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Uberti Quality?

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DevilsLuck

40 Cal
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    Hello. I’m new to black powder. I recently purchased a used 1860 Army in well used condition, of unknown manufacture. The date stamp on it indicated it was made in 1966, (XXII) according to a site I referenced. Well... I really had fun shooting it; but given the overall looseness, accuracy was less than optimal. So I decided to try out a brand spanking new one.
    After searching the web for opinions on which 1860 to buy; I was down to Uberti, or Pietta.
    I went with Uberti. For two reasons. One being that it was stamped, such that the roll marks didn’t detract from the elegant lines of the pistol. And two; because more common than not, the reviews claimed better quality in the Ubertis.
    Well... my Uberti 1860 Army arrived today. So quite eagerly I unboxed it, rubbed off the excess oil, worked the action to see how it compared to my “old one”... Seems great! So I cocked the hammer to look down the sights... And that’s when I saw it... The hammer... it had a chip in it. Now this doesn’t seem to be the kind of chip one might get from dry firing either. This chip is present right where the v-notch is; and the metal at the point of the chip is not only showing the crystalline structure chipped metal shows... but the case hardening finish was clearly done after the chip was made...
    So... back this gun goes.
    Now I tell you all of that; so I can ask you this. “Should I give Uberti another shot? Or should I just get a pietta, and live with the gaudy stamping in a high visibility area?” “Is this the the current standard of quality with Ubertis nowadays? Or did I just happen to have a stroke of bad luck?”
 
have 12 of them and had to replace a small part in only one of them. i would never ever buy a pietta, if i could affort real colts i would. however i had a real colt ssa and my uberti ssa was much better made that a 1970 ssa colt.
 
have 12 of them and had to replace a small part in only one of them. i would never ever buy a pietta, if i could affort real colts i would. however i had a real colt ssa and my uberti ssa was much better made that a 1970 ssa colt.
So... A stroke of bad fortune..? I ask because this is my first new BP purchase. And when I went to buy food for my used specimen, the vendor (who no shocker, was a Pietta dealer) cautioned me that Uberti wasn’t what it once was. I took it with a grain of salt considering he was a Pietta vendor. But then... I got my brand new Uberti... Only to see this only moments after opening it. It seems that this part should have never made it past a number of QC checks. I still really want the clean lines of the Uberi; but I’m sure you can understand my confusion, and disappointment, with this being my first new BP purchase...
 
You have opened the Chevy vs. Ford argument.

I prefer Uberti and have 3 of them. There are those who prefer Pietta.

Since you ordered Uberti for 2 particular reasons, I would order Uberti.

When you order a pistol I would ask them to do an inspection prior to shipping.

If the next Uberti has problems you are at 2 strikes and time to move to Pietta.
 
You have opened the Chevy vs. Ford argument.

I prefer Uberti and have 3 of them. There are those who prefer Pietta.

Since you ordered Uberti for 2 particular reasons, I would order Uberti.

When you order a pistol I would ask them to do an inspection prior to shipping.

If the next Uberti has problems you are at 2 strikes and time to move to Pietta.
I will definitely ask Dixie if they’d be willing to do so. A cursory look down the sights at any stage would have caught this. Good point on sticking to what I “want”. But I’m so spanking new to this, I don’t even know, what I don’t know...
 
So... A stroke of bad fortune..? I ask because this is my first new BP purchase. And when I went to buy food for my used specimen, the vendor (who no shocker, was a Pietta dealer) cautioned me that Uberti wasn’t what it once was. I took it with a grain of salt considering he was a Pietta vendor. But then... I got my brand new Uberti... Only to see this only moments after opening it. It seems that this part should have never made it past a number of QC checks. I still really want the clean lines of the Uberi; but I’m sure you can understand my confusion, and disappointment, with this being my first new PB purchase...

I've never owned a uberti, but having a chip like that doesn't sound like them..... I've always heard and seen good quality in uberti, but..... If you have a traditional ML club around, you might could go asking around about it, and maybe seen one or two of them in person and then determine about it.
 
Try again. I buy only Uberti and Pedersoli. Serious defects are not very common.
As a consumer; would you consider this a serious defect? I myself do; if for no other reason than sight acquisition being compromised. Aside from that defect however... The pistol is Hubba-Hubba gorgeous!
 
