Pietta .44 1851 Navy stress marks?

[Schutzer]

Hello guys, I have a question about possible stress marks or signs behind, in front of or around the revolver's wedge. Would really like to hear the opinions of you experienced shooters and you can tell me if my concerns are legit or if I'm freaking out for no reason. I have a new steel Pietta .44 that I have only put about 120 .454 rounds through, of only 25 grains of BP each (not substitutes).

I tried my best to get good pictures -- as you can see, there seem to be a couple of little humps right behind the wedge now. And, they are difficult to see on the pistol without looking at it at the right angle, but there are a bunch of wavy lines on the surface appearing to emanate from or around the wedge, in front of it-- almost like stretch marks. I didn't take a good look BEFORE I started shooting it so I can't compare.

Do you guys' pistols have similar marks? Is this par for the course even from shooting weak loads? Or should I write to Taylor's and complain? I believe the pistol was made in 2021 because the mark is a "21" enclosed in a square.

Any info you can offer would be greatly appreciated!

 

[bang]

Possible the slot had a slight high spot at that point and the pressure from shooting has peened it. As long as the wedge fits without just going all the way in it should be ok. Typically the wedge is the wearing part rather than the barrel assembly. But a narrow high spot on the edge is the culprit, IMO.

 

[45D]

Schutzer, do you put the wedge in finger tight?

Mike

 

[TrapperDude]

Schutzer, do you put the wedge in finger tight?

Mike

I keep hearing about the phrase "finger tight" regarding wedges. Is that a reference to the amount of pressure used to push it into the slot? Are there cases where people tap them in harder with a mallot after seating them?

 

[45D]

I keep hearing about the phrase "finger tight" regarding wedges. Is that a reference to the amount of pressure used to push it into the slot? Are there cases where people tap them in harder with a mallot after seating them?

Yes, and that's why I asked the.op. His is a new Pietta and it should have a more or less correct arbor. Material moving in back of the wedge slot indicates a loose wedge. The wedge needs to be in tight so the assemblies don't move when the revolver is fired. Finger tight doesn't get it. Smack it with a plastic faced hammer.

Mike

 

[TrapperDude]

Yes, and that's why I asked the.op. His is a new Pietta and it should have a more or less correct arbor. Material moving in back of the wedge slot indicates a loose wedge. The wedge needs to be in tight so the assemblies don't move when the revolver is fired. Finger tight doesn't get it. Smack it with a plastic faced hammer.

Mike

Okay, that makes sense. It takes my nylon mallot to tap it loose so I can pull it out, and when I push it in, I give it some taps to put it back to where it originally was.

 

[Schutzer]

Yes, and that's why I asked the.op. His is a new Pietta and it should have a more or less correct arbor. Material moving in back of the wedge slot indicates a loose wedge. The wedge needs to be in tight so the assemblies don't move when the revolver is fired. Finger tight doesn't get it. Smack it with a plastic faced hammer.

Mike

Hello Mike. For many of the shots I'm sure I didn't reinstall the wedge with the mallet- for example I got cap jams after every one of the first 50 shots or so (while using the original cones before I got slixshots) and so had to disassemble the gun about 30 times while shooting, so I'm sure I didn't use the mallet every time. Have I done irreparable and significant damage to the gun or is it just cosmetic?

 

[Schutzer]

Possible the slot had a slight high spot at that point and the pressure from shooting has peened it. As long as the wedge fits without just going all the way in it should be ok. Typically the wedge is the wearing part rather than the barrel assembly. But a narrow high spot on the edge is the culprit, IMO.

That's possible, unfortunately I didn't look at it much before shooting.

 

[45D]

Hello Mike. For many of the shots I'm sure I didn't reinstall the wedge with the mallet- for example I got cap jams after every one of the first 50 shots or so (while using the original cones before I got slixshots) and so had to disassemble the gun about 30 times while shooting, so I'm sure I didn't use the mallet every time. Have I done irreparable and significant damage to the gun or is it just cosmetic?

