Quote:

Luck, per Dick Trenk, US Pedersoli Factory Representative:
Quote:

The Italian and Japanise reproduction rifles are good shooters and being widely avalable have brought a lot of guys into the sport

However after seeing many and owning a H&R Trapdoor replica and comparing it to my several original Trapdoors I can't see the economy of putting money into upgrading a reproduction. The material fit and finish on Original actions is so much better.

Equation is different for something like a High Wall that brings big bucks in reasonable condition however original Rolling blocks are still cheap enough to be good economical candidates to build into nice rifles, and a lot better investment

My opinion only

Boats

Update:
I send Pedersoli an e-mail describing the problem. They responded the next day (good for them) asking me for the serial numbers of the two guns. 
I sent that out yesterday and we'll see what happens.

Update:
What I got from Pedersoli:

"There is the need to harden the hammer, being an important mass the hammer can get ruined during so many shots. The hammer front part has to be well carburized (case hardened) to have a longer resistence. 
The steel used is 18CrMo4 both for the hammer and the breech block.
 
If you wish to replace the parts we put you in touch with Mr. Beauchamp at 
BEAUCHAMP & SON INC., DBA Flintlock’s Etc.-
who may have them in stock, or we can include them into one of the next shipments."

I also received an e-mail from Mr Beauchamp (seems like a nice guy) saying the parts will cost $150 each (X4 = $600...ouch)

So, I replied to Pedersoli:

"I never did get an answer regarding whether the metallurgy has changed in your blocks and hammers since I bought these two original guns.
It would cost me $600 US to replace the two blocks and hammers based on your representative's prices and that is about 30% of the price I paid for both guns new.  If nothing has changed from these two original guns I may very well have the same problem arise after a few years. And I really can't see paying $600 every 4 to 5 years to keep shooting these guns.
One of the hammer/block combinations is blued and the other hammer/block combination is case-colored. I assume all pieces were case hardened at the factory before the guns were shipped for sale. 
Would I have to have the replacement parts case hardened myself or do they come hardened? If they do come hardened, we're back to my original question: "How long can I expect them to last?".  And if they are not hardened, why are these parts so expensive?"

And Pedersoli's reply:

"The parts will be carburized and case hardened according to today's standards, which certainly may have been improved during these  15, 18 years."

"may"

So, barring any additional information (and I'm always looking for some), the response from Pedersoli is a little too vague for me to take a chance. Right now anyway.

I once had two Ped rollers that I purchased about 6-7 years apart. Both were Navy Arms guns and both had the hammer peening problem. Fortunately I never liked either very well and got rid of them within 2 years of purchase.

I have now seen two Ped Sharps that lack the "cam" on the lever to position the block properly for loading and ejection. The block is allowed to drop too far so case rims hit the shoulder in the receiver and get jammed and have to be plucked out by hand. In regards to one I have contacted Dick T. and he has told me to send emails to two different Ped addresses, neither addressee has responded.  I am beginning to believe Pedersoli's are not worth bothering with despite and price savings.

SS

   Luck - 88

            I would have to agree with you, that Mr. Beauchamp does " seem to be a nice guy ", but what seems one way is not always the true in life way.

         I've made parts purchases from him previously, and his business sense tells him he is " the only game in town ", and he is out to get the maximum for those parts, believing he is entitled to the premium he has marked them up to.

        May I suggest that you continue to pursue Pedersoli at their home office, and indicate in what ever manner seems appropriate to you that you are not going to let these problems slip by.  You may want to hint (or more directly, say) that you are in communications with other U.S. purchasers of these rifles and that legal action is within the realm of possibilities (ala class action law suit American style).

        There would have been a U.S. importer of those arms, and certainly you may want to be in contact with that/those business/es as well.  This is not a newly surfacing problem, as I have personal knowledge that Navy Arms (currently in Martinsburg, W.Va.) was engaged with the Pedersoli repro Remington R.B. rifle difficulties.

       Creedmoormatch

luck-88

    I was not suggesting a law suit against Pedersoli nor providing legal advice on the matter.  However, manufactures who produce defective products have to be held accountable for their mistakes, whether they be in the design of the product, or the materials and processes used in their production.  Not all product defects appear at the point of sale or shortly thereafter.  Nor would a purchaser of a defective product have to show personal injury to himself or herself in order achieve an award for money damages.  Yes, many defective products do, unfortunately, result in personal injury or death to the user of the product, but absent such consequences does preclude a claimant's damage recovery.

Many manufactures avoid potential law suits resulting from their defective products by compensating owners of those products in a number of various ways and means.  Just as an example, a manufacturer will often times buy back the product from the owner.

Just some random thoughts on the general subject of products liability in American, not with regards to a specific set of circumstances or to a particular case.

Good luck,
C.M.M.