Pietta "Old West" models: what am I missing?

That's what I thought too at first but they do more than just strip the finish. I have three of these guns now and there are pits, dents, dings and a general altering of the surface texture.

CraigC said:

That's what I thought too at first but they do more than just strip the finish. I have three of these guns now and there are pits, dents, dings and a general altering of the surface texture.

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Craig, it looks artificially abused to me for the new market. Most of us have not the funds to enjoy your lifestyle and choices. I, myself, want a replica that looks like it came new from the factory over 150 years ago, disregarding the Italian proofs, date code, and billboards. Otherwise I would defarb and that is a facetious option in my book as an attempt to fake an original. There are enough fakes for sale out there and I don't want to add to the confusion.

If I had your money I would seriously buy/bid upon the original thing. My wife and I are 66, living on SS, and I am lucky to buy a replica C&P revolver every 2 years. My latest, and probably last dream, is to create a J.H. Dance and Brothers .36. I have the Pietta 1851 Navy .36 to do the project, but I need to procure a part octagon/part round barrel as a standalone project, and those barrels are virtually non-existent. I have the smooth .36 cylinder for it. Both VTI and Taylors have no idea when the barrel will be available.

Good luck with your antiquing, sir!

Regards,

Jim

I'm not gonna make any comments about mine or anyone else's financial situation but I have rarely entertained the idea of paying $3000 for a pitted old Colt. For half that, I have three new Uberti sixguns made of superior materials that I can shoot and carry without having to load them with blackpowder or worry about destroying a relic. Which is the whole point. I like the idea of owning original Colt's but not the cost of admission.

Defarbing is a long way from creating a fake. Unless you start stamping "Colt" on a replica, no one will mistake it for an original.

Craig, I understand your point of view. There are too many noobs that are gullible to this kind of thing, and it is their misunderstanding about this, and I don't want to procreate it..

Just my $.02 worth.

You have a good night!

Jim

Misunderstanding about what?

Here's some real Colts. These are not mine. A member on another forum I used to frequent started collecting these when he was young and they were more affordable. I had grab copy of the above pic as it was awe inspiring to me. Some nice looking guns.

drobs said:

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Here's some real Colts. These are not mine. A member on another forum I used to frequent started collecting these when he was young and they were more affordable. I had grab copy of the above pic as it was awe inspiring to me. Some nice looking guns.

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Ok, this brings up a question I have always had. All my life I have heard these old colts referred to as "Peacemakers". This picture is a perfect example with the different barrel lengths and grip materials. The one on the far right even appears to have a different style grip and hammer. Was Peacemaker the actual model designation for all the old colts like that back then? Or were there different model designations?

The details about it can be read here:--->>> https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colt_Single_Action_Army

CraigC said:

That's what I thought too at first but they do more than just strip the finish. I have three of these guns now and there are pits, dents, dings and a general altering of the surface texture.

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Mine was not nearly that beat up but the etching just depends on how long you want to leave the vinegar on it and drop it in the gravel parking lot a few times if you want one beat up.

No different than aging a brand new gun rig, I can bang it up a little in just the right areas but nothing looks as good as a naturally used and aged piece.

maint1517 said:

The one on the far right even appears to have a different style grip and hammer.

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Im no expert by any means....in fact i just bought my first SAA clone. It isnt even home yet.

I believe the species on the right in the pic you refer to is a Bisley model.

Armored farmer

I believe the species on the right in the pic you refer to is a Bisley model.

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Yes sir you are correct! It has the Bisley grip and slightly lowered hammer. An outstanding collection of Colts!

Just a guess (hypothesis) with no facts to back it up. Maybe this a nice durable generally unavailable in the US finish that can only be produced using nasty cyanide in Italy where the process is not banned.

I suspect the toxic method produces a better more durable finish. Just a thought ?????

CraigC said:

Defarbing is a long way from creating a fake. Unless you start stamping "Colt" on a replica, no one will mistake it for an original.

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My problem with defarbing is not that you might create a fake original Colt, but that you will lose the originality of the Italian reproduction. The Italian reproductions are going to become (if they haven't already become) collectible in their own right, and someday we are going to look back and regret that we messed with them -- losing their valuable markings -- for some dubious purpose.

AlexanderA said:

My problem with defarbing is not that you might create a fake original Colt, but that you will lose the originality of the Italian reproduction. The Italian reproductions are going to become (if they haven't already become) collectible in their own right, and someday we are going to look back and regret that we messed with them -- losing their valuable markings -- for some dubious purpose.

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I like your bold! I think you are absolutely correct about the original Italian replicas. I am only into replica 1851 Navies and there are so many older ones out there that I need to learn about. Pietta does not make a "tail" grip profile anymore so that is a collector item in itself. Thanks for posting this, sir!

Jim

I am looking at the Dixie Gun Works 2018 catalog. It doesn't call them "Old West" finish but it does describe them as having a "slight patina finish" so I think they are the same thing.

It lists the Dixie Remington New Model Army by Pietta, item number RH0489....$450.
Button rifled .003" deep.
1-30" twist.
7 lands .440".
7 grooves .446".
.446" chamber diameter.

It also has the Dixie 1860 Army Revolver by Pietta, item number RH0485....$390.
Button rifled .003" deep.
1-30" twist.
7 lands .440".
7 grooves .446".
.446" chamber diameter.

Now if you look at the other Pietta Remington repros they have .440" lands and .450" grooves with .446" chambers. The regular Pietta 1860's have .440" lands and .452" grooves with .446" or .447" chambers.

Thus it appears the Pietta "Old West" aka "slight patina finish" revolvers actually do have the correct chamber to bore size relationship dimensions.

Nothing wrong with a pair of 'broken in' jeans, or an authentic looking sixgun ...imho.

AlexanderA said:

My problem with defarbing is not that you might create a fake original Colt, but that you will lose the originality of the Italian reproduction. The Italian reproductions are going to become (if they haven't already become) collectible in their own right, and someday we are going to look back and regret that we messed with them -- losing their valuable markings -- for some dubious purpose.

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Somehow I think that is a very, very, very, very long shot.

People don't defarb with a "dubious purpose". Jesus, it's removing markings, which is a LONG way from creating a fake. Sorry but this is just absurd.

CraigC said:

People don't defarb with a "dubious purpose". Jesus, it's removing markings, which is a LONG way from creating a fake. Sorry but this is just absurd.

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Defarbing is done to supposedly make the gun more authentic. This practice started out among perfectionist ("button-counter") reenactors. Ironically, for those really in the know about the original and reproduction guns, the practice doesn't make the guns more authentic. It's an exercise in futility. That's why I called it "dubious."

It's done to make them less ugly. Same reason we remove barrel warnings from Rugers.