Which of these is a company making a quality product?

Pond, James Pond · December 17, 2014, 03:29 AM

Some may remember I recently asked about which BP models would be based on an 1870 or older design as this would mean any BP rifle bought fitting this criterion, the existing weapons law would not apply.
This means that I could enjoy BP shooting without having to sell a gun I own now, something I would ordinarily have to do, because of storage limits the law imposes.

I have found a BP dealer in the UK and there may be a means of importing a BP rifle into Estonia, but I have no idea which are decent manufacturers.

So which of these are decent?
Ardesa, Artax, Euroarms, Palmetto, Parker Hale, Pedersoli or Pietta.

This stockist includes percussion cap and flintlock designs and I'm leaning toward the former.

kwhi43 · December 17, 2014, 05:27 AM

Pedersoli

Sure Shot Mc Gee · December 17, 2014, 07:07 AM

Yup. agree.^^

noelf2 · December 17, 2014, 08:38 AM

Also agree that Pedersoli is a notch above the rest on the list. I would reconsider flintlock over percussion. Flintlock is a bit more expensive, however, you'll never have to worry about shortage of percussion caps with a flinter. Just my 2p.

DD4lifeusmc · December 17, 2014, 09:40 AM

If you are staying in a rifle format
Pedersoli is top of the line of commercial makers.
But don't forget Lyman. still quality, but not as pricey.

Plus there are still a few custom makers of BP rifles here in the States.

If you are going to include pistols / revolvers at anytime then
Pietta and Uberti would be there. With I believe Uberti being a little better.

**4V50 Gary** · December 17, 2014, 11:51 AM

Pedersoli.
Uberti and Pietta (getting better over the years).
I have the older Parker Hale (made in England).
Lyman Great Plains are GTG.

maillemaker · December 17, 2014, 12:52 PM

Quote:

Ardesa, Artax, Euroarms, Palmetto, Parker Hale, Pedersoli or Pietta.

Parker Hale and Euroarms are out of business, though of course you can buy them used. Pedersoli bought out Euroarms and improved the arms. So I would buy a new Pedersoli over a used Euroarms.

The general consensus seems to be that Uberti is somewhat better than Pietta, and in my limited experience (1 Uberti revolver and 4 Piettas) that is true.

Steve

swathdiver · December 17, 2014, 01:02 PM

Kaido Ojamma, the inventor of the Kaido conical bullets and runs the international black powder handgun hunters yahoo forum, is from Estonia and recently was instrumental in educating the government which in turn changed the laws regarding bp antique firearms. I'm sure he would be delighted to assist you if you contact him through his website.

Pahoo · December 17, 2014, 03:07 PM

I have had most of these , in the past but as far as current models, mostly Pedersoli and they are super. I also have a current Uberti and it's a great little rifle. The older Parker Hale was very well made as well. I'm not sure if they are still in business. You did not mention the big- [I] or Investment Arms....

Be Safe !!!

Pond, James Pond · December 17, 2014, 05:20 PM

Quote:

Kaido Ojamma, the inventor of the Kaido conical bullets and runs the international black powder handgun hunters yahoo forum, is from Estonia

Now that is very interesting indeed!!
Will definitely have to look into that!!

maillemaker · December 18, 2014, 09:39 AM

Quote:

The older Parker Hale was very well made as well. I'm not sure if they are still in business.

They are not.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parker_Hale

Steve

Driftwood Johnson · December 18, 2014, 01:33 PM

Howdy

Agree, Pedersoli is very high quality, I have a Sharpes made by them. But they do not make any pistols.

Uberti is tops with revolvers, and they make very good reproductions of the 1860 Henry, Winchester 1866 and Winchester 1873 rifles.

Pietta used to be a distant second but they seem to be making better quality now to put them on a par with Uberti.

I bought my EuroArms Remington 1858 back in 1975. It was very good quality. But EuroArms does not exist any more.

maillemaker · December 18, 2014, 02:07 PM

Quote:

Agree, Pedersoli is very high quality, I have a Sharpes made by them. But they do not make any pistols.

