Colt 1860 Army - Worth $25 to get Uberti over Pietta?

[DougB]

I'm planning to get a Colt 1860 Army clone (standard blued model). I can get essentially the same model made by either Pietta or Uberti. The Uberti would be about $25 more. I've read that Uberti used to be generally higher quality than Pietta, but that current production Piettas are about the same as those made by Uberti. I also read somewhere that some Ubertis have deeper rifling than Piettas and therefore suffer less from fouling and are possibly more accurate. I don't know if this applied to this particular model or not, or even if it is true at all.

This will be my first black powder revolver, and I'll be ordering it, so I won't have a chance to examine either revolver before I buy. Which would you recommend, and why? If you prefer Uberti, please indicate whether this is based on revolvers made in the past couple of years vs. those made 10 or 15 years ago.

Thank you in advance for helping out a rookie.

Doug

 

[Manyirons]

http://www.bigironbarrels.com/

Tha BOSS is given dealer price on these.

 

[arcticap]

Read rifle's posts in this thread, especially #14 where he states:

I find Uberti to be the least consistant in the interior barrels measurements. Pietta seems to be etter in the interior barrel measurement.

http://thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=211440

He talks about some interesting observations he's made about revolver specifications, especially cylinder to barrel rifling dimensions. What it all means to me is that you never really know how well a revolver will actually shoot until you take it out of the box, check out the spec.'s & workmanship and shoot it. Plus, from what I'm told they have slight differences in the frame and grip.

 

[pohill]

1860

I bought a Pietta 1860 .44 about 2 yrs ago. Most of the problems I had with it were from my own doings - I drove the wedge in too far the first time and peened the metal on the exit slot. The gun was loose after that, until I used a small metal shim next to the wedge. A small weld will fix the problem (when I get around to it). Now, it's a great gun - great shooter, doesn't jam, looks great. I also have a few Ubertis and the biggest problem I've had with all of them is that the dovetailed loading lever latch (on the bottom of the barrel) slips out.
One thing I learned when dealing with Uberti or Pietta problems is not to deal with the place where I bought the gun, but deal with the importers: I deal with Traditions for Piettas and Taylors for Ubertis. Both are great people to deal with; they'll take the guns back and fix or replace them. Small problems can be fixed and are actually a good learning experience for these revolvers. Of course, you might get a lemon from Pietta or Uberti.
Don't think I answered your question - Pietta or Uberti. I'd go with the Pietta.

 

[Smokin_Gun]

To be honest I like both Pietta and Uberti...but I have a Pietta that's 10years old and still shoots as straight and true as a young'un would. Pietta for $184.99 new at Cabelas ain't a bad deal. Ubertis are real nice too and in the 1860 models both Pietta and Uberti have .452" grooved barrels with Pietta is chambered for .447" and Uberti for .449"(per Dixie Catalog). Uberti has been know for Color case hardening and finnish, but I must say the Pietta is equal to or has surpassed Uberti compared to the way that used to be. Like Pohill said you can get lemons from anywhere.
I think I'd have to go with Pietta myself. Ifin you want a Uberti by all means get one of um you won't be sorry at all.("For a few dollars More") HeHe!

 

[DougB]

Thanks for all the comments and information. From your responses, and what I've found on other forums, etc, I think I'll go with the Pietta. It's still a tough call, because on other forums quite a few people recommend the Uberti over the Pietta revolvers, and $25 isn't much more if it would get me a better gun, but, from what I've read:

- Both companies make some very nice guns, and a few with problems (luck of the draw).

- Pietta had a worse reputation in the past, but has recently upgraded its equipment and quality control, so that recent production Piettas are equal to, and in some ways possibly superior, to Uberti revolvers.

- Some avid, expert, and picky shooters find minor problems with most black powder revolvers, but resolve these with trigger jobs, etc.

My guess is that with a big vendor like Cabelas selling Piettas, they won't stand for consistent poor quality (which would create too many returns and customer service issues). I'm guessing that 95% of these revolvers made by either company will work fine from the get-go - though they might benefit from some additional internal polishing, etc. It sounds like both brands are nice, and very comparable, cosmetically. Anyway, I think I'll try a Pietta 1860 Army. My next revolver will probably be an Uberti 1858 Remington in Stainless with 5.5" barrel (since Pietta doesn't make this exact configuration), so I'll wind up with one of each.

Anyway, thanks again.

Doug

 

[Yankee John]

Good choice! My Pietta 1860 (snubnose) is the smoothest, best fit & finish, and sweetest shooting BP gun I own! And I did buy it from Cabela's too (before they discontinued them ).

 

[mec]

I've been a Uberti supporter but recent Piettas seem to be very well done as well. One reason I started with Uberti and stay with them for most revolvers is my contacts with the Pietta company have not been productive of high confidence. For a time, Allesandro Pietta was responding to posts on this board. I asked him about a source for spare parts for the LeMats. In fact there was no souce within the United States. He tossed off a careless and inaccurate answer. For a long time, it was just about impossible to get any spare parts or service for the LeMats. Now Taylor and VTI can get the parts by ordering them direct from Italy. I also attempted to learn if Pietta had any customer service set up. They declined to answer. Their web page offered a list of gunsmiths who had worked on Pietta Revolvers supposedly, available on requests - but my request was not honored.
The responses from Cimmarron, Uberti USA and dixie gunworks in ref: Uberti were much more productive.

The LeMats I have had have been very well made though limited by the original design. The small (Pietta) Remington pocket model I bought a few months ago is very well made. Also their copy of the Smith Carbine is very well done.

 

[Duncaninfrance]

Y J !

Wise man say: "When man with Remington New Model Army meets man with Colt Walker, the man with Remington is a dead man."

But ONLY if he is faster and can shoot straight! Me - I stick to my Baker, it only takes one shot at 200yards!!

Duncan

 

[Manyirons]

Yankee John

Ima seein Barney Fife tryin ta work that Walker! Ifin ya caint play dont matter how good yer guitar is!

 

[dtann]

1860 army .44 half fluted cylinder

does anyone know where i can find an 1860 army half fluted .44 cylinder for sale.

 

[pohill]

What's your price range? I ask because I might know of a Colt Signature Series with a fluted cylinder for sale.

 

[AdmiralB]

Half-fluted? I thought only Pietta did that (historically inaccurately).

 

[pohill]

I think the one that I know of is full fluted. Beautiful gun.
I recently saw a cased Colt 2nd Generation 1851 .36 Navy with flask, tin, mold, etc for $450 if anyone is interested.

 

[Old Fuff]

Guys.....

This is a 2006 thread

Any information, prices, etc. is dated.

 

[pohill]

I know, but "dtann" posted an updated question yesterday which is what I was replying to.

 

[Fingers McGee]

Quote AdmiralB

Half-fluted? I thought only Pietta did that (historically inaccurately).

Not historically inaccurate. Colt did make some rebated half fluted cylinder pistols that were special orders. Picture of one on page 104 of Haven & Belden's "A History of the Colt Revolver"

You can get the half fluted .44 cylinders from VTI. http://www.vtigunparts.com/store/shopdisplayproducts.asp?id=70&cat=Pietta+1860+Army+1861+Navy Their prices are a little spendy nowdays since the Dollar to Euro exchange rate has been so bad.
A3717/SC Pietta Fluted Cylinder .44cal with Nipples (1860) US$95.00 (I paid less than half that much a few years ago)

Pohill - I'm interested in the cased 2nd Gen '51 Navy.

FM