Pietta, Davidson's and a lemon.

[Z Factor]

Anyone else have issues with Pietta products and warranty work Davidsons contracts to do the work on their Pietta single action revolvers? Sorry but I think 3 months plus is kinda ridiculous, especially when Davidson's contracts their warranty work to a shop that specializes in very high end custom hunting rifles. I don't really believe these highly trained rifle builders make changing a defective barrel on a Pietta lemon high on their list of daily priorities. Thanks for letting me vent.

[armoredman]

The only Pietta products I am familiar with are their black powder revolvers and I know an excellent pistol smith in Bisbee who does fantastic work, on all kinds of black powder revolvers. I have no idea how Davidsons does warranty work, but it does sound like a mismatch.

[Z Factor]

Hey Armoredman, bought a single action 1873 peacemaker in .45 LC last Mar., took it out for a first time spin late Sept, 20 rounds in, screw on the ejector rod housing breaks off, whole housing falls off. Tracked down the importer was Davidson's and got the name of the shop who did their warranty work, high end custom gunsmithy in Sturgis, SD. They sent me a label , shipped it off Oct 4. Was told 2 weeks later it needed a new barrel. They got one a week later but it had the "wrong engraving " ?, gun isn't engraved. Hearing nothing but excuses since November. Last week, " I'll reach out Pietta AGAIN, and HOPEFULLY(!?) get good news", that was kinda it for me. Not really sure who to be more disgusted with.

[armoredman]

"Wrong engraving?" That's really odd, unless the wrong caliber was engraved on the right caliber barrel, which would be REALLY weird. However, I've seen things that odd in the past.
I bought my Uberti from Palmetto State Armory - so far both of those companies seem to stand behind what they sell, but I've never had to send an Uberti back to the factory.

[Z Factor]

Nice little group you have there. I actually bought the Pietta from Buds Gun Shop, but the importer was Davidson's. I'm really disappointed about all this. I dont suppose actually emailing Allesandro Pietta would get me anywhere, maybe 8t would. I've read a couple of threads where he has supposedly intervened , personally, his company and family reputation being called into question. But that might be people just telling tales.

[armoredman]

Yep, it's little - I just started buying single actions about three years ago.
It MIGHT actually work - when I had issues with Tanfoglio I spoke directly to Tanfoglio in Italy and had some resolution, but that was over 20 years ago.

[Ricklin]

I bought a new Pietta NMA. 20+ years ago. This was their best at that time, stainless steel with adjustable sights. My first trip to the range was rather disappointing, I had a 6 shooter with 6 different sizes of cylinder bores. Hyperbole alert, but it was bad. I called Traditions to get an RMA number, which they were very difficult about supplying. When I finally stressed how darn dangerous it was they sent an RMA number, I paid the freight out. Did not hear a thing back for 3 weeks. I then had a brand shiny new NMA at my door. I still have it. It was a major PITA, but I did get satisfaction.

[Z Factor]

If you got that after 3 weeks, after 3 months of waiting for me, you've given me reason for hope. Thanks for sharing.

[Ricklin]

I was a manufacturer's representative for over thirty years. In my experience the best way to deal with a manufacturer is to be a polite PITA.
IE: Keep the bad language and frustration to yourself and follow up, then follow up again, and again.
Share your gawd awful experience after you get the gun back.

[Z Factor]

Sir, I appreciate the wisdom of your experience. And I have tempered my communications with politeness but with a dash slowly growing impatience. You have to admit, over 3 months to replace a stock barrel, that's a bit much.

[Ricklin]

Totally unacceptable and apparently with little or no communication from the vendor.
It's really helpful when they just fess up when they do not have the part. Communication is key, most folks are reasonable as I am sure you are being.
Share your displeasure far and wide, once you have your gun back.

[Z Factor]

Thanks again for your optimistic take on things. Be assured I am mum on this if and/or when this bad joke plays out to its conclusion. Hopefully it won't become another cautionary tale for someone else. Best to you sir, keep your powder dry and your eyes along the skyline.