They make a wide variety of pistols, including a Remington 1858.

http://www.davide-pedersoli.com/guns...s/pistols.html

Steve

Pond, James Pond · December 18, 2014, 02:14 PM

If I look at flintlocks, as recommended earlier, does this mean that I can be pretty sure they are a pre-1870 design?

I seem to recall reading that percussion caps took over about 1820. Correct?

noelf2 · December 18, 2014, 02:38 PM

I would say yes to that, depending on your location in the world. In the USA I would not say percussion caps "took over" at that time, but they were available. Lots of flintlocks were converted to percussion, and some remained flintlocks into the American Civil War (mostly in the southern states though, where they used whatever they could get). I only mentioned flintlocks to you because I don't know about the availability of percussion caps in your location. It's nice to have a firearm that can go boom with just powder and ball.

Pond, James Pond · December 18, 2014, 05:33 PM

Quote:

I only mentioned flintlocks to you because I don't know about the availability of percussion caps in your location.

Nor do I for that matter.

Until a reference earlier about Kaido Ojamma, I didn't even think there was a black powder shooting following here (although, I've since learnt that Kaido does not actually reside in Estonia!).

Then again, I didn't realise that one could buy reloading supplies here either: one of the downsides of not knowing the technical name for different materials in the local tongue. You can't ask about that which you can't name!!

Jim Watson · December 18, 2014, 05:48 PM

When the guys here mention the Lyman Great Plains Rifle, consider that although Lyman is a US company, they are importing the guns from someplace in Italy and applying their trademark. I don't remember who is the builder and I don't know if they are sold in the home market.

I don't know your budget or your plans, but consider that the Pedersoli Gibbs target rifle is the only factory made gun competitive in its category.
Note that it shoots a lubricated lead bullet, not a patched ball or overly modern plastic sabot. It's design is probably circa 1865 as other makes of "smallbore" target rifle began to displace the 1860 Whitworths.

Pahoo · December 18, 2014, 07:21 PM

Quote:

I don't remember who is the builder and I don't know if they are sold in the home market.

My current one, is indicating the Big-[I] Investment Arms. Quality is very good. ....

Be Safe !!!

mykeal · December 19, 2014, 04:28 PM

I think you mean Investarm Fabbrica d' Armi.

December 17, 2014, 03:29 AM	#1
Pond, James Pond Senior Member Join Date: July 12, 2011 Location: Top of the Baltic stack Posts: 6,079	Which of these is a company making a quality product? Some may remember I recently asked about which BP models would be based on an 1870 or older design as this would mean any BP rifle bought fitting this criterion, the existing weapons law would not apply. This means that I could enjoy BP shooting without having to sell a gun I own now, something I would ordinarily have to do, because of storage limits the law imposes. I have found a BP dealer in the UK and there may be a means of importing a BP rifle into Estonia, but I have no idea which are decent manufacturers. So which of these are decent? Ardesa, Artax, Euroarms, Palmetto, Parker Hale, Pedersoli or Pietta. This stockist includes percussion cap and flintlock designs and I'm leaning toward the former. __________________ When the right to effective self-defence is denied, that right to self-defence which remains is essentially symbolic. Freedom: Please enjoy responsibly.

December 17, 2014, 08:38 AM	#4
noelf2 Senior Member Join Date: April 14, 2008 Location: Stuart, VA Posts: 2,473	Also agree that Pedersoli is a notch above the rest on the list. I would reconsider flintlock over percussion. Flintlock is a bit more expensive, however, you'll never have to worry about shortage of percussion caps with a flinter. Just my 2p. __________________ Liberty and freedom often offends those who understand neither.

December 17, 2014, 09:40 AM	#5
DD4lifeusmc Senior Member Join Date: October 12, 2012 Location: Wyoming Posts: 351	quality If you are staying in a rifle format Pedersoli is top of the line of commercial makers. But don't forget Lyman. still quality, but not as pricey. Plus there are still a few custom makers of BP rifles here in the States. If you are going to include pistols / revolvers at anytime then Pietta and Uberti would be there. With I believe Uberti being a little better.

