Pietta Starr D.A. Civil War revolver

[jonathan butcher]

I just picked this up via a GB auction, it was reasonably priced until the last day of the auction and that's when two other bidders showed up and drove the price up, well beyond what I wanted to pay. That being said it was the only one I'd ever seen come up for sale anywhere so I took the plunge. And am I glad I did. These revolvers were well ahead of their time and the Starr D.A. was at once an arcane and forward thinking design. It arrived today in excellent condition. The gun can also be fired SA. I haven't taken it to the range yet but just messing around with the operation has been fascinating. Here are a few pics, am planning on finding a holster for it at some point.

 

[sourdough]

Very nice but I would have preferred a s \ingle action. Your call.

 

[bobthemotorcycle]

Problem with this revolver is you pull the trigger 6 times and then your empty, then what.
Just kidding, very nice. Did not know they existed. Thanks for sharing.

 

[jonathan butcher]

Grab another revolver ? Thanks bobthemotorcyc, I'm still discovering it and enjoying the process.

Problem with this revolver is you pull the trigger 6 times and then your empty, then what.
Just kidding, very nice. Did not know they existed. Thanks for sharing.

 

[kh54]

Is that a Pietta? I just acquired the SA Pietta from another forum member but it has a problem I haven't yet solved. I agree, the DA is very cool.

 

[Zonie]

The Flayderman's Guide says the Starr DA pistol cannot be cocked and fired like a single action pistol can.

He says, The unusual Starr D.A. mechanism was by no means of the conventional type. The so-called double action is unique and may more aptly be termed 'self cocking' as the gun cannot be used on single action by manually pulling back the hammer alone."

Is this pistol like that?

As a side note, Starr earlier in time also made a double action pepper box.

 

[CaptainKirk]

I have a Pietta Starr of the SA version. Is yours original or a repro?

 

[Eras Gone]

Pietta said there were going to re-start production of the Starrs back in 2019. It never happened. I think they realized that the cost would not encouarge many purchases. They were about $550 when the last batch sold out years ago. I was lucky to get a good used Single Action a while back.

 

[awc]

i have 2 single an double action, they work perdectly after some smothin on action pietta don't do much. the double action works perfectly in both modes, i think i have a vid of it in operation on you tube. type in tonycalp an look for it,its very impressive

 

[Musketeer]

The Flayderman's Guide says the Starr DA pistol cannot be cocked and fired like a single action pistol can.

He says, The unusual Starr D.A. mechanism was by no means of the conventional type. The so-called double action is unique and may more aptly be termed 'self cocking' as the gun cannot be used on single action by manually pulling back the hammer alone."

Is this pistol like that?

As a side note, Starr earlier in time also made a double action pepper box.

I believe the Pietta version is the same. To shoot single action you squeeze the main trigger back until the hammer is cocked, then let the trigger return forward and fire the gun by squeezing the smaller trigger or lever at the rear of the trigger guard. Double action is achieved by simply continuing to squeeze the main trigger after the hammer is cocked, which will in turn press on the same lever and fire the gun. Capandball on youtube did a video comparison. Lemme take a look.

Here 'tis:

 

[jonathan butcher]

As the above post notes the Starr DA can be fired single action. And yes 'self-cocking' seems a more apt description as the mechanism is quite unique. Cocking the gun for single action use requires manipulating the trigger. I'm glad I got this, haven't seen nary a one on the used market. Ib fact the SA versions are rare to find as well.

The Flayderman's Guide says the Starr DA pistol cannot be cocked and fired like a single action pistol can.

He says, The unusual Starr D.A. mechanism was by no means of the conventional type. The so-called double action is unique and may more aptly be termed 'self cocking' as the gun cannot be used on single action by manually pulling back the hammer alone."

Is this pistol like that?

As a side note, Starr earlier in time also made a double action pepper box.

 

[jonathan butcher]

That's one neat looking cap and ball revolver if you ask me. Hard to find though.

Pietta said there were going to re-start production of the Starrs back in 2019. It never happened. I think they realized that the cost would not encouarge many purchases. They were about $550 when the last batch sold out years ago. I was lucky to get a good used Single Action a while back.

View attachment 75826

 

[jonathan butcher]

 

[Throwdown58]

I was fortunate enough to get a pair of these when they were available, and I used them for SASS side matches briefly. They work good, even though you feel like they shouldn't. I hope they bring them back. I was going to post a WTB for a single action but I guess they are going to for crazy money now.

