USFA Rodeo as a Donor Gun?

[jayhawker]

My USFA is a 4 3/4 .45 Rodeo II, which is an attractive matt nickle. But the Rodeo always appeared to me as an ugly unfinished SA.

[jayhawker]

My USFA is a 4 3/4 .45 Rodeo II, which is an attractive matt nickle. But the Rodeo always appeared to me as an ugly unfinished SA.

[mike454]

I wouldn't want all my guns to look like a rodeo, but I have one which I like. It reminds me of the colt in the Skeeter story "An Old Colt for a Young Buck". A Colt that Skeeter rebuilt for Bart that ended up with a bead blast finish and, I believe, a nice set of walnut grips. When I had lunch with Bart at the Pittsburgh NRA show he told me he still had that gun all these years later.

[BigBore44]

When did USFA open/close up shop?
I know about nothing when it comes to these.

Thanks
BigBore44

[outlawben]

Nov/dec 2012 I think was official reverse cutting of the ribbon and the doors closed. There was very little guns being made in 2011. If you google it, Wikipedia says closed in dec 2011. The USA parts made guns are considered the best made single action army clone production guns. The company started as United States Patent firearms in the early 1990's with all Itialian parts guns. All serials have a P letter prefix. Mid 1990's, due to issue Colt had with the word "Patent" , they became United States Firearms (USFA) still Uberti parts put no P prefix serials and no "import safety " hammers like USPFA had. 2001 to 2003 approximately, USFA acquired CNC machinery and there was a slow changeover to USA made parts. Serial numbers 2000 through approximately 22xxx were Uberti parts or a mix of USA and Uberti parts. In those 22xxx and early 23xxx range, you'd want to verify which parts you have before buying, In my opinion. All 21xxx and prior serials are Uberti parts.

Mid 2000's ... 2004-2009 were the Hay Day of USFA production. Those latest production guns bring the coin. Serials 24xxx through 29xxx are all normally USA parts.

Some consider USFA was the reason that Colt stepped up their quality of SAA product. Either way, Colt now makes a really good SAA.

People still bring up the sad story that USFA no longer makes single actions, sort of a credit to how good they were made. A Rodeo was was to the exact standards as a custom shop USFA, only difference being the finish. $600 at the time was quite a deal for a superior quality cowboy gun.

[outlawben]

I acquired this 38SPL Rodeo pair ( although different barrel lengths) traded from a USFA collector that ordered factory dome blue cylinders that sort of dress up the Rodeo and break up the matte finish. The cylinders are serialed to the guns.

[Alaskan454]

Thanks for the advice guys, I found a donor gun and will post pictures when it arrives. I'm super excited!