Best quality BP revolver?

[Guvnor]

Ive been having lots of fun with a pietta 1851 navy. Its a great gun for the money, but I wonder about the long term durability of it. I would like to get a BP revolver that I can hand down many many years from now.

Naturally I thought of the Ruger old army, but sadly these have been discontinued. Are there any BP revolvers that are in the same class as the ruger as far as durability?

How long do the internals of the pietta/uberti guns usually last? I shoot my BP guns maybe once every 1-2 months and clean them meticulously after each use.

 

[Old Fuff]

Contact the Ruger factory and ask if any Old Army revolvers are still available. Last I knew they were still building a few, although the model had been discontinued. If the parts are available they might build you a revolver, although don't expect it to be cheap.

The parts most likely to break in Italian copies of 19th century revolvers are springs - in particular the hand and cylinder bolt/trigger springs - both are inexpensive, and not hard to replace.

 

[DrLaw]

Even with good care...

Even with good care, parts like springs will break. That is to be expected, even with the highest quality replicas. But like Old Fuff says, those parts are easy to find and replaceable. With good care, Piettas and Uberti's should last several generations. Mind, you will probably replace nipples eventually depending on how often you shoot. However, cleaning is the best thing you can do, other than not trying to fill the cylinder each and every time.

The Doc is out now.

 

[BHP FAN]

Uberti used to be head and shoulders above the rest, but Pietta is giving them real competition, nowadays.

 

[GENTLEMAN OF THE CHARCOAL]

I like Pietta. I would have gotten my carbines by Pietta instead of Uberti but I couldn't find them. May not even make them for all I know. Well, too late now anyway. The Uberti's are good....

 

[BHP FAN]

Nowadays they are pretty much all good...the companys with poor QC have not survived the internet age,and forums like this.The world has become a small town,where everybody knows you,and your ''rep'' is on the line.

 

[mykeal]

Either Pietta or Uberti will serve you, your children and their children, and perhaps more, if they are well cared for. If not, well, they won't make it to your golden age.

The Old Army has, in fact, been discontinued. However, NIB examples are frequently available the auction sites; you should be able to get a fine example without much waiting just by watching the auctions. However, remember:

NEVER, EVER BUY A GUN SIGHT UNSEEN WITHOUT A MINIMUM 3 DAY INSPECTION PERIOD WITH A NO-QUESTIONS-ASKED MONEY BACK GUARANTEE!

 

[BHP FAN]

Good advice.

 

[zimmerstutzen]

The positively, absolutely, unmistakeably best modern made black powder revolver is probably the Hege Siber, sadly, very rare in the US. I have a selection, of brands, Ruger, Uberti, Pietta, Armi San Marco, Palmetto and a Western arms. The Ruger is by far the smoothest, best shooting of my revolvers. I's say the ASM is next.

 

[Oyeboten]

I've been very happy with my older 'San Marcos' 3rd Dragoon.

Colt 2nd Generation BP revolvers are well thought of, of course, also.

 

[Riot Earp]

Contact the Ruger factory and ask if any Old Army revolvers are still available. Last I knew they were still building a few, although the model had been discontinued. If the parts are available they might build you a revolver, although don't expect it to be cheap.

Yes, they built a fair number this year, from spare parts, I have learned. I just bought one from the new batch, on gunbroker.



Here's another new one:

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=148073728

 

[Mike OTDP]

At this moment, I'd rate the BP revolvers in the following order:
1. Feinwerkbau Rogers & Spencer
2. Hege Army Match Maximum
3. Pedersoli Remington and Rogers & Spencer (tie)
4. Ruger Old Army
5. Pietta Shooter's Model Remington

Anything below those is merely a base for work by a good gunsmith.

 

[madcratebuilder]

Quote:
Contact the Ruger factory and ask if any Old Army revolvers are still available. Last I knew they were still building a few, although the model had been discontinued. If the parts are available they might build you a revolver, although don't expect it to be cheap.
Yes, they built a fair number this year, from spare parts, I have learned. I just bought one from the new batch, on gunbroker.

A you sure that not just new old stock? Check the serial number at Rugers web site, I bet you find it has manufactured several years ago.

 

[Old Fuff]

Many, if not most manufacturers make production runs of parts (including serial numbered frames and receivers) and draw them out later to be built into complete guns. It is not unsual to find that a gun you thought was made during a certain year was actually assembled down the road.

It is my understanding that the Old Army is out of production and supposedly discontinued. However a handful have been asembled from pre-existing parts.

Anyway, If I wanted one I'd check the company to see what might be available before I started looking at the auctions.

This would be especially true if I was going to hand it down to future generations, and could say that the factory had custom built one for me after the model was officially discontinued - the serial number not withstanding.

As a side note: Colt assembled a handful of 1851 Navy revolvers during the late 1940's or early 50's using original parts that they still had.

 

[Riot Earp]

Ruger definitely made a fair number of "clean-up" guns this year. Back in the spring, there were a couple of threads on it at www.rugerforum.com. Some people posted pictures.

The dealer from whom I bought my gun confirmed that it is a 2009 model. He bought several from Davidson's and Williams Shooters Supply.

http://www.rugerforum.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=54066
http://www.rugerforum.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=53121&highlight=ruger+army
http://www.rugerforum.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=64820&highlight=armys

 

[madcratebuilder]

That's good to know, to bad they don't do that with the Security Six, best DA revolver they ever made.

 

[Old Fuff]

...to bad they don't do that with the Security Six, best DA revolver they ever made.

Actually they did, but only a few distributors knew about it. They in turn sold them to dealers, who sold them to individuals - who may or may not known what they were getting.

Gunmakers almost never junk parts left over from discontinued models. They either sell them or use them up themselves.

Selling the parts may mean that older models will be kept in service for a long time, and this can impact the sale of new ones.

So if you were them, what would you do?