Something new about the Pietta brass grip frame.

[Harley Starr]

The Pietta Brass Navy copies I've seen at Cabela's lately seem to have changed. Their brass grip frames feel exactly like the steel grip frames on their 1873 SAA clones. Even the 1873 Millennium they sell now has the same feel and shape as the brass Navy copies.

Thoughts?

[Jake C]

If that is becoming the norm, I'll be a very happy camper. That was the biggest reason why I wasn't looking at the Pietta Navies.

[Harley Starr]

If that is becoming the norm, I'll be a very happy camper. That was the biggest reason why I wasn't looking at the Pietta Navies.

That would mean one less part to change out.

[Thumb Buster]

Just ordered an 1861 because of the steel back strap being closer to the original; plus I like the look and feel.  (Thanks to Mike Beliveau) for the heads up on that) I've been meaning to carve my two belled' Pietta brass frames down.  What to do, what to do?  Carve away the bell or wait and order new back straps and fit the grip to them?    Well, that's good news about the 'bell-less' back strap but my working on the old straps would keep me in the work shop and out of the better half's hair.    So I can about tell you what's gonna' happen at my place.   

It is about time they got that bell situation worked out.   

[Jake C]

Just ordered an 1861 because of the steel back strap being closer to the original; plus I like the look and feel.  (Thanks to Mike Beliveau) for the heads up on that) I've been meaning to carve my two belled' Pietta brass frames down.  What to do, what to do?  Carve away the bell or wait and order new back straps and fit the grip to them?    Well, that's good news about the 'bell-less' back strap but my working on the old straps would keep me in the work shop and out of the better half's hair.    So I can about tell you what's gonna' happen at my place.   

It is about time they got that bell situation worked out.   

Agreed. Now I'm stuck with a question. Do I get a Pietta and save a few bucks, or do I fork over the extra cash and get an Uberti '51 Navy London Model?

[Coffinmaker]

Just thought I'd chime in here.  Read this thread a few days ago and thought ....... Hummmmmm.  Past Brass frame '51s have looked like a Trombone Bell at the bottom which I really don't care for.
I just took delivery of a pair of new build Pietta 1862 NYM POLICE from EMF and noticed, THE BELL is gone.  The Gripframe at the bottom
is straighter in appearance an feel.  More like the original Colt '51 Navy Gripframe.  Really nice.

Jake C,
Careful there.  If the gun you get is actually "New Old Stock" you'll get a swell brandy new Trombone 

Coffinmaker

[Jake C]

Yeah, bit of a risk there. They're opening a Cabela's near me very soon, so I'll need to sniff around there, see if I can find one of these new '51 Navies. So many guns, so little time.

[Fingers McGee]

If that's the case, Thank You Allesandro for finally getting it right.

[Pettifogger]

Yep, the new Pietta brass grilp frame shape is terrific.  Jake C ss far as Uberti vs. Pietta, if want something that looks pretty buy the Uberti.  If you want something to shoot in competition buy the Pietta.

[Coffinmaker]

Larsen E. Pettifogger ........... Why, however can you be so brash as to say that!!  It couldn't be that Pietta Cap Guns have a correct Barre/Arbor fit 99.9 percent of the time, Or the timing is correct 99.9 percent of the time, or that Pietta Cap Guns have more trigger surface bearing area to slow wear, or maybe the Main Spring is actually closer to useable, Or the hand is so much simpler to convert to Coil Spring and Plunger ................... Such a BOLD statement.  Absolutely CORRECT!!
ALL my CAS competition (not that I'm still competitive) Cap Guns are Pietta.  They set up so very nice.  They also run very nice.  Mine,
are all 100 percent reliable.  Well, as close to 100 percent as a Cap Gun can be made to run.  On par with any Suppository shooter anyway.
After all, I'm only a Gamer when it's my turn to shoot!!
As a caveat, the 1862 NYM Police I just built up for myself are the first Pietta guns I've considered leaving the Navy Gripframe on as opposed to trading the Trombones off as fast as I could replace them with Army Gripframes. 
Pietta are in so far as I can determine, the best Value for Dollar in CAS guns.  PERIOD!
Plus, It's like the surgeons who only operate on Germans.  Parts so precise there interchangeable.  Besides, Uberti doesn't make a Factory Snubbie and Pietta does.