 

[Larry P]

I just picked this up via a GB auction, it was reasonably priced until the last day of the auction and that's when two other bidders showed up and drove the price up, well beyond what I wanted to pay. That being said it was the only one I'd ever seen come up for sale anywhere so I took the plunge. And am I glad I did. These revolvers were well ahead of their time and the Starr D.A. was at once an arcane and forward thinking design. It arrived today in excellent condition. The gun can also be fired SA. I haven't taken it to the range yet but just messing around with the operation has been fascinating. Here are a few pics, am planning on finding a holster for it at some point.

I wish you luck with your new gun. I have both the single action and the double action pietta revolvers and I have had nothing but problems with both. I've always been intrigued with the mechanism of the the double action and always wanted one and finally wound up with both. I don't know how many times I've been to the range and worked on them more than shooting them. I once read while during the civil war a union officer was quoted saying it should be treasonous to send a soldier to war carring a double action Starr revolver. I still have both of my pistols and will probably keep them because I like unique guns. Just my take. Good luck.

 

[jonathan butcher]

I would say it this way; were I in need of carrying a Starr revolver for protection, I wouldn't carry a Starr Revolver. Any number of other C&B revolvers might be a better choice from that perspective.
But as an extension of my hobby ? And my interest in all things 19th century ? Especially odd ball revolvers of the Civil War ? It's hard to beat the Starr, single or double action. It's shortcomings notwithstanding. For me makes it makes the gun all the more interesting to own and (attempt to) shoot.

I wish you luck with your new gun. I have both the single action and the double action pietta revolvers and I have had nothing but problems with both. I've always been intrigued with the mechanism of the the double action and always wanted one and finally wound up with both. I don't know how many times I've been to the range and worked on them more than shooting them. I once read while during the civil war a union officer was quoted saying it should be treasonous to send a soldier to war carring a double action Starr revolver. I still have both of my pistols and will probably keep them because I like unique guns. Just my take. Good luck.

 

[Larry P]

I would say it this way; were I in need of carrying a Starr revolver for protection, I wouldn't carry a Starr Revolver. Any number of other C&B revolvers might be a better choice from that perspective.
But as an extension of my hobby ? And my interest in all things 19th century ? Especially odd ball revolvers of the Civil War ? It's hard to beat the Starr, single or double action. It's shortcomings notwithstanding. For me makes it makes the gun all the more interesting to own and (attempt to) shoot.

Much of the Starr pistols problems is with the design and mechanisms of the pistol itself and that's mostly the double action revolver the single action is much better. Like yourself I'm intrigued with the design and like all things 19 th century. Pietta could I believe done a better job of making a betterproduct but they were more or less hamstrung with working with not a great design in the first place. After The first five thousand double actions the union bought they said we didnt want any more of these but if you'll make a single action on this design we'll buy more. I read this when reading up on the subject.

 

[nkbj]

Nice looking gun.
That's just finer than frog hair.
Please post your range results when you get a chance.

 

[jonathan butcher]

I agree, from a design standpoint the Star SA is much better. I too wish that Pietta could have spent more time in developing a smooth working mechanism. I've never handled an original Star DA in as-new condition but I'm betting it was made to much closer tolerances than the reproductions. Of course had Pietta done that it would have cost twice to three times the money. Even then their business model just isn't set up to make mass production repro revolvers with gunsmithed perfect actions. I remember handling a Smith & Wesson New Model No 3 made in 1872 and it cycled like a Swiss watch ( I only mention the unmentionable gun to illustrate my own experience with an extremely smooth functioning SA from the factory. Apologies to the mods, won't happen again).

Much of the Starr pistols problems is with the design and mechanisms of the pistol itself and that's mostly the double action revolver the single action is much better. Like yourself I'm intrigued with the design and like all things 19 th century. Pietta could I believe done a better job of making a betterproduct but they were more or less hamstrung with working with not a great design in the first place. After The first five thousand double actions the union bought they said we didnt want any more of these but if you'll make a single action on this design we'll buy more. I read this when reading up on the subject.

 

[Kansas Jake]

A local pawn/gun shop had a new in the box Starr double action in stock about 5 years ago. It looked extremely nice and I got to handle it a bit. I would have like to have purchased it but the price was steep even then. i also understood they would probably not hold up to a great deal of use.