No, just install the wedge with some "Authority". The damage you have was caused by the "jack hammering " with a loose wedge. It's a robust, steel revolver, not an egg lol.

Mike

 

[denster]

I don't believe what you showed was caused by shooting but is likely from the manufacturing process and you didn't notice it when new. The barrels start out as castings and square slot like that would be cut to finish with a broach that would leave marks like that. That should have been eliminated in finishing.

 

[ShotgunDave]

I don't believe what you showed was caused by shooting but is likely from the manufacturing process and you didn't notice it when new. The barrels start out as castings and square slot like that would be cut to finish with a broach that would leave marks like that. That should have been eliminated in finishing.

I believe this is what is going on. I have several Pietta pistols that look like that, and I believe it is from the broaching process to create the rectangular slot. The wedge still needs to be in tight though, to keep the gun from beating itself up.

 

[45D]

I don't believe what you showed was caused by shooting but is likely from the manufacturing process and you didn't notice it when new. The barrels start out as castings and square slot like that would be cut to finish with a broach that would leave marks like that. That should have been eliminated in finishing.

I believe this is what is going on. I have several Pietta pistols that look like that, and I believe it is from the broaching process to create the rectangular slot. The wedge still needs to be in tight though, to keep the gun from beating itself up.

Ok fellers, here is a picture of 5 right out of the box open tops. I have on hand 20 more Uberti and Pietta made new in the box examples and they all look just like these. No "broach" marks! Since I'm not in the picture takin business, I took one pic of 5.

Mike

 

[45D]

Before someone says "but those are all Uberti's" , here is a pair of Pietta's I have in the house.

The thing is, they're all broached, and they all look nice and flat, just like these.
So . . . it's tha shooting . . .
Tighten them wedges up boys!!!!

Mike

 

[TrapperDude]

Here's another stupid question about wedges: What is the screw above the wedge for? The width of the wedge's left end (as you hold the revolver) is wide enough to keep you from pushing the wedge all the way through and out the other side, so what purpose does the screw serve? I've heard that it's to keep the wedge from coming all the way out, but when I pull the wedge, it pops out entirely, so it doesn't seem that it serves that purpose.

 

[45D]

That's exactly what the screw is for. Pietta wedges tend to have too long of a spring so the wedge can escape before the lip of the spring can catch the head of the screw. The end of the spring should be about flush with the end of the wedge. Uberti gets them right.

Mike

 

[Schutzer]

No, just install the wedge with some "Authority". The damage you have was caused by the "jack hammering " with a loose wedge. It's a robust, steel revolver, not an egg lol.

Mike

Haha true! Though compared to modern pistols, this metal is like buttah.

 

[Schutzer]

I don't believe what you showed was caused by shooting but is likely from the manufacturing process and you didn't notice it when new. The barrels start out as castings and square slot like that would be cut to finish with a broach that would leave marks like that. That should have been eliminated in finishing.
[/Qbutter.

I can see how that's possible, wish I'd taken "before" photos. What could help is if folks with these guns could take a look and see if theirs have similar cosmetic differences.

 

[Schutzer]

That's exactly what the screw is for. Pietta wedges tend to have too long of a spring so the wedge can escape before the lip of the spring can catch the head of the screw. The end of the spring should be about flush with the end of the wedge. Uberti gets them right.

Mike

Very true, they are just decorations on Piettas.

 

[ShotgunDave]

Before someone says "but those are all Uberti's" , here is a pair of Pietta's I have in the house.

View attachment 113515

The thing is, they're all broached, and they all look nice and flat, just like these.
So . . . it's tha shooting . . .
Tighten them wedges up boys!!!!

Mike

Well there ya go! Thanks for that Mike!

 

[45D]

Well there ya go! Thanks for that Mike!

No, problemo ShotgunDave!!! Thank you sir!!!

Mike