robl
.375 Atomic
These were the good ole days!
Posts: 1,415
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Post by robl on Jul 17, 2012 12:18:39 GMT -5
You'll want to find a real actual gun. USFA is rather notorious for vapor ware. CDNN had some that Doug Turnbull has slicked up. I saw one at a local gun store. Some of the guys here hoard them:-)
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Post by CraigC on Jul 17, 2012 12:20:00 GMT -5
USFA does not make the SAA. Neither does Colt, they make a twice cheapened replica. They just happen to have the license for the old name. I would still want to inspect the Colt before purchasing. Me too! The front sight on the USFA looks clunky compared to the Colt. I'm sure.  If you buy the USFA you will probably eventually want a Colt. Really? I bought a 3rd generation Colt New Frontier before I even heard of USFA and bought into the over-inflated Colt hype. It took hours of stoning to get it smooth, looks like it was polished by a pissed off 3yrd old high on caffeine and despite its .456" mouths it actually shoots well. Then I bought four USFA's and the only reason I want a new New Frontier is because they're so much improved over previous 3rd generation guns and USFA doesn't make one. If I could swap my New Frontier even for a USFA Flat-top Target model, I would. Sorry but not everybody is so fascinated by the Colt name that they're willing to overlook the inflated price and lack of quality. As much better as the new guns are, USFA's are still better and cheaper. |
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Post by hammerdown77 on Jul 17, 2012 12:23:40 GMT -5
Last they were widely available, the standard SAA, which is most comparable to a new Colt, was $950. While new Colt's are/were $1100-$1200. That same $1200 gets you the USFA Pre-War, which is head and shoulders above the Colt. Having an authentic carbona blue finish on the blued parts, rather than Colt's modern salt blue. Here's a stock photo (courtesy of Ten-Ring Precision) of the new USFA I'm about to take possession of. Basically a Pre-War with an engraved cylinder.......for $1200 NIB.  That beauty is more than skin-deep. Virtually all 3rd generation Colt's really need some tuning for a slick action, crisp trigger and longevity. I don't know that the new guns are any different. However, these new USFA's are so precisely machined and finely finished on the inside that all they need is new springs. I honestly cannot fathom how someone could thoroughly inspect a new USFA and a Colt side by side, inside and out and still choose the Colt. Dang Craig, that is GORGEOUS. Did you order that from USFA, or is it one of the engraved Turnbull guns CDNN was selling? |
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Post by hammerdown77 on Jul 17, 2012 12:29:38 GMT -5
By the way, I had a chance to handle a USFA Sheriffs model that a guy in the local shop was purchasing, and he encouraged me to work the action to see what I thought of it. Ain't gonna turn down that offer. I cocked the hammer several times and told him it felt like a more lightly sprung Freedom Arms. It was smooth as glass and precise. Had that loud "clack clack click clack" like a FA gun. He told me he had about 20 Colt SAAs and you had to give a good Colt smith a fist full of hundreds to get one to feel like that. I was not inclined to disagree.
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Post by CraigC on Jul 17, 2012 12:34:14 GMT -5
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Post by CraigC on Jul 17, 2012 12:37:32 GMT -5
By the way, I had a chance to handle a USFA Sheriffs model that a guy in the local shop was purchasing, and he encouraged me to work the action to see what I thought of it. Ain't gonna turn down that offer. I cocked the hammer several times and told him it felt like a more lightly sprung Freedom Arms. It was smooth as glass and precise. Had that loud "clack clack click clack" like a FA gun. He told me he had about 20 Colt SAAs and you had to give a good Colt smith a fist full of hundreds to get one to feel like that. I was not inclined to disagree. This seems to be something that is hard to convince Colt fans. I've had all mine completely disassembled and they are truly as well finished on the inside as the outside. I've never seen better machining. They're oversprung though so with just a spring swap, mine are super-slick with crisp 2lb triggers. |
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Post by hammerdown77 on Jul 17, 2012 12:46:49 GMT -5
Guess it comes down to what a person values. For collectors and Colt enthusiasts, having a gun that is made by Colt, with all it's imperfections, may be more valuable than a perfected copy made by a company that is not Colt.
