An Early Pietta

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Frank Maglin

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Howdy! I acquired a Pietta 1858 Remington. By its appearance, it looks quite old. Disassembled it completely, and under the left grip on the grip frame, I found the Pietta logo stamp and SM0235 and on the bottom of the barrel under the loading lever is 235 which I’m figuring is matching the frame stamp number; however, I cannot find a date stamp proof mark anywhere. Any idea when this could have been made with just the info I’ve found?
 
In 2005, I saw some Pietta revolver kits for sale at Traditions that were prototypes. --->>> https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/found-fully-assembled-pietta-revolver-kits.385330/
There were only a handful available, and while my recollection is foggy, I do recall buying some of the kits for a THR member since they could only be purchased in person.
Anyway, those kits are all that I can think of since Italian proof marks should otherwise be present because 1945 was proof mark year 1.
Perhaps some other Pietta distributors also received some of the same prototype kits.
 
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In 2005, I saw some Pietta revolver kits for sale at Traditions that were prototypes. --->>> https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/found-fully-assembled-pietta-revolver-kits.385330/
There were only a handful available, and while my recollection is foggy, I do recall buying some of the kits for a THR member since they could only be purchased in person.
Anyway, those kits are all that I can think of since Italian proof marks should otherwise be present because 1945 was proof mark year 1.
Perhaps some other Pietta distributors also received some of the same prototype kits.
 
76A63DDD-B311-417E-9A7D-A61CC32FCEAA.jpeg Thanks for the information. That surely could be a possibility. The finish on it is a black matte, and the front sight is a blade that is dovetailed to the barrel. Nicely worn walnut grips and the brass trigger guard has tarnished patina. I’m going to try and post a picture. It looked more flat before I cleaned it up and applied olive oil to it.
 
Sorry Admin don’t know how I posted this quote. Delete please or tell me how I can delete it. I’m a greenhorn here.
 
I'm not seeing anything to convince me that this example necessarily "old".
There is some wear and looks like it's seen some oxidation but that could happen in months.
 
Hi Frank - What is the barrel length on the Remington pictured up above? Is it .44 or .36? It may just be a matter of optics but the barrel looks/seems longer than 5.5 inches. If it is a .36 with a 6.5 inch barrel (example in center, below) then the loading lever is longer than what Pietta has sold for the past many years.

Whatever you have there - it's a good looking piece, for sure.



IMG_6794+ .JPG
 
Hi Frank - What is the barrel length on the Remington pictured up above? Is it .44 or .36? It may just be a matter of optics but the barrel looks/seems longer than 5.5 inches. If it is a .36 with a 6.5 inch barrel (example in center, below) then the loading lever is longer than what Pietta has sold for the past many years.

Whatever you have there - it's a good looking piece, for sure.



View attachment 846596
Thanks Eyrie. It’s a .44 and from muzzle to receiver front is 5.5”. Wrote to Pietta who said the numbers dated it to 1991, though there is no date proof mark anywhere. Asked them if it was a kit gun. They said no. I also asked why there was no date proof mark. They said it is too old, so go figure. It is for sure an accurate shooter though.
 
That's odd; those date markings using dual letters in a box go back decades, way before 1991.
Here’s what I’ve found so far. The diamond Pietta logo stamped by the grip pin, SM0235 also under the left grip and 235 is also stamped on the barrel under the loading lever. Then, on the bottom of the grip frame is the numbers 134952. The last three of those numbers is also stamped on the cylinder.
 

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Since the barrel has a dovetailed "Colt-style SAA front sight, I am inclined to believe the barrel was cut down from an 8" barrel and likely refinished, eliminating the date stamp. The gunsmith may not have been aware of the meaning of the letters in the square. The 5-1/2" length would fit the 'SASS" Cowboy Action activity.

Only one Pietta Remington revolver model is available with a dovetailed front sight. When I bought mine in 1988 from Navy Arms Company, it was marketed as the Remington "New Model Army Deluxe Revolver". It was designed and geared to the International target shooter in mind since the retail price was $450.00. Today, Pietta refers to it as the Remington "Shooters Model" and is sold by Dixie Gun Works for $950.00. Its regarded as the third most accurate in the world for competition line shooting.

If the barrel was refinished, possibly the frame was refinished, removing the date stamp. Just my humble opinion.

Here's a photo of my Remington NMA Deluxe Revolver from Navy Arms.

index.php
 
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Since the barrel has a dovetailed front sight, I am inclined to believe the barrel was cut down from an 8" barrel and likely refinished. Only one Pietta Remington revolver model is available with a dovetailed front sight. When I bought mine in 1988 from Navy Arms Company, it was marketed as the Remington "New Model Army Deluxe Revolver". It was designed and geared to the International target shooter in mind since the retail price was $450.00. Today, Pietta refers to it as the Remington "Shooters Model" and is sold by Dixie Gun Works for $950.00. Its regarded as the third most accurate in the world for competition line shooting.

If the barrel was refinished, possibly the frame was refinished, removing the date stamp. Just my humble opinion.

Here's a photo of my Remington NMA Deluxe Revolver from Navy Arms.

index.php
I believe you may be right on the barrel being cut down. The finish on mine look very close to the finish on yours. I emailed Pietta with all the numbers I found, and the claim it to be from 1991 which is close to the production date of yours.
 
"Its regarded as the third most accurate in the world for competition line shooting."
Second and first are?
 
Howdy! I acquired a Pietta 1858 Remington. By its appearance, it looks quite old. Disassembled it completely, and under the left grip on the grip frame, I found the Pietta logo stamp and SM0235 and on the bottom of the barrel under the loading lever is 235 which I’m figuring is matching the frame stamp number; however, I cannot find a date stamp proof mark anywhere. Any idea when this could have been made with just the info I’ve found?
It's just a defarbed, relatively recent production piece, no big mystery.
 
Krinko, Among the International competitors, the German-made Hege/FWB "Remington NMA" is/was the best (and better be for $1,700 USD), but no longer made. Second best is the Pedersoli Model "NMA58" @ $1,500. A review of it is on a "Muzzleloading Forum", but I don't want to post the link if its against the rules.

At about a "grand", the Pietta Shooters Model" is ideal for the competitor who wants superior quality and accuracy at 50 yards in International or National Line Matches at 25 & 50 yards. Our friend, "4v50 Gary" can shed some light here as he is a member of the US International Muzzleloading Team, and can vouch for the available choices.
 
So what is the difference between the standard pietta and the shooters model? I believe that the chambers come matching or .001 or so over groove diameter correct? What else? Perhaps the forcing cone is cut and polished? Anyone out there able to shed some light? Ive always been under the impression that with a few adjustments the standard model can basically be made into a "shooters" model. Am i right or wrong?
 
Yes the Shooter's Model chambers are .456" and the bore groove diameter is .456". The barrel also has a gain twist rifling. I think the tolerances are held to a higher standard and the polish is better.
Here is my 2017 "Shooter's" with my best target, 6 shots at 25 yards from a rest. The shot that hit low was probably my fault due to inadvertently changing my sight picture. I think with a trigger job it could be a serious offhand gun.
However I think the regular Pietta's have gotten quite good, especially if you could hand pick one. My Pietta 1858 .36 caliber can do almost as good as my Shooter's but at 15 yards instead of 25
. best target 01b.jpg
 
Mr.lonesomepigeon...you call that shooting? Pshh i can do better...but dont ask me to prove it cuz ill always have an excuse...eh i mean justification :p . thats some good shooting sir! Do these shooters models come with an 11 degree (or some other degree) forcing cone? Have you tried conicals out of it? If so what were the results? Id assume the gain twist would help.
 
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