[Z Factor]

I took the initiative to email Alessandro Pietta himself, and , low and behold, he emailed me back, telling me he would involve himself personally. I was gentlemanly in my email and he was the same in kind. We'll see what happens.

[armoredman]

Hmm, I was right...and that is very awesome indeed.

[Z Factor]

I just got off the phone with Pietta"s marketing guy here in the states, apologized for the delays, etc., explained exactly what happened with my revolver and brought me up to date on things, very professional, definitely exceeded my expectations. Basically it was a hiccup in communication that was not Pietta's fault. I'll be getting another Pietta , curtesy of my tax return.

[armoredman]

Nice!

[TruthTellers]

One thing that gets me concerned about the Italian makers is their warranty repair work and customer service. I'd rather see them not contract outside gunsmiths to do that work because then they have less control and situations like this develop, but shipping something back to Italy for repairs isn't feasible and I doubt there's enough need for the Italian companies to build a repair facility here in the states.

[armoredman]

Maybe if they went in on it as a joint venture...

[Z Factor]

From what I understand, Piettas are available from 2500 retail locations nationwide. A stateside facility for the purpose you spoke of seems like something they'd take a close look at. The gunsmiths they use now are very experienced and highly trained, and I don't mean they got their diplomas from some online "school".

[Z Factor]

Without going into every last detail, Pietta and their CS do not live up to their boasts. At days end, 5 months to merely replace an alleged faulty barrel is beyond the beyond. These guns are junk, from the plastic grips to ejector rod housing and the screw that holds it on the barrel snapping in two after 20 rounds of regular range ammo. After much back and forth, involving the head of Pietta in Italy and their marketers stateside and still no movement, they offered me a brand new piece, which I politely turned down as I don't believe I want another lemon off the Pietta tree. I'll look for another Ruger Vaquero, as I regret trading the one I had , after all this nonsense, and don't care if Rugers don't have 4 clicks. Unfortunately, that's all the Pietta"s have going for them.

[Z Factor]

Well, here we are a month later, and I can't even get an answer to a restrained, polite email from either the shop doing the work or the marketing point guy. The next and last email I send will be to Mr. Pietta himself. He actually answers himself and seems like a nice guy.

[armoredman]

Good luck!

[RC20]

For what its worth, I know of two repair guys and gun tuners.

One is D Yager, he is not as backlogged as Goons Guns - they are in regular contact with each others. Mike aka Goons has been at it longer and has a longer client list so its a wait of 3 month or so (and via prior arrangement)

PM me if you want D Yagers number.

[FrankenMauser]

I've handled about half a dozen Piettas.
The first one broke in my hands, after the salesman handled it exactly as I did.
"Wait, what? What? Did it really just do that? I guess we'll have to send that back."
The second one broke in my hands, after the salesman handled it exactly as I did.
"You're supposed to open the loading gate." 'I tried. Now everything is jammed.' "Huh. It is. We'll send that one back."
And on goes the saga.
Another came to me after several years of not being cleaned, because the owner could not get it apart. I took some special liberties in pounding the wedge out, before making a special brass punch for the owner to use. That revolver needed a special tool for disassembly.
And on the story goes.

I own one Pietta. I don't recall the model, but it is a (anachronistic) .44 cal black powder revolver that blends aspects of the 1851 Navy and 1860 Army.
After lubing the nipples and proceeding with the first firing, my nipple wrench bent and was completely ruined when attempting nipple removal for cleaning.
Long story short, I had to buy a high quality wrench and new nipples.
Not a fan. But after upgrades, it works.

I see Pietta revolvers like I see Heritage revolvers:
Good enough if they work, but they usually don't.

[Jim Watson]

Sounds like my experience with Armi San Marcos. A friend and I ordered their Schofields. One of them broke when manipulated out of the box in the store. They replaced it.
In actual shooting we found them shooting way left.
Not because of our bad form, our FLG ran a range rod down the barrels... partway. The barrels had enough curvature that a snug rod would not go all the way through.
Back they went to the importer. Back they went to Italy.
The importer eventually sent a partial refund, just the wholesale price. Since FLD had ordered them for only a small service charge, we were only out that and the sales tax.
ASM folded shortly after, the importer nearly did.