second was so botched that it had to be completely rebuilt ~ internals and cylinder (so aggressively buffed at the factory, it would not lock up). Both of these gun were definitely the exception and this company has a great reputation in the SASS community. Their customer service is first rate.
The 1863 is a neat little gun and as far as size really compliments a Remington pattern collection. I had one of these guns for about 10 years and will probably buy one of the all steel versions at some point. I would have had it fixed.
Hate you had problems and got rid of your gun.
I understand your frustration. I own two Cimarrons which are supposed to be top of the line Uberti guns. One had to have a firing pin right out of the box and the second was so botched that it had to be completely rebuilt ~ internals and cylinder (so aggressively buffed at the factory, it would not lock up). Both of these gun were definitely the exception and this company has a great reputation in the SASS community. Their customer service is first rate.
The 1863 is a neat little gun and as far as size really compliments a Remington pattern collection. I had one of these guns for about 10 years and will probably buy one of the all steel versions at some point. I would have had it fixed.
junkman_01
member
What you are saying about Pietta is simply not true. You got the lemon in the bunch and that could happen in any time frame. I just recently purchased a Pietta revolver from Cabelas and I couldn't be happier with it.
Read my post on this revolver.... http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=548411
Read my post on this revolver.... http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=548411
What a shame. Taylors and Company is a very reputable dealer and they would have made good on your purchase. In the future when you buy from any one of a number of reputable dealers, open the box, inspect it, if it is defective in any way call the dealer and have them swap with you a new one. The biggest mistake one can make is decide that the problem is minor, attempt to gunsmith it yourself, then after the alteration call the dealer and complain.
As far as your procedure to place the hammer in a safety notch I believe your procedure was incorrect. First off, you could have removed the cap first. However, you shouldn't have to do that. There is a certain procedure you follow on cap-n-ball revolvers to de-cock it. Otherwise IT WILL lock up. I believe this is what happened to you.
The procedure to uncock this particular model should be similar to a Ruger Old Army. Read about the uncock procedure on page 18 of this manual.
If the procedure is different than a ROA I'm sure someone will step in soon to correct me.
As far as your procedure to place the hammer in a safety notch I believe your procedure was incorrect. First off, you could have removed the cap first. However, you shouldn't have to do that. There is a certain procedure you follow on cap-n-ball revolvers to de-cock it. Otherwise IT WILL lock up. I believe this is what happened to you.
The procedure to uncock this particular model should be similar to a Ruger Old Army. Read about the uncock procedure on page 18 of this manual.
If the procedure is different than a ROA I'm sure someone will step in soon to correct me.
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Tommygunn
Member
Wow! What an indictment!
I bought a Pietta 1851 steel frame circa 1993 that had a space between the cylinder and the barrel you could drive a Mack Truck through. I didn't know it until I got it to the range and ... well, powder and flame spat out and a bag I used to carry stuff got a little burned.
But 17 years later I have a number of Pietta repros and they are all good quality and work correctly. In fact, if anything I would say the more recent guns are better, if anything, than older ones. Uberti is pretty much considered the "best" of the Italian makers of revolvers and Pietta now is almost really on par. In fact I would say Pietta does better case color hardening than Uberti. That really is only a cosmetic thing though.
But ANY company can have lemons. Give it a break man. Try again. Gte a 1851 or 1860. Blackpowder is addicting. You'll like it!
When I bought Pietta from Cabelas, about half the time I would open 3 or 4 boxes before finding one I was happy with. Either they were sloppy, had crappy wood, or had sloppy machine work. I won't buy one unless I can see it now. I did get a good 1863 .31 pocket on the first try though.
junkman_01
member
ZZZ,
Cabelas only has 30 US stores, so most of us can not go and check out a gun personally as you did.
I have had good luck ordering from them and haven't had to return one yet.
Cabelas only has 30 US stores, so most of us can not go and check out a gun personally as you did.
I have had good luck ordering from them and haven't had to return one yet.
rocky branch
Member
I have had 95% positive experience with Piettas and Cabellas as well.
I am a whole lot more patient now than years ago, but in my youth I understood "lemon."
