Pietta Brothers’ plan
Several years ago the Italian gunmakers, F.lli Pietta, who were successful in making out-of-the-box best-of-breed reproductions of Colt Single Action Army models in both the early black-powder castle style and the later roughly 1892 version with a drum-locking pin (or infume-powder castle), began working on a new laser engraving technique. We refer to it technically as “deep laser engraving,” which consists of a highly precise technique developed in Italy by S.E.I. Lasers S.p.A. in Curno, (located 25 miles to Milan).
The company has developed lasers specializing in, among other things, deep etching. Working with Pietta, S.E.I tailored a laser system to their special needs, capable of engraving barrels, castles and even difficult elements such as screw heads. S.E.I. is an experienced company that works under the motto “every traditional method has a laser alternative.” That alternative for F.lli Pietta culminated in Single Action revolvers with the most laser-made details ever produced.
The difference with traditional laser engraving, which is also used by Pietta, is that S.E.I.’s deep-etched decorated weapons have the depth of cut and fineness of detail that traditionally can only be achieved with hand engraving techniques.
Depth and detail
The hand engraving underwent several variations, some of which depended entirely on the style of the engraver. In creating engraved vine scrolls and banknotes, dotted backgrounds, crisscross patterns, with sunbursts and other details (including animal heads, a tradition started at Colt by Gustave Young and Cuno A. Helfricht), the engraver can use a lighter touch and create truly delicate lines (as with the work of the famous American engraver Winston Churchill), or a more robust “Germanic” style to create the representational depth of the work of Young and Nimschke, the most copied engravers of the 19th century.
This is also the style used by Colt’s Custom Shop today. Pietta’s deep laser engraving system falls somewhat into a gray area, making patterns with deep cuts that thus create a high relief effect that involves manual labor, rather than the flat two-dimensional effects commonly associated with laser engraving or etching. Is it more expensive? Absolutely, but comparing it to hand engraving is a fraction of the price.
Among the various models to be released by Pietta using the new deep laser engraving technique are the 3-1/2-inch Sheriff model with a pattern engraved with vine scrolls on the yoke, barrel, and drum, accented by diamonds and crisscross details, sunbursts, and floral patterns on the yoke, stock, and bands. The same basic designs are extended and repeated on the 7-1/2-inch version. In addition, there is a special commemorative 140th anniversary SAA to be made available in 2015 with engraving patterns based on the guns displayed by Colt during the 1876 Centennial Esposition, and an engraved version of the Colt with 5-1/2-inch barrel carried by frontiersman Bat Masterson.
The last two are Pietta-made, deep laser-engraved copies of their very exclusive (and expensive) guns hand-engraved in Italy by Dassa (see Guns of the Old West #79, Fall 2013).
E.M.F. is currently taking orders for Pietta’s Sheriff Great Western II model, which is laser engraved and retails for $800. Other models, such as the Bat Masterson, and 7-1/2-inch laser-engraved models will be available in 2015 as special order items, and orders must be placed in advance directly through F.lli Pietta by contacting the company through their website.
List prices range from an average of $800 up to $1,250 depending on the model. In most cases guns can be shipped within 45 days to one of Pietta’s U.S. dealers, such as E.M.F. or Cimarron F.A. Co. From there they can also be shipped to a local dealer.
All of Pietta’s laser-etched Single Actions have the same quality and finish and prepared actions as the standard models, making them one of the best out-of-the-box six-shot revolvers on the market. The stock draw, on the engraved Pietta models that were tested, required an average of only 3 pounds 12 ounces, with those four perceptible clicks that characterize a quality Colt-style action. Pulling the trigger required an average of 3 pounds and 14 ounces, and this is well and truly a constant with Pietta’s current Single Action, weapons that live up to the name originally created by Colt. For more information visit www.pietta.us or www.pietta.it .
The third and final part awaits you in the next article!
