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Post by vonfatman on Feb 18, 2012 18:27:09 GMT -5
Today I went with a friend to a local gunshow. An R-K Gunshow, best known for Glocks, ARs, Beef Jerky and the like....nothing wrong with those items, but generally not much in the way of SA revolvers. Well son-of-a-gun! I walked in and on the first pass I see a very very clean USFA. It's priced reasonable, less than a grand! I called Zeus and ran the gun by him...he thought in might just be one of USFA's 1st Gen Colts. I think he may have been right...but I'm not an expert and would appreciate any comments as to what model it might be. I returned to the table and after a bit of negotiation, the deal was too good to pass on. Tuesday I will call USFA and see if they can help me with the guns' manufacture date. Oh, and wow does it shoot nice! It's going to be a range regular!       Bob |
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mbogo
.30 Stingray
Posts: 150 
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Post by mbogo on Feb 18, 2012 18:47:01 GMT -5
MAN! Those are nice! Never seen anything but a Rodeo in person.
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Post by Frank V on Feb 18, 2012 18:55:55 GMT -5
Nice catch, congratulations. That's a pretty gun, thanks for sharing, let us know what you find out from USFA.
Frank
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Post by Stump Buster on Feb 18, 2012 19:47:55 GMT -5
HOLY COW!!!! THAT was a NICE score!!! Congrat's!!!
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Post by patdaddy on Feb 18, 2012 19:55:17 GMT -5
black powder frame, bullseye ejector, one piece stocks...just like my SAA from 1877 left the factory.
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Post by vonfatman on Feb 18, 2012 20:43:16 GMT -5
Thanks for the replies.
patdaddy,
Great info! I appreciate the details regarding my gun.
Frank,
I will certainly report what USFA tells me.
Bob
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jwp475
.375 Atomic
Posts: 1,084
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Post by jwp475 on Feb 18, 2012 20:56:23 GMT -5
Beautifull revolver! IS it a 45 Colt?
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Post by vonfatman on Feb 18, 2012 21:18:42 GMT -5
jwp475,
Yes sir...a .45 Colt! I like it a lot. Took it out back and ran a few down the tube....man, what a smooth action!
Bob
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Post by jayhawker on Feb 18, 2012 23:52:17 GMT -5
I am betting that the DT stamped in the hammer slot just might be Doug Turnbull.
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Post by boxhead on Feb 19, 2012 5:07:47 GMT -5
How does one tell if a USFA gun is one of those made with the Uberti (I think?) supplied parts? Must be a serial number break?
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Post by Ken O'Neill on Feb 19, 2012 7:54:42 GMT -5
There is not a clean serial number break. I checked on a pair several years ago, inquiring of USFA if the internals were Uberti or U.S. production, giving them the serial numbers.
I got a very nice response back, indicating that there was a period when the old Italian parts were phased out, and U.S. production phased in. These guns were made during that period. I'm reluctant to say when that period of time was, (probably some time in the '90's) because I don't remember exactly ... so I suggest one run serial numbers by the factory.
I foolishly passed on the pair because of this uncertainty, although they were well priced, and Cubrock later bought them.
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Post by vonfatman on Feb 19, 2012 9:20:12 GMT -5
boxhead,
I was concerned about the Italian parts....could not find any Uberti proofs and then when the DT mark was located under the hammer...I assumed the gun was a later unit made in the USA...But who knows until like Mr. O'Neill suggests....have to check with the factory.
That is the reason I felt the need to negotiate harder on this gun...if it was a gun with Uberti parts...I wanted to be in the gun at a lower number.
This gun's s/n is 204xx
Bob
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Post by mike454 on Feb 19, 2012 9:56:50 GMT -5
USFA started to transition to US manufacture in 2001. By late 2002, early 2003 they were 100% us made as reported by Brian Pearce in feb-mar 2003 Handloader. Good Article in Handloader about Italian parts USFAs here. Either way you got a good gun. Turnbulls guns usually had a DT serial # prefix. www.riflemagazine.com/magazine/article.cfm?tocid=389&magid=28 |
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johnnyflake
.240 Incinerator
Taylor/Uberti Smoke Wagon .45 Colt
Posts: 72
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Post by johnnyflake on Feb 19, 2012 14:55:38 GMT -5
WOW! That is a beauty!!!
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shadow
.30 Stingray
Posts: 135
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Post by shadow on Feb 19, 2012 18:44:08 GMT -5
Bob -
I believe when USFA was using some Italian parts, their bbls were stamped, USPFA, which referred to "United States Patent Fire Arms". I'm inclined to think that USFA would have started using the new stamp on all 100% US made revolvers from that point forward. Whose to say that the BBL wasn't changed somewhere along the way, so hopefully the SN will tell the real story. By what I can see, it's hard to determine if it was an "all American" USFA production gun or not. Either way, it appears to be in very nice condition.
I'm an owner and firm believer in USFA six-guns, still preferring the quality fit and finish and tight tolerances of their SA's to the Colt models they replicate. This is my personal opinion, based on handling both. I own 1st and 2nd gen Colts, Pythons, D'backs and 1911's and back then, up until the late '70's early 80's, they were all superbly finished handguns.
It appears that their quality began to erode in the late '80's early '90's, until approximately 2-3 years ago, when Colt finally realized that their production standards needed to be revised, their CNC equipment updated, and a much needed overhaul in their quality control guidelines, in order to get back a piece of the market they lost to USFA and other Italian SA clone producers. The "new" Colt NF I saw recently is good proof that they're back. Thanks USFA ! Anyway, sorry for hi jacking your thread "vonfatman".
Give Gary Granger a call at the factory, I'm sure he'll be able to answer any questions you may have about your new acquisition. Enjoy !!
Shadow
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