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I've never owned a uberti, but having a chip like that doesn't sound like them..... I've always heard and seen good quality in uberti, but..... If you have a traditional ML club around, you might could go asking around about it, and maybe seen one or two of them in person and then determine about it.
I’m quite familiar with metals. And am near certain as I can be; that the condition of this hammer isn’t what the company likely intended. As the pictures show. While being new; it’s a great idea to find a club as you suggest. I’m not sure I need a second opinion regarding “chipped metal”. I do have an older 1860 to compare it to. And I’ve never seen chipped metal intentionally incorporated into a gun design. I’m in AL if anyone knows of a good BP club I can lean on in the future though...
 
I’m quite familiar with metals. And am near certain as I can be; that the condition of this hammer isn’t what the company likely intended. As the pictures show. While being new; it’s a great idea to find a club as you suggest. I’m not sure I need a second opinion regarding “chipped metal”. I do have an older 1860 to compare it to. And I’ve never seen chipped metal intentionally incorporated into a gun design. I’m in AL if anyone knows of a good BP club I can lean on in the future though...

Of course it shouldn't be chipped, but they seem to have a fairly good reputation. You can do what FishDFly said, and try again, but do so at your own risk. If it's a second mistake, I think it would be time to switch to pietta. It's a plus to have a older one to compare to. Just my thoughts.

SD
 
Of course it shouldn't be chipped, but they seem to have a fairly good reputation. You can do what FishDFly said, and try again, but do so at your own risk. If it's a second mistake, I think it would be time to switch to pietta. It's a plus to have a older one to compare to. Just my thoughts.

SD
Thank you for the reply. I think I will try again. So far it sounds like the “devils luck” has struck me again. I could survive an airliner crash without a scratch; only to get get my money taken by a vending machine, moments later... LOL!
 
I would send it back. I only have Colt and Uberti revolvers. Never any problems with either brands. I’m certain the vendor will do the right thing for you.
 
Reading this kind of makes me wonder if the person putting it together dropped it after certain stage and just let it go down the line. Easier than doing what was needed. Once it left his station it was not his worry.

Dixie, poster here some time back received something with a defect when he opened the box. He sent it back and asked that their gunsmith check it prior to shipping. Dixie granted his wish and he was happy with Dixie and it's service.
 
Reading this kind of makes me wonder if the person putting it together dropped it after certain stage and just let it go down the line. Easier than doing what was needed. Once it left his station it was not his worry.

Dixie, poster here some time back received something with a defect when he opened the box. He sent it back and asked that their gunsmith check it prior to shipping. Dixie granted his wish and he was happy with Dixie and it's service.
Thank you! I was worried... When I called to report the situation, I was told the person I needed to speak to wouldn’t be in till tomorrow. That worried me... Probably no big though. I’m off work today too! Lol!
Thank you everyone for your time In responding. And I apologize for all the stupid questions I’ll ask going forward. And I’ll have a lot of them...
 
Devil,
I bought some of my Colts new many years ago. I have also purchased some that were new in the box from collectors, or old stock, new in the box from various vendors. The Uberti revolvers are all very nice. I have never had an issue with the fit or finish with any. :cool:
 
Devil,
I bought some of my Colts new many years ago. I have also purchased some that were new in the box from collectors, or old stock, new in the box from various vendors. The Uberti revolvers are all very nice. I have never had an issue with the fit or finish with any. :cool:
Thank you. That gives me confidence in asking for another. Even the best restaurant turns out a bad meal now and again. I’m not sure that I could live with the exposed stamping of the Piettas. And now... To find a Colt. Hmmm...
 
As a consumer; would you consider this a serious defect? I myself do; if for no other reason than sight acquisition being compromised. Aside from that defect however... The pistol is Hubba-Hubba gorgeous!
I usually grind the nose back and deepen the sight notch. Depending on the depth the chip it might not be an issue at all for me.
 
I feel you got a defective product. SEND it back. Call the seller you purchased it from and have them send return information and a PICK-UP order.

If they do not I would charge it back as defective product with my credit card company. There is no reason to accept faulty products.
 
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