It's like with old Corvettes. Guys will pay more for a Corvette (and it will win more NCRS contests) that has been restored to accurately match the original factory condition, complete with crappy fitting body panels, trim, and weathstripping, overspray and orange peel paint, and so on, compared to a car that has been "perfected" and rid of all those flaws that the factory could not be troubled to address.
People are funny with stuff like that. The nostalgia glasses are a powerful prescription....
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Post by tsminor on Jul 17, 2012 12:55:57 GMT -5
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Post by CraigC on Jul 17, 2012 13:12:46 GMT -5
I guess I could understand it more if Colt was building an accurate replica of the original but they are not. I could see it if they had the same finishes and exhibited the same level of fit as the originals. I could see paying more for that. But they're not and that USFA is closer to the originals than anything Colt has produced in a loooong time. I really see no issue with paying the premium for a 1st or 2nd generation gun. I reckon it's just not for me to understand.
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Post by CraigC on Jul 17, 2012 13:14:45 GMT -5
I don't see why not. I didn't expect to get mine for $1200, which was my max bid, but I did. |
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Post by nolongcolt on Jul 17, 2012 18:12:15 GMT -5
I own a very nice shooting late 3rd SAA in .44-40 with 4 3/4" barrel. Shoots very near to poa at 25 yards and is a real keeper. Only thing I have ever done to it is file an angled flat on the top/rear of the front site and file some grooves in it to cut glare (ala Ross Seyfried). Interestingly it has the removable base pin bushing. Never been much happier with a gun. Bought new on GB for about $1150 more than a few years ago.
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Post by weagle99 on Jul 17, 2012 23:23:28 GMT -5
I guess I could understand it more if Colt was building an accurate replica of the original but they are not. I could see it if they had the same finishes and exhibited the same level of fit as the originals. I could see paying more for that. But they're not and that USFA is closer to the originals than anything Colt has produced in a loooong time. I really see no issue with paying the premium for a 1st or 2nd generation gun. I reckon it's just not for me to understand. A single action probably involves more emotion than any other type of handgun. If USFA does it for you, great. USFA produces a quality gun but the company has zero history and most people (including a significant portion of the shooting community) have never heard of them. Some of us enjoy the connection to the Colt name, which others might not understand. (Not to trying to rub this in, but I imagine it can be hard to show a USFA to someone and not use the word 'Colt.' You can show someone your Colt SAA and never mention USFA.) Honestly, I wonder how long USFA will be in business. Parts of the website seem to rarely get updated, products are announced and never produced ('Woodsman', the Remington copy, others that I can't remember), and current guns are either canceled or hard to find. My prediction is that Colt will still exist after USFA is gone. For me the 'lines' of the Colt SAA are superior to the USFA SA. USFA has the Turnbull case hardening (which I think is sometimes overdone), but Colt has a better looking front sight, black eagle grips, and slightly smaller size that I prefer. USFA also makes some weird looking single actions that no one ever seems to talk about ('Sparrowhawk' anyone? www.usfirearms.com/cat/sparrow-hawk.asp). As for the 3rd Gens, I don't blame anyone for shying away. I will reserve judgement on the latest production guns until I see them in person. Personally for the same amount of money for 2 USFAs I would just buy 1 black box era 2nd Gen Colt. Thankfully we have the ability to chose! |
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razor
.327 Meteor
Posts: 523
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Post by razor on Jul 19, 2012 5:01:05 GMT -5
The one Brian Pierce tested in 45 Colt had 457 cyclinder had throats. Sounds like Colt really knows what they are doing.
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olddoc
.240 Incinerator
Posts: 98
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Post by olddoc on Jul 19, 2012 5:51:02 GMT -5
I own about ten Colts and five USFA guns, so I am familiar with both. Two of my Colts were made post 2004 and the quality is superb. As much as I like the USFA guns, every time I get a hankering for another one, a little voice inside me says, "for that much money you could buy a Colt."
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Post by CraigC on Jul 19, 2012 9:33:11 GMT -5
As for the 3rd Gens, I don't blame anyone for shying away. Then we have no argument. ...every time I get a hankering for another one, a little voice inside me says, "for that much money you could buy a Colt. That's how I look at it, only the reverse. Every time I think about trying a new Colt, I remember that I can get a USFA Pre-War for the same amount. For me, in new guns, there is just no comparison. At least we're all able to scratch our own fancy. For the most part, if only availability was more consistent. |
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