[Jake C]

Looks like a Pietta is in my future, once I get the wedding and honeymoon and all that stuff outta the way 

Don't suppose Pietta has a '51 Navy London model. I know the steel grip is kinda plain, but the London model sure has struck my fancy.

[Coffinmaker]

Jake,
Don't quote me.  I have not stayed in a Holliday Inn Express lately, so I know nothing about their Pool ...........
I, Personally have never seen a Pietta 1851 with an all steel Gripframe.  I've never even seen pictures of one.  It doesn't mean it doesn't exist, but ........... I really don't think so.
There is another pesky problem to creating one too.  Pietta cartridge gun parts don't interchange with their Percussion guns.  Even the screws are different.  I have, in the past, fit Uberti Gripframes to a Pietta, but you really gotta be determined to do it.  A royal PITA.

To insure the proper grip shape of the new build guns, I wouldn't order them "on line" for a while.  I'd want to be able to open the box and see what is inside.  Especially if we are talking about Dixie Gunworks, Cabelas or Midway, where they order guns by the container.  I ordered my new pair from EMF and had to wait on a new shipment as they were (fortunately) out of stock of what I wanted.

Coffinmaker

[Major 2]

Looks like a Pietta is in my future, once I get the wedding and honeymoon and all that stuff outta the way  

Don't suppose Pietta has a '51 Navy London model. I know the steel grip is kinda plain, but the London model sure has struck my fancy.

I wouldn't say that  

[Major 2]

OK  here is the dealio ...

This was a Pietta 61 Navy Hartford with a steel grip frame ....

The 1st. Mod was to Bob ( & defarb) the 61 barrel to 3"  and fit a Kirst Conversion ...
Next a donor 51 Pietta barrel was defarbed , bored & sleeved for 38 Special.

same frame, two barrels

[Jake C]

I wouldn't say that  

Oh God I want one. Purty purty pistol you have there, sir

[Coffinmaker]

Now you've done it.
The base line of Pietta Cap Guns are ALL built on the 1851 frame (as were the large Colt guns)  Major 2 had his Snubbie built on a Pietta 1861 Navy with steel Gripframe.  It's a really nice Snubbie, but for this discussion, the hot Patada is that Steel Navy Gripframe. 

If one had a Pietta 1861 Navy, Pull and peddle the "Army" style barrel assembly.  Watch eBay for a while, and an 1851 Navy barrel assembly is going to show up.  Snap up the '51 Navy Barrel assembly and install it on the '61 frame.  Instant London Navy '51.  Just insure while perusing eBay, you don't wind up with a .44 Navy (I know, I know, never was a 44 Navy) barrel assembly for a .36 Cal gun.  Where
there is a will, there is a way.  Thank Pietta for their penchant for standardization.  Yea!!!

Coffinmaker

PS:  The reference I saw on the EMF Web site was the '61 Navy and the Gripframe had the Trombone Bell Gripframe.  Warning Will Robinson, Warning Warning! 

[Montana Slim]

Waiting to see the new grip..even pictures...I'd likely take a set of the Piettas if/when they go on sale again provided they've fixed the grip. The minor details holding the Pietta C&Bs back could be corrected by the manufacturer at low cost.

My 2 "beefs" with the guns has been:
1) Bizarre grip shape....doesn't allow the revolver to fit the hand & "point" correctly - Like a Navy should.
2) Extraneous stamping on the barrel..duh, move the lawyer statement beneath the loading lever.

The "home" correction of these two items takes way more time than bending a small steel washer into a "V" to correct the too-short arbor of a Uberti.

Slim

[Coffinmaker]

Mt Slim,

Couldn't agree more.  I shot a match today with the only set of Pietta guns I have that still sport the old "Trombone Bell shape at the bottom of the grip.  Really ........ sux.  Not only looks ... strange, doesn't "feel" right in the hand.

I also not overly enamored with the Roll Stamps all over the barrel, telling me what caliber it is.  I know what caliber it is.  I also know it's
Black Powder (or Sub) only.  I didn't just fall offa Patada truck.  So ......

Normally, I trade off the Navy Trombone as quick as I can for an Army unit.  As far as all that stamping goes, I'm just too lazy, after 20+ years of Gunsmithing to piddle with it.

Coffinmaker

PS:   I would still caution, If you don't like Trombones, Don't buy mail order for a while.  Peek inna box.

[Lefty Dude]

We may want to thank Larsen Pettifogger for the 51 Pietta grip frame change. He and Allesandro are very good Friends if I recall.