Page 24 - GUNS Issue n.01

TeCHNICAl DATA

Manufacturer: Pietta, piettausa.com Model: 1873 engraved
Model: 1873 engraved “centennial” “Theodore roosevelt”
Type: revolver Type: revolver
Caliber: .45 colt Caliber: .45 colt
Barrel length: 12 inches Barrel length: 7.5 inches
Total length: 450 mm (17.7 inches) Total length: 320 mm (12.6 inches)
Trigger: single action only Trigger: single action only
Striking mechanism: external hammer Striking mechanism: external hammer
Safety: hammer half-cock, manual interception Safety: hammer half-cock, manual interception
of the hammer on the cylinder base pin of the hammer on the cylinder base pin
Sights: fixed front and rear sight Sights: fixed front and rear sight
Materials: carbon steel, polymer grips Materials: carbon steel, polymer grips
Finishes: chiaroscuro engravings on glossy bluing Finishes: engravings on nickel plating
Weight: 1,200 grams (2.6 lb.) Weight: 1,100 grams (2.4 lb.)
Retail price in Italy: 853 euros, vaT included Retail price in Italy: 815 euros, vaT included

dedicated to Texas Rangers and a Pietta 1873 with this engraving was donated to famous actor and martial
artist Chuck Norris when Texas Governor nominated him honorary Ranger.
We asked Pietta for a couple of Engraved series revolvers and they gave us the “Theodore Roosevelt” model
with a 7.5” barrel and the “Centennial” with a 12” barrel.
How they are made

Both revolvers are second generation Pietta 1873, meaning that they have a mechanism, developed by
William Mason in 1892, that improves the retention of the cylinder base pin: essentially, the pin is held in
position thanks to a spring-loaded cross pin installed in the front part of the frame, which can be released by
simply pressing the head of the counter screw.
The rest of the internal mechanism follows Colt’s archetype, therefore there is a cocking phase
characterized by the classic “four clicks”: the first is the position of the hammer that allows the release of
the cylinder rotation, the second is the safety notch, the third is the click of the cylinder stop detent which

1 2

1_In this case, the theme of the engravings includes flowers, 2_The chiaroscuro effect of the engraving on the Centennial
spirals and zoomorphic figures, such as the classic bald eagle. is particularly refined on the glossy bluing of the barrel.

22 TesT revolver_Pietta 1873 engraved caliber .45 colt