Thoughts on the '60 Pietta

[Slowhand Bob]

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Guys, Mikes latest post has me pondering some old rumors concerning the Pietta revolvers.  In the last couple or several years we have heard a great deal about the improved quality of Piettas revolvers, in particular those that replicate the Colts and I am wondering, is their a particular time or event that marked this change?  Another item of interest to me is, does anyone subscribe to the idea that Cabellas Pietta line is in anyway inferior to the standard offerings?  It has not been my experience BUT I have seen more than one person opine that Cabellas prices were based on the idea that they marketed the Pietta seconds and/or a lower quality output line?

[Bottom Dealin Mike]

I have seen Italian gun makers try to pass off junk on the unsuspecting. And I have seen them collude with the complicit to sell seconds (Armi San Marco was particularly adept at those practices). But Cabela's would have nothing to gain and lots to lose from selling seconds.

That said, I have heard from several importers that they have to watch what they get from Pietta to ensure it is quality goods. But I think Cabela's is up to the task.

[TwoWalks Baldridge]

I have purchased this past year,  Cabela's Pietta, Remingtons, Colts both 51 and 60's and the quality of each was first class.

[Cliff Fendley]

I've seen the quality vary on the Cabelas Pietta revolvers but for the most part they are very good. As with anything you get a rough one once in a while. Between me and several friends I have seen a lot of them from Cabelas.

Over all I think the Pietta Cabelas revolvers are just as good and consistent as any other supplier and from what I've seen in recent years Piettas quality is right in line with Uberti. In fact over the years I've had more problems with Uberti stuff than the Piettas.

By the way, Cabelas has the Remington Army's on sale for 179 for Memorial day weekend, super good deal! Wish they had the 1860 for that price.

[44caliberkid]

I think the Piettas from EMF are better quality than from Cabelas.  The wood of the grips is usually nicer and the case colors are better.  I stood in a Cabelas a couple years ago when they had an 1860 with white grips with an American flag logo on them.  I had the guy get out all of them, five total, and I looked for the best one.  Not one was acceptable, but I told him if he had a screwdriver I could take the best parts from each and make one nice gun.  He declined.  It was mainly finish issues.

[Slowhand Bob]

Seven of the last eight cap and ball guns were Piettas purchased from Cabellas within the last two to three years and all were excellent as received.  Actually the worst pair were my favorite shooters, the shiny '51 Sheriffs Model .44s with engraving.  The engraving is a bit on the poorly executed side and for some reason it was worse on the brass than on the steel?  The rest of the guns were standard finish and looked much better than the older versions.

[Drayton Calhoun]

I must admit, I have had Uberti's and Pietta's screw up on me. The Uberti's are generally nicer finished. I have several ASM's that are well over twenty-five years old that are still going strong. Three of them are CVA kit revolvers. The fact of the matter I remember many years ago finding a Smith and Wesson mod 25 where three of the chambers were not even polished, so, you can get a bad gun from anyone. A lot of the times it is just a crap shoot. The test is if the distributors are willing to back up any warranty and make it right.

[Paladin UK]

Fer 44 CK....

I told him if he had a screwdriver I could take the best parts from each and make one nice gun.

Something alongs these lines!!

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i2WQGxRNpBc" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i2WQGxRNpBc</a>

Paladin (What thinks Tuco is brill) UK

[Bottom Dealin Mike]

Love that movie!!

[cpt dan blodgett]

I have 2 Pietta 58 Remington one is about 20 years old ordered from Cabelas, not shot a whole lot but have had no mechanical problems.  2 Years ago picked a second at the local Cabelas in Glendale AZ.  Always thought the fit and finish on the metal was fine.  The old pistol had a much nicer shiny grip, the new one has a rather dark almost black stain finish that almost looks dirty.  Near the top of grip on the back strap the wood is slightly proud.  Got a virtually brand new (never fired) 1860 Pietta off the SAS wire that is a couple of years old.  This one has nice walnut that has a minimalist finish not shiny at all but nice wood.  Sorta mid curve at the top of the back strap the metal is sightly higher than the wood.  Mechanically no problems

[Bottom Dealin Mike]

On mt recent Pietta 1860 the wood is proud of the trigger guard front strap...enough to feel a sharp edge on your fingers while shooting. Other than that, it was in great shape...well made.

[Slowhand Bob]

Received a complete set of birdsheads yesterday to put on my other Uberti Evil Roy 45s and played with them a bit last night, WOW, so much better for me.  It has convinced me to go ahead with a cap-n-ball version.  I have been told that the Pietta SAA grip frames will interchange with their Army/Navy revolver frames and an unfinished birdshead is listed for the GW by VTI.  Do not have it from an official source but most seem to think this would be legal as a conversion or a standard cap-n-ball match gun set.  This is the set that I am planning to put birdshead grips on. 

[brazosdave]

I have an 1860 Pietta and also what they call a 51 confederate navy sheriff (actually, with the brass frame it would be more like a short barreled Schneider and Glassick), and take them out shooting about once a week. No problems with either one for the last yr or so. Bought both from Cabelas.

[Pettifogger]

When you think they can mine the iron, make the steel, chop the trees, make the grips and then take the steel and make it into a gun and then ship it half-way around the world and sell if for $200.00 it's pretty amazing.  Now, if they were $1,200.00 I would be a little more concerned about proud wood or dark stain.

[litl rooster]

When you think they can mine the iron, make the steel, chop the trees, make the grips and then take the steel and make it into a gun and then ship it half-way around the world and sell if for $200.00 it's pretty amazing.  Now, if they were $1,200.00 I would be a little more concerned about proud wood or dark stain.

or $350.
(more a current price)

[olnumber4]

I have three sets of the Pietta 1860's and aside from the rare broken bolt spring I have had no problems,
The Uberti's I had before were never staying in tune and just felt more 'clunky'

The Pietta's tuned nicely and have stayed that way.  Much better fit and tolerance form the get go.

Ol' #4

[Pettifogger]

or $350.
(more a current price)

Cabelas still has them on sale for $200.00 or less two or three times a year.  Of course, they are never on sale when I'm looking for one.

[Driftwood Johnson]

Howdy

A couple of years ago Cabellas was running a sale on 1860 Army revolvers. These were Piettas. They were about $30-$40 less than what Uberti was charging for the same model. Partially because I am cheap, and partially because the Cabellas was only an hours drive away, and because I always wanted to have an 1860, I drove up to Cabellas and bought a pair.

I was not impressed.

The fit and finish was inferior, in my not so humble opinion. Burrs on the frames that should have been removed prior to case hardening had been left there. The result was burrs standing proud on the frame. If I were to file the burrs down, it would stand out like a sore thumb with the raw metal contrasting with the case color finish of the rest of the frame.

Yes, I am a perfectionist, but I do not like seeing shoddy workmanship. You get what you pay for, I should have gone with Ubertis.

[cheatin charlie]

When you think they can mine the iron, make the steel, chop the trees, make the grips and then take the steel and make it into a gun and then ship it half-way around the world and sell if for $200.00 it's pretty amazing.  Now, if they were $1,200.00 I would be a little more concerned about proud wood or dark stain.

It makes you wonder what the actual cost is to make the pistol.  Factory makes a profit + importer profit + dealer profit + shipping.  My guess is less than $50.00.  For what we pay for them it is a bargain.  That being said I love my 51 Navys for SASS.

[Pettifogger]

Pietta and a lot of other manufacturers have gone to CNC machinery the past couple of years and the quality seems to have noticeably improved.  The last two Piettas I got (picked them up at EOT this year) were pretty darn nice and tuned up for competition easily.

[Lefty Dude]

Pietta and a lot of other manufacturers have gone to CNC machinery the past couple of years and the quality seems to have noticeably improved.  The last two Piettas I got (picked them up at EOT this year) were pretty darn nice and tuned up for competition easily.

I love your Pimp/bling 60's. When ya gonna shoot them in a Match ?

Lefty

[Driftwood Johnson]

Pettifogger

CNC equipment has been around for a long time now. It is nothing new in the firearms industry. And it is not the end all and be all as far as quality is concerned. The real problem is when feed rates are set too fast, really no different than back in the hand crank days. If the cutter is forced too fast through the metal, rough finishes and burrs happen, which is exactly what I was talking about with the pair of Pietta 1860s that I bought a few years ago. Unfortunately, most of the Italian gun makers run their machinery too fast, in order to get the highest production possible. This in turn keeps costs low. If on the other hand, they were to slow the feedrates down to get a fine finish, they would produce less parts per hour and per day, which would drive the cost of the parts, and the entire gun up. You pays your money, you takes your choice.

I know you have been inside of plenty of guns over the years, and I'm sure you have seen your share of rough finished interior parts, so I know you know what I am talking about.

[Pettifogger]

Sure CNC has been around for years.  But, it is new to a lot of manufacturers.  The pair in the picture are very nice on the inside.  Many of the worse guns on the interior that I have worked on are the 2nd Gen Colts.  They made them to look pretty and sit in a box.  If you want to shoot them in competition a lot of them were pretty rough on the inside.  I consider all C&Bs to be basically deluxe do-it-yourself kits.  Before I ever fire them I take them apart and make sure everything is working right.  I pulled a coiled up burr out of the inside of a Uberti London that was almost two inches long when it was uncoiled.  I have four of the Londons and they are about as pretty a gun as you will find, but they all required considerable work to make them competition ready.  I am still amazed that Uberti and Pietta can produce C&Bs for the price they sell for and, as noted above, that covers the profit of the makers, shipping, profit for the distributors and profit for the sellers.  Pretty amazing.

[hellgate]

" I consider all C&Bs to be basically deluxe do-it-yourself kits."
AMEN, Brother!!