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Post by bobwright on Feb 28, 2014 15:06:10 GMT -5
I was in a gunshop in Memphis this morning and saw two American Western Arms revolvers.
One was a .45 Colt, 5 1/2" barrel, very close copy of a Colt SAA and looking very well done. Beautiful case colors, excellent finish, black plastic grips with the eagle and colt design, price $759.
Next was an American Western Arms Peacekeeper, checkered one piece wood grips, not quite so eye-catching case colors, 6 1/2" (?) barrel, .45 Colt. Price $599
What is the difference? Clerk told me the firt gun was American made, thought in Idaho, maybe.
What is the difference?
Bob Wright
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Post by 2sheriffs on Feb 28, 2014 15:27:38 GMT -5
They have a web site at awaguns.com
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Post by ozarkguy on Feb 28, 2014 15:29:46 GMT -5
Bob, I have an AWA Peacekeeper that is exactly like the first revolver you described. It was manufactured by Armi San Marco and I believe was hand tuned by AWA here in the US. Has genuine case colors. It was such a good copy that AWA was sued by Colt for something called "trade dress" I believe. Colt won and AWA had to make changes. Dropped the Peacekeeper name and the black grips. AWA had a lot difficulties. They had problems with a rifle and I think went out of business, then were bought out by someone and resumed production. Not sure if they are still in business.
The Peacekeeper I have is in its' original black plastic box with manual. It has a buttery smooth action and beautiful case colors. Bought it used a few years ago for $379. They originally sold new in the $600 range.
I may have some of this wrong and will leave it to others to correct me. There is info on line if you want to Google the brand. Hope this helps.
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Post by CraigC on Feb 28, 2014 16:49:25 GMT -5
As I recall, there was a plainly finished Longhorn model and the upper end gun was the Peacekeeper. It had really nice, lacquered case colors (Turnbull?) and was factory tuned. I do believe many guns were undersprung but that's easily remedied.
They were sued because Colt had already used the "Peacekeeper" name for a matte blued double action .357 in the 1980's.
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Post by bobwright on Feb 28, 2014 20:54:16 GMT -5
Well, from what I've read and ya'll have told me, the "Peacekeeper" should have been the better finished of the two. But this was not the case of the two guns I examined. the "Peacekeeper" looked for all the world like Uberti or ASM, while the one with the black plastic grips looked more like a Colt than a Colt does, it was that nicely finished.
Bob Wright
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Post by bigmuddy on Mar 1, 2014 22:36:11 GMT -5
Bob
I have two of the Peacekeepers 45 Colt and yes they were the better finished of the two models offered by AWA. The frame was done by Doug Turnball and they did have light springs that made them feel like they had action work. I had both of mine completely re-built internally and they are pretty nice guns. The both shoot very accurately and to POA. I did ream out the cylinders of each as they were too tight to force a .451 bullet through. The wood grips on the more plain version (Longhorn) were not checkered as I recall. Maybe someone did on their own.
The Peacekeepers had black plastic grips that resemble Colt but are not the same. The "rampant" horse is not quite as rampant...more level than rearing up. They are pretty poor quality grips as well...hollow backed.
I won't go into all the details but the internals were not like anything I had ever seen, thus the need to re-build. Now they are pretty solid performing guns.
Dan
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Post by jayhawker on Mar 2, 2014 0:21:44 GMT -5
Imported Italian parts assembled in the States. Better than average Colt clones.
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olddoc
.240 Incinerator
Posts: 98
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Post by olddoc on Mar 2, 2014 14:56:04 GMT -5
After being forced to drop the Peacekeeper, they came up with a similarly finished gun sans pony grips and Peacekeeper logo. It was named the "Ultimate" perhaps that is what you saw. Last time I looked the website was still operating. Not sure if the same is true of the company. I hear no one answers the phone.
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Post by 2sheriffs on Mar 2, 2014 15:24:59 GMT -5
I called the number on the web site and all I got was a answering machine.
Ron
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Post by jayhawker on Mar 2, 2014 18:44:06 GMT -5
The Ultimate has a coil mainspring. My sample has been an excelent SA.
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Post by cherokee on Mar 7, 2014 9:09:03 GMT -5
15+ years ago I bought a pair of AWA 7.5" SA's that were beautiful, timing was perfect, acton was great, OK grips. Used them for SASS for a few years. They were accurate but did require .454 size cast bullets. I enjoyed them; then a firend talked me out of them. Don't know all the history, just that I was happy with mine.
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Post by swamprat on Mar 9, 2014 15:12:08 GMT -5
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dmize
.401 Bobcat
Posts: 2,825
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Post by dmize on Mar 9, 2014 20:08:24 GMT -5
WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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gsp7
.30 Stingray
Posts: 421 
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Post by gsp7 on Mar 12, 2014 11:44:47 GMT -5
I have a AWA Longhorn. Must have got a deal on it. IIRC I payed $350 new
Nice fit and finish, Nice gun. Nice trigger pull too. 45colt 5 1/2" barrel
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klhill
.30 Stingray
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Post by klhill on Mar 12, 2014 11:59:17 GMT -5
Absolutely INCREDIBLE carving and checkering on those ivory grips!! Do you know who the artist is?
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