what a let down from Uberti

[unknwn]

The "Pocket".31 ordered from BerettaUSA showed up this evening and got sent back for exchange in the same hour.
The arbor was short by .023" (go figure), it's cylinder timing problems would have been enough for me to reject it by themself, and when I reassembled it the wedge bottomed against the slot using only finger pressure and then I found that the barrel would wiggle.
Dreadful.
The wood was about as impressive as a Pietta so far as it's fit (enough proud at the palm heel area that I would HAVE to had done something about it).
Although it was pretty, I found it to be terrificly disappointing.
I certainly hope the replacement is a better example, a note pleading that someone look over the next one before packaging for shipment accompanied it

 

[Fiv3r]

That's a real bummer, man
Having said that, the newer Piettas seem to be top notch. My new 5.5" Remington is smooth as glass, the wood is flush to the frame, and the cylinder pin drops free without excessive force...just a fantastic pistol.

 

[CraigC]

Uberti's are typically good guns and they've gotten better over the last ten years but I still prefer to inspect any Uberti-made gun before buying it. No matter who the importer is.

 

[SleazyRider]

This is a bit disconcerting to me, as the Uberti .31 Pocket is next up on my list of "guns to buy" (which, of course, gets revised daily). I saw one in person last time I visited Cabela's and it was a very handsome gun that seemed to exude craftsmanship. Please keep us posted on your replacement.

 

[mykeal]

I need to caution you not to assume one bad incident is characteristic of an entire population. EVERY gun manufacturer produces a lemon every now and then; that doesn't mean they're all bad. Of course, the opposite is also true, but you tend to hear about the bad ones more often - one of the less desirable characteristics of the internet forums.

 

[CraigC]

I need to caution you not to assume one bad incident is characteristic of an entire population. EVERY gun manufacturer produces a lemon every now and then; that doesn't mean they're all bad. Of course, the opposite is also true, but you tend to hear about the bad ones more often - one of the less desirable characteristics of the internet forums.

Exactly!

 

[unknwn]

I'm looking torward to a nice one the second time around.
It worked out that way for a Pietta '62 a month or so ago.
My only other Uberti revolver (a Richards-Mason) is a perfect try at reproduction, so I'm positive that they are capable.
My '73 Renegade s were a different matter altogether.

 

[4v50 Gary]

Bacchus ruled at Uberti the day yours was assembled.

 

[Olmontanaboy]

The arbor was short by .023"

Almost all the Uberti Colt copys suffer from short arbors, and all the ones I've owned have this flaw. There is a repair: http://www.theopenrange.net/articles/Tuning_the_Uberti_Open_Top_Revolvers_Part_4.pdf

 

[unknwn]

It's no mystery to me....

I'm well aware of the "repair" for the problem arbor but find little reason to accept a new gun with the litany of defects that this one displayed.
I also have to wonder if "fixing" the arbor would have had any effect on the timing problems that were evident.
I don't think so.
When I inspected the gun -prior- to finding the arbor deficiency, there were two chambers that consistantly weren't advancing far enough to drop the bolt properly.
That seemed quite odd. I speculate that a short hand would allow ALL of the chambers to revolve short of the mark, not just two (and the same two at that).
No, I'll let Uberti deal with a gun that made it past thier quality control regimen.
If I am going to spend time working on a NEW gun it will be used sorting out the ill-fitting wood that I mentioned, not a host of mechanical (-AND- safety related) problems.
By the way, the BerettaUSA site proudly displayed the -One Year Guarantee- as provided for by the company, so I would have been fool to take on repairs that Beretta/Uberti is confident enough to provide for.
My only mistake so far was failing to record the serial number so that I could tell if they fixed the gun or (preferably) replaced it with a hand-inspected replacement.
We'll see if the second time around proves to be a first rate gun.

 

[Olmontanaboy]

I agree with you 100% I would have sent it back too. I stopped buying mail order a good while back. I usually drive a good ways to inspect in person. Sounds like a trainee made that one. The short arbor flaw is a Uberti design flaw in my opinion and usually not an easy fix.

 

[unknwn]

I wouldn't consider the short arbor problem a design flaw, a whole passle of similiarly designed Piettas passed the inspection last year for my collection, not a one with a short arbor, -and- only one with a timing problem.
In my book, Uberti needs to get serious about quality control, that's all.

 

[Skinny 1950]

I am trying to imagine what it is like at the Uberti factory with all the different guns that they make..maybe they need to set up a factory which only makes open top cap and ball revolvers and fine tunes each one and has inspector stamps all over it.

 

[unknwn]

" ..maybe they need to set up a factory which only makes open top cap and ball revolvers..."

I couldn't disagree more strongly.
At the premium charged for an Uberti C&B over that of thier closest competitor a customer could only hope that a host of quality control inspectors be employed full time to make certain that the guns meet minimum expectations of arbor fit before they are sent down the line for the next procedure in thier manufacture.
If I am fortunate enough to find an Uberti C&B on the second hand market for a suitable savings I would have no problem performing the "fix" that overcomes thier notorious deficiency from the factory, BUT, why would a customer of ANY sort of product ( needless to say we are speaking about FIREARMS) -EVER- need to expect to repair a new product before it can be safely used for it's intended purpose.
I like thier products, but, I am not purchasing to look at them or display for other's enjoyment, I expect to use them and allow others thier use without concern that the arms won't meet an inspection for "suitability for intended purpose"

 

[mykeal]

I'm missing something here - why is the short arbor a safety issue?

 

[unknwn]

I'm missing something here - why is the short arbor a safety issue?

My concern for safety was the issue of being able to wiggle the barrel around.
I'm not sure, but is the wedge being able to drop flush into the barrel's rectangle slot? allowing that to occur? Or is it because the rectangle slot in the arbor is too long?
I don't think the cylinder timing problem affecting the pair of adjacent chambers the safest of circumstances either.

 

[BHP FAN]

get a Remington pocket model .31.

 

[mykeal]

My concern for safety was the issue of being able to wiggle the barrel around

I understand. Thanks.

 

[MCgunner]

I stopped buying mail order a good while back. I usually drive a good ways to inspect in person.

A good policy. I will NOT buy sight unseen most firearms, but I do order from Cabelas. I've heard Cabelas backs their products well, good customer service. I've yet to need it, just sayin'. Most of their stuff is Pietta, seems.

My .31 is a brass frame Remmy. It's an ASM, out of business, but it's impressive quality for what I gave for the gun. Knock on wood, but I've yet to get burned on a BP I've ordered, rifle or revolver.

 

[Olmontanaboy]

Yeah, buying from Cabelas is Ok in my book too as they have an exceptional return policy. I also admit to being real pickey so that's why I only buy in person. One persons opinion of whats "beautiful condition" can be another persons "rusty boat anchor" lol.