Uberti's best work?

[Bear Claw Chris Lappe]

I know Uberti's are imported under several names and to some degree does better work for some importers than others, but I was wondering who folks around here think imports the best Uberti's?

[Deleted]

Don't know if they're the best but I have always liked Cimarrons.

[mworkmansr]

Last Spring, I bought a Cimarron 44 Bisley. The fir and finish are Number 1, and it shoots to point of aim with my 7.5 gr. Unique and Lyman 429421. Trigger is excellent. If I was to change anything, it would be to put on a wider front sight and open the rear notch. They are a bit skinny now. Cleans easy, and doesn't lead.

[jimmarch]

The best brand new Uberti you can get is a Taylor's Smoke Wagon that's been tuned by Longhunter before it even sees your door:

www.longhunt.com/taylor/smokewagon.htm

Period, end of discussion, that's as good as it gets in Italian anything unless you send something off to Bowen or another top SA smith - IF they'll work on anything Italian in the first place.

The Smoke Wagon is similar to what Uberti calls the "El Patron" model, their highest factory finish level, and then Longhunter takes it to the next level past that.

Cimmaron also sells at least one piece at the "El Patron" finish level. Can't recall which one but look at the prices, that'll tell you.

[Bear Claw Chris Lappe]

Thanks Jim!

[wickerbill]

My vote is for Cimarron.
Bill

[jdpress]

Cimarron has newer version of their Model P named the Evil Roy Competition Single Action with Super Tuned Action. They are available in .44-40, .45 Colt and .357 Magnum calibers and in two barrel lengths; 4-3/4 and 5-1/2 inches.

Per their marketing literature: "The Evil Roy version of the Cimarron Model ‘P’ features a wide square notch rear and wide constant width front sight, slim grips hand checkered European walnut, an action tuned in the U.S. by a skilled gunsmith complete with lightened trigger and hammer springs, no creep trigger pull, and improved internals for reliability.”

The MSRP is about $740 but they frequently sell for around $600, not including shipping, for the CCH and blued model.

It is a very nice revolver for Cowboy Action Shooting or plinking.

J.D. Press

[jimmarch]

Right, I'd forgotten the Evil Roy is also US-tuned. They won't name the smith though.

Personally, I'd do the Longhunter modded Smoke Wagon, straight from Longhunter over the Evil Roy. Longhunter's rep for post-sales support is extremely good. He does similar levels of tuning on Rugers and USFAs...on the USFAs he converts them partially to coil springs. He advertises prices on Rodeos but does the full line of USFAs by request...he can get any USFA model.

The Rodeo is actually another very good option if you care more about metallurgy and basic quality than you do looks...prices are in the same ballpark but the Ubertis at the El Patron/Smoke Wagon/Evil Roy finish level are going to look WAY better than a Rodeo.

[joeg0812]

Just picked up an El Patron today. Really nice. The only flaw is a little bit of soldier showing where the front sight is. Pretty small and not a biggy. Action is smooth, sights are wide and the notch is also. Don't really care for the checkered grips but that is what grip makers are for. ;D Got home too late to shoot it, and this weekend looks like a bust on time, but it handles real 'purty'. Looking forward to see what it does come shooting time.

Maybe down the road, have Turnbull put some real nice case hardening on it.

[Frank V]

I think the Cimarron's are nice too.
Frank

[buck]

I prefer Navy Arms to all the others. A smith I trust told me they tend to be better quality and better regulated to their fixed sights.

[jimmarch]

Buck, sorry man, but that "smith you trust" is full of it.

Navy Arms is an Uberti importer, with rare exceptions, and the basic SAA types aren't one of 'em.

Any of the Uberti importers can specify what grade they want. Cimarron's "Evil Roy", Taylor's "Smoke Wagon" and Uberti's own label "El Patron" models are all examples of Uberti's highest possible level of fit and finish. The priciest Berettas are another - with the difference being, the Beretta-label have transfer-bar safeties and hence like a transfer-bar Ruger can be carried six-up.

It's very possible Navy Arms also has a model at Uberti's best finish level. I have no idea. But to my knowledge Navy Arms doesn't do in-house gunsmithing. Finish, possibly, but not gunsmithing.

The metallurgy on all Uberti models will be the same, at least post 2000. Around 2000, Uberti did a lot of new machinery - Pietta too, around the same time. As to the Navy Arms being better regulated, that's highly unlikely in recent times. It's possible back in the '90s they were doing better inspection of guns at the Uberti factory, but if they ever did that, they're certainly not alone now. Cimarron has a QC rep right there at the shop in Italy.

Your best bet if you want an Uberti is to get one that's been tested and worked over by a stateside gunsmith. That means either the Evil Roy or Longhunter's deal. AWA was doing the same for a while, and in some cases retrofitting a coil main spring conversion...I think they were doing something other than Uberti though, Pietta maybe?

Personally, I think if you want a shooter in a traditional SA action, the USFA Rodeo is impossible to beat. Doesn't look as nice, but it's fundamentally a better gun than anything Italian and in some ways, better than a Ruger. For the price, one of the most accurate guns you can buy, period, regardless of action type. Their $900+ high-dollar-finish models are the exact same gun as a Rodeo in every way except the finish.

[buck]

I was talking about Uberti Schofields/topbreaks.
I have a Navy Arms Russian and a Uberti Schofield and among those, there is no comparison.

And that smith is the best there is at slicking up a Colt.
I have one I could show you if you find yourself in Austin and you would agree.

[Bear Claw Chris Lappe]

I've never owned a Navy Arms/Uberti, but I recently passed on a 6 1/2" .38 special slightly scaled down version of an SAA (Stallion model???) one at a local gun shop, only to learn a few weeks later that one of my oldest friends bought it.

He's very happy with it, he worked up a reload that hits dead on, and has had nothing but praise for it.


My reason for asking about Uberti's, is that I plan