I am a whole lot more patient now than years ago, but in my youth I understood "lemon."
Whately - It's unfortunate that you base your opinion of an entire manufacturer's products on the basis of one negative encounter. Making such unwarranted generalizations is neither fair nor reasonable. And compounding the error by intentionally not affording the dealer or manufacturer the ability to correct the error is simply unacceptable behavior. At your age you should know that by now - I would imagine you'd have a different perspective is someone had judged your entire life's work on the basis of one mistake. But perhaps you no longer make mistakes, having all that life's experience.
Totally false statement! I owned BP revolvers back in the 1970's and todays examples are far superior in every way.
The minor problems experienced with the OPs revolver certainly were fixable but a return to the place of purchase would have been far easier and to his satisfaction...instead the OP decided to destroy the gun and complain about it...I find that immature and senseless!
Since he did deal with a reputable company with a good return policy, why is he making it seem like he didn't by issuing this warning...perhaps he tried to return it and couldn't???
I think the OP is either confused or yanking our chains!!!
My final comment pertains to his gunsmithing abilities..originally in a post on Oct 6, the OP asked for advice when he replaced the original nipples with stainless steel ones and the cylinder bound up when caps were on it...in order to alleviate the problem he attempted to file down the recoil shield!!!!!! That alone should have been a heads up that he didn't have a clue as to what he was doing and is probably the reason he couldn't return the gun in the first place!!!!!!
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BHP FAN
Member
+1, Bluehawk. I think he just got frustrated.
WALKERs210
Member
My 1851 that I purchased last month had the same issue with "LOCKING UP" when hammer was lowered onto a cap. Replaced the nipples with a set from Petersoli and that ended that problem. Anything that is made by man can have a issue and even Mother Nature makes some from time to time.
DrLaw
Member
Back when I was a lot younger (i.e. a real dumbass) I once got a Colt-replica from EMF that was not what it was supposed to be (a six-shot .31, I swear, a six-shot .31 Wells Fargo - Baby Dragoon).
I called EMF and chewed out the guy running it at the time, I think Rich Davis???
Looking back, I did exactly what Whately did here, except I kept it between
myself and EMF and did not use the internet. I got pissed, let the steam blow, and have felt really embarrassed since then for being such a jerk.
The Doc is out now.
I called EMF and chewed out the guy running it at the time, I think Rich Davis???
Looking back, I did exactly what Whately did here, except I kept it between
myself and EMF and did not use the internet. I got pissed, let the steam blow, and have felt really embarrassed since then for being such a jerk.
The Doc is out now.
DrLaw
Member
A five-shot Wells Fargo. Who ever heard of a six-shot Wells Fargo?
The Doc is out now.
The Doc is out now.
mothernatureson
Member
pocket lock up
load only five chambers, hammer down on the empty chamber. or if five shot, load only four and hammer on empty chamber. Man, how long have these things been around? everyone I know, and all written accounts either modern, or throughout history have stressed leaving the hammer on an empty chamber. Yea, I know all about the tiny safety pins on the cylinder, but any of the cap and ball revolvers will get locked up/out of time when the phony safety position is used. Use the gun as intended, or get yourself a ruger blackhawk if you insist on loading all chambers. Nice day otherwise. good luck
mothernatureson
load only five chambers, hammer down on the empty chamber. or if five shot, load only four and hammer on empty chamber. Man, how long have these things been around? everyone I know, and all written accounts either modern, or throughout history have stressed leaving the hammer on an empty chamber. Yea, I know all about the tiny safety pins on the cylinder, but any of the cap and ball revolvers will get locked up/out of time when the phony safety position is used. Use the gun as intended, or get yourself a ruger blackhawk if you insist on loading all chambers. Nice day otherwise. good luck
mothernatureson
junkman_01
member
I don't know what you are talking about. NONE of my C&B revolvers gets 'locked up' when using the safety pins (Colt type) or safety notches (Remington type). Using them IS using the guns 'as intended'. If yours lock up then they must be defective!
Tommygunn
Member
All the BP revolvers I have .... NONE of them have any problem getting locked up using safety pins or notches. I have a couple that were made without those features, but when they are there, they work.
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