December 17, 2014, 11:51 AM	#6
4V50 Gary Staff Join Date: November 2, 1998 Location: Colorado Posts: 21,841	Pedersoli. Uberti and Pietta (getting better over the years). I have the older Parker Hale (made in England). Lyman Great Plains are GTG. __________________ Vigilantibus et non dormientibus jura subveniunt. *Molon Labe!*

December 17, 2014, 01:02 PM	#8
swathdiver Senior Member Join Date: December 19, 2012 Location: Treasure Coast, Florida Posts: 335	Kaido Ojamma, the inventor of the Kaido conical bullets and runs the international black powder handgun hunters yahoo forum, is from Estonia and recently was instrumental in educating the government which in turn changed the laws regarding bp antique firearms. I'm sure he would be delighted to assist you if you contact him through his website. __________________ “Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee, and answer thou me.” - Job 38:3

December 17, 2014, 05:27 AM	#2
kwhi43 Senior Member Join Date: August 21, 2008 Location: Kansas City Posts: 1,393	Pedersoli

December 17, 2014, 07:07 AM	#3
Sure Shot Mc Gee Senior Member Join Date: January 2, 2012 Location: Minnesota Posts: 3,876	Yup. agree.^^

December 17, 2014, 03:07 PM	#9
Pahoo Senior Member Join Date: February 16, 2006 Location: IOWA Posts: 8,783	Another Pedersoli Response I have had most of these , in the past but as far as current models, mostly Pedersoli and they are super. I also have a current Uberti and it's a great little rifle. The older Parker Hale was very well made as well. I'm not sure if they are still in business. You did not mention the big- [I] or Investment Arms.... Be Safe !!! __________________ 'Fundamental truths' are easy to recognize because they are verified daily through simple observation and thus, require no testing.

December 18, 2014, 01:33 PM	#12
Driftwood Johnson Senior Member Join Date: January 3, 2014 Location: Land of the Pilgrims Posts: 2,033	Howdy Agree, Pedersoli is very high quality, I have a Sharpes made by them. But they do not make any pistols. Uberti is tops with revolvers, and they make very good reproductions of the 1860 Henry, Winchester 1866 and Winchester 1873 rifles. Pietta used to be a distant second but they seem to be making better quality now to put them on a par with Uberti. I bought my EuroArms Remington 1858 back in 1975. It was very good quality. But EuroArms does not exist any more.

December 18, 2014, 02:14 PM	#14
Pond, James Pond Senior Member Join Date: July 12, 2011 Location: Top of the Baltic stack Posts: 6,079	If I look at flintlocks, as recommended earlier, does this mean that I can be pretty sure they are a pre-1870 design? I seem to recall reading that percussion caps took over about 1820. Correct? __________________ When the right to effective self-defence is denied, that right to self-defence which remains is essentially symbolic. Freedom: Please enjoy responsibly.

December 18, 2014, 02:38 PM	#15
noelf2 Senior Member Join Date: April 14, 2008 Location: Stuart, VA Posts: 2,473	I would say yes to that, depending on your location in the world. In the USA I would not say percussion caps "took over" at that time, but they were available. Lots of flintlocks were converted to percussion, and some remained flintlocks into the American Civil War (mostly in the southern states though, where they used whatever they could get). I only mentioned flintlocks to you because I don't know about the availability of percussion caps in your location. It's nice to have a firearm that can go boom with just powder and ball. __________________ Liberty and freedom often offends those who understand neither. Last edited by noelf2; December 18, 2014 at 02:46 PM.

December 18, 2014, 05:48 PM	#17
Jim Watson Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2001 Location: Alabama Posts: 18,543	When the guys here mention the Lyman Great Plains Rifle, consider that although Lyman is a US company, they are importing the guns from someplace in Italy and applying their trademark. I don't remember who is the builder and I don't know if they are sold in the home market. I don't know your budget or your plans, but consider that the Pedersoli Gibbs target rifle is the only factory made gun competitive in its category. Note that it shoots a lubricated lead bullet, not a patched ball or overly modern plastic sabot. It's design is probably circa 1865 as other makes of "smallbore" target rifle began to displace the 1860 Whitworths.

December 19, 2014, 04:28 PM	#19
mykeal Senior Member Join Date: October 8, 2006 Location: Northern Michigan Posts: 2,772	I think you mean Investarm Fabbrica d' Armi.