Is it just me? Pietta rant

[denster]

Just finished fitting a wedge to a new Pietta 1860 Army for a guy. Not too difficult on this one as I was able to get .022 of taper in the end of the arbor without having to lengthen the wedge slot in the barrel window. Only about .006 of taper to mill off the wedge on the side facing the cylinder and enough meat on the side facing the muzzle to get that taper matching the new one in the arbor without having to make a new wedge. Sticks through a little farther than I'd like but it locks with a tap and releases with a tap.
I just don't understand why Pietta and ASM for that matter can't seem to understand that flats have to meet with flats and tapers engage tapers. Uberti can get it right why not them unless they just don't want to lay off Luigi the gorilla wedge setter. I mean it's a simple thing and Pietta has brought their quality way up in recent years why let something as simple as properly fitting a wedge slip? Beats me.

 

[arcticap]

You know how it is, there's always going to be trade offs.
For every part that doesn't fit quite right, there's another part that will fit a little bit more perfectly.
It's the Italian way of doing things that's more of an art than a science.
Like the old saying: "Rome wasn't built in a day and you can be their agent".

 

[MCgunner]

I just fitted a wedge with a file. You're telling me I needed a mill? Hmm. Oh, well, long as it shoots.

 

[denster]

I used the mill because I have one, if I didn't I would have used a file. It's just a lot quicker doing it that way to get rid of the taper on the flat facing the cylinder and to get the flat facing the barrel to mate exactly with the taper I filed into the end of the arbor.
I don't know about it being an Italian thing. Uberti does it right from the get go at least with the wedge they do.

 

[madcratebuilder]

Must be nice having material to remove. I always end up welding then milling/filing.

 

[denster]

Yes that was a plus although it was really close. Unfortunately I learned long ago that welding will never be one of my talents.