Looking for a Smith carbine

[Yakiman]

Completely new to this endeavor and am looking for a Smith carbine. $$ pretty much dictates it be a replica other than original. If you know of one for sale and/or can give me some info on what to look out for in a used one please let know.

[CAGerringer]

My Pietta Smith has developed every known problem associated with this particular replica.
So, I'll give you the benefit of my tribulations.
The sear spring is too stiff causing a very hard trigger pull. There is a piano wire replacement that will improve your trigger pull immediately and cheaply. That's the easiest fix you'll have. There are stories of barrels being assembled with the breech tighter than the muzzle. Mine is different. When I ran a slug down the barrel, it was tight at the breech, then looser through the center, and tightens up again at the muzzle. That being said, it still shoots straight, but I can see a relining in my future. The bolster is drilled too deep, and the clean out screws seem to be held in place by only a couple of threads. You'll hear of these being blown out, now and again. Bob Gorsky fixed mine as it was a job beyond my expertise. Lastly, the reason I started worrying about my clean out screw in the first place is that I started getting blow back up the fire channel from the face of the breach to the bolster and out the nipple. Bob explained to me that these guns weren't designed to be shot like we do...for years and years at a time. And that made perfect sense as I've been shooting mine longer than the Civil War lasted! The reason for the blow back is the fire passage through the breach will erode over time and increase to the point that the pressure will bleed back through the nipple. Bob fixed this also with a new stainless plug drilled into the face of the breach that is drilled to the correct original diameter of the flash channel. A new berillium nipple and a tall front sight and your replica will be as good, or maybe even better, than an original Smith.
Anyway, I love that Pietta, it shoots great, and it's ready for at least another 5 years... but be aware that there are definitely problem areas to look out for.
Have fun!
Charlie Gerringer
Old Dominion Dragoons

[Eggman]

GREAT STUFF -- A MUST READ FOR ALL POTENTIAL PIETTA SMITH SHOOTERS. Just a quick addendum, when you go to replace that two thread clean out screw there's a good chance it'll be a phillips --- metric screws that size only come with phillips heads down at Ace Hardware. Then of course you'll want to glue a slot screw head on top of it.

[Lou Lou Lou]

I have always felt that when you factor in all the items to be corrected. An Original Smith can cost the same or less than a Repro. Pietta-Smith are not listed for $1,350 new.
i bought two originals this year for less than that.

[MR. GADGET]

I'm still waiting for a repop smith that is a shooter out of the box.

For some reason I see all smiths as project guns and always needing work or something fixed.
S
For that reason I went away from them and to a sharps.
Other than having someone rework the block after I got it.....It works.

Now if DP made a repop in the quality they are others now I would buy one tomorrow......

[NC Nate]

Has anyone had the top strap screw threads in the barrel stripped out and how was it repaired?

[Yakiman]

Great info, I think you guys have saved me some money. Will just stick with the Sharps I already have.

[Maillemaker]

For that reason I went away from them and to a sharps.
Other than having someone rework the block after I got it.....It works.

Even most Sharps will require the breech block modification to work well for competition. That's like $300+ as I recall.

Steve

[Yakiman]

Even most Sharps will require the breech block modification to work well for competition. That's like $300+ as I recall.

Steve
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Had mine done already - Flees conversion.