Piettas Last Straw

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jmar

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So my Pietta arrived today and i was really excited, i bought super blue, plum brown, and blue remover for it and they arrived today as well. But guess what happened? The gun is completely broken. When you pull the hammer back it doesn't stay cocked it just clicks and falls back to half cock. This isn't even a minute problem where the action is stiff, this is a complete failure of the mechanism. Do they even test these guns at least once? Very disappointing, probably the last time i buy a Pietta.

So now i have to pay shipping to return it, then wait another 2-3 WEEKS for a new one to arrive. Hmm sure hope that one isn't broken either.
 
I would remove the trigger guard and look and see if the bolt / trigger spring is broke.
did you buy it through Cabelas?
If so it could of been a returned item, and not checked, just put back up for sale.
But being new it will be warranted.
 
There is nothing wrong with Pietta. What is this "last straw" of which you speak?

Piettas represent some of the best quality for the price available in the percussion revolver market. You may just have an exceedingly rare lemon, or most likely it is operator error. Did you even break down the revolver to clean it before a function check? That is the first order of business for ANY Italian cap and ball pistol, single shot or revolver. Try that before you claim it is broken.
 
well gotta remember nothing's perfect and even new sometimes has a problem! just be patient it'll all work out!! I own two and soon will own more of their guns... :)
 
Cooldill said:
There is nothing wrong with Pietta. What is this "last straw" of which you speak?

Piettas represent some of the best quality for the price available in the percussion revolver market. You may just have an exceedingly rare lemon, or most likely it is operator error. Did you even break down the revolver to clean it before a function check? That is the first order of business for ANY Italian cap and ball pistol, single shot or revolver. Try that before you claim it is broken.
Click to expand...
The oil should help the revolver not hinder it, i'm not going to waste time taking it apart and reassembling it, that may even void the warranty. Besides the oil is just wiped on the outside to prevent surface rust. The insides shouldn't have anything that need to be cleaned out, if so that just speaks for Piettas quality control even more. The gun should be able to be taken out of the boxed wiped off with a cloth and be shot with no issues.

The "last straw" has to due with the other issue i have with Pietta which is their larger intrusive markings. Yes i'm aware this is a personal issue but that with a horrible first impression has put me off Pietta.
 
Guys the gun was bought new from Cabelas online. So this should be as it came straight from Piettas factory. Maybe there's a small chance this was a returned item that was defective but that would still be a fault to Pietta unless the person who returned it broke it. Visually the gun looks good "besides the markings" nothing felt loose and there were no scratches on the bluing. just the problem with the hammer not cocking, probably a broken spring or a part was shaved to much. That being said i only looked at it for a minute probably before packing it back up.

There's a slip that came with the package that i need to fill out ship back and wait for 3 weeks for a new one to arrive. As far as i know that's the only option for returning.
 
They are made to be taken apart

I'm a mechanical moron and this made me stall for decades before getting into BP revolvers. I'll never look back. Of course you can take your revolver apart and inspect it. Use a good screwdriver so you don't bugger your screws. it might be something really simple. I have four Piettas and so far they have exceeded my expectations. Good luck.
 
You need to take that revolver down.

The preservant oil is NOT a lubricant. It is a protectant from corrosion during shipping. It could be as simple as a metal chip or burr from manufacturing is tying it up. Take it down, inspect it, and strip that factory oil off. Then we'll really see what's going on.
 
A new gun should stay cocked.

Send it back. If we accept shoddy workmanship, we will continue to get shoddy workmanship.
 
They can be hit and miss but all in all I've probably had the best luck with Pietta on the cap and ball revolvers.

I generally count on having to do some action work on any of these Italian guns and if I don't have to do much work on them I consider it a bonus, doesn't matter Uberti or Pietta. Either take it apart and fix it if you feel qualified or return it and take your chances on getting a better one. It's your choice.
 
I have been shooting black powder since the mid 1960s, most of my guns were Uberti, I did buy three Armi San Marco, they were junk, so continued to buy Uberti, having talked to many shooters over the years, they have been telling me that Pietta's quality has gone up over the last couple of years. I purchased two Piettta's from Taylors the first of the year. The quality is much better than it used to be, but still a little below Uberti. I purchased two Ubertis at the same time, and their quality is better. I am not disappointed with the Piettas, as they were $20 a gun less than the Ubertis, but they just aren't quite as good.

I do take all of my new revolvers apart and clean out any milling chips, etc. and oil and grease with a good quality gun lubricant before taking out to shoot. Over the years I have found several to have milling chips in the actions, and some had milling marks on the interior that need to be removed. You have to realize you are paying several hundred dollars less for a percussion revolver than a cartridge revolver, expect to have a few minor issues.
 
1. A new gun should stay cocked for heaven's sake.
2. Taking it apart will not void the warranty... You have to take them apart to clean them properly. Use proper gunsmithing screwdrivers.
But if the hammer won't stay cocked something is wrong.
 
sandhills writer said:
I have been shooting black powder since the mid 1960s, most of my guns were Uberti, I did buy three Armi San Marco, they were junk, so continued to buy Uberti, having talked to many shooters over the years, they have been telling me that Pietta's quality has gone up over the last couple of years. I purchased two Piettta's from Taylors the first of the year. The quality is much better than it used to be, but still a little below Uberti. I purchased two Ubertis at the same time, and their quality is better. I am not disappointed with the Piettas, as they were $20 a gun less than the Ubertis, but they just aren't quite as good.

I do take all of my new revolvers apart and clean out any milling chips, etc. and oil and grease with a good quality gun lubricant before taking out to shoot. Over the years I have found several to have milling chips in the actions, and some had milling marks on the interior that need to be removed. You have to realize you are paying several hundred dollars less for a percussion revolver than a cartridge revolver, expect to have a few minor issues.
Click to expand...
This is EXACTLY what I'm talking about.

These aren't REAL Colts guys. They're going to need some TLC before you shoot them.
 
Tain't right when it's broke right out of the box.

Right now I'm working on a Rossi Overland dbl bbl back action lock. I hate coil springs.
 
Hey guys the issue has been resolved i had it taken to my local Cabelas and swapped for a new one. My local Cabelas has got rid of almost all their black powder stuff and they only had 2 there so lets hope it's a good one i haven't investigated yet as i'm eating dinner. I'll do an update after.
 
I would not turn a screw but take the cylinder out if it cocks then the hand is too long.You can then decide to fix it or wait weeks for a return.
There was some one on here not long ago with the same problem.
The click you hear is the bolt dropping the last click,you didn't get to, is full cock.
 
Ok so the new gun works fine, the action is a little stiff but i'll open it up and tune everything. The main reason the last one didn't get that treatment is because it felt broken not stiff. There was some serious issues beyond a metal bur, and even if i found what it was there's no telling i could fix it. I'll admit i was quite annoyed when i made this post i'm not trying to bash Pietta to hard, i know they're capable of making great guns but they need to have better quality control so the duds don't leave their shop. Maybe i will buy another Pietta the Griswold is the only other one i want at the moment.

Anyways the new gun seems to have no defects besides some grinding marks on the loading lever, i really love the color of the handles. It's so pretty that i'm hesitant to burnish it and use the plum brown i bought. Almost though i still think i will in fact i'll start tonight. I do wonder what'll happen to my old gun i hope i don't just get resold, that may have been why i was in this predicament.
 
HOLD UP! I think i may have just found a huge problem.. Please tell me this is normal on remingtons... Notice the huge gouge on the top strap? I cant catch a break.



IMG_0748_zpswldvc5p0.jpg
IMG_0744_zpsutt0zagi.jpg
 
With such lofty expectations, you set yourself up to be disappointed.

What you want is what you're not willing to pay for.

In my experience with antique firearms, they should all be disassembled, inspected and cleaned and I like to stone and tweak the actions. Sending a gun back under warranty, save for a bent barrel or cracked frame is a waste of time IMO.

Just saw your photo. There's nothing wrong with your gun, they all look like that. Send it back anyway and buy a Ruger Old Army.
 
My Pietta 1858 was great, but my 1873 would unlock with slight finger pressure..

Gil
 
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