1860 Army - Is Uberti Worth $25 More Than 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 (both are priced well). 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

 

[oldmaster]

I have a Pietta 51 Navy Colt and a Uberti 58 Remington and I really can't see any difference in quality. The Pietta is about 10 years old and the Uberti is about 5 years old. Fit and finish are equally good, accuracy is as expected (a little high)with the standard sights and I have fired them both about 300 shots without any breakage or failure of any kind. I have read that the new Pietta's are better than the old so the old saw about Uberti being better doesn't wash with me anymore.

 

[renovato]

Some years back, Uberti had a definate lead in quality. Pietta has increased their quality since then and Uberti has stayed about the same. I would assume there's very little difference between the two in newer models. Personally, for only $25 difference, I'd probably get the Uberti but that's only because of bad experiences with Pietta years back.

 

[Zonie]

With most black powder pistol shooters, the name Uberti is considered to be the best. This IMO is based on the fine pistols they have made over the years.
Whether they are actually better than the newly made Pietta's is hard to say any more but that doesn't change the way folks think about them.

It is rather like the name "Colt" or "Smith and Wesson".
While a new Taurus or Ruger may be just as good, they don't command the same high prices that Colt or Smith and Wesson do.
This only comes into play if you ever decide you want to sell your pistol. If that possibility is remote then go for the Pietta.

zonie

 

[Old Charlie]

I had a Pietta LeMat new in the box. It was junk!When the hammer was cocked the cylinder did not line up with barrel. I e-mailed the company for help. They told me to kiss off. I would never but one of there guns again.
Old Charlie

 

[Leatherbark]

The last two Piettas I bought had no forcing cones whatsoever........I used my RCBS de Burring tool and actually made a forcing cone for both of them.........Dont know if it made them shoot better as I did it before I shot them.........They shoot well...........But If I bought another I believe I'd try an Uberti Mainly because Ive never had an Uberti Cap n ball....................Bob

 

[philo426]

You might want to look at A Navy Arms 1860 Army.I bought mine in '88 and she still looks and shoots great!

 

[renovato]

I've been curious for a while now. Who makes the Navy Arms guns? I always assumed they're Pietta's or Ubertis imported under their name.

 

[Smokin6Gun]

As far as I know Navy Arms sells Piettas. The ones I got from them were Piettas an 1858 Rem, 1836 Paterson, and an 1860 Army.

 

[Bob Riegl]

:bow: I am one individual only, I wouldn't own anything made by Pietta---based strictly on two Pietta guns I had bought from Cabela's. Both guns did not work at all---nothing moved, clicked or better than that couldn't be stripped to work on. Tool marks ( just plain clumsy scratches ), and just plain broken parts :cursing: All of my repro revolvers are Uberti and function perfectly :v the only repro revolver I own which is "not Uberti" is really a Uberti made Colt. I guess you can tell I'm a fan of Uberti. :hatsoff:

 

[JackAubrey]

I have always heard very good things about Uberti's although I do not own one...yet.I do however have several Cabelas/Piettas.I have heard many complaints about them but every single one I own has been excellent.The customer service I get from Cabelas is top[url] rate.In[/url] your position I would give the nod to the Uberti,for no other reason than it has a reputation as a fine weapon although you will not be doing poorly if you go the way of the Pietta.So,congradulations,you find yourself in the enviable position of winning either way you turn!Cheers,J.A.

 

[philo426]

OOPs!My Bad !Pietta is stamped on the side of my Navy Arms 1860 ARMY!Guess I should have known that!

 

[brubincam]

was at cabellas couple weeks ago,,,looked at 3,,piettas..none of them were any good,,,,went to DIXONS and got a UBERTI....all 3 piettas had :shake: :shake: :shake: problems with cylinder stops

 

[brubincam]

...... :shake: :shake: :shake:

 

[brubincam]

looked at 3 piettas at cabellas 3 weeks ago,,,cylinder stop didnt work on any of them...went to DIXONS and got a UBERTI...this one works,,,didnt have to look at more than one to find a functional one... :hmm: :hmm: :hmm:

 

[hornetk4]

After reading all of the posts it seems that piettas quality has improved over the years BUT umberti's quality has been very good all along . I also have a couple of the piettas but I would opt for the umberti I looked at one a week ago and it looked and felt much better than my piettas , I think the extra 25 bucks would be worth it . The only reason I didn't buy the umberti that I looked at is cause it was 31 caliber instead of 44 .

 

[hornetk4]

After reading all of the posts it seems that piettas quality has improved over the years BUT umberti's quality has been very good all along . I also have a couple of the piettas but I would opt for the umberti I looked at one a week ago and it looked and felt much better than my piettas , I think the extra 25 bucks would be worth it . The only reason I didn't buy the umberti that I looked at is cause it was 31 caliber instead of 44 .

 

[Smokin6Gun]

Did you send um back and get another one of each. Cabelas is very good at giving you what you want as long as you notify them. Xlint return policy.
Nothing wrong with Piettas that cant' come the same way form Uberti or someone else...
Mail order or shoot dice it's about the same sometimes. But truthfully Pietta has started up new tooling and QC has been alot better.
I haven't had those kind of expiriance with Cableas, it's unfortunate that a Mfg. like Pietta is being judged bad because of a Company.

 

[Smokin6Gun]

What are you meaning by a cylinder stop?
The Bolt? The Safety notch or Pin?
Just curious.

 

[brubincam]

the piece in the bottom of the frame that enguages the side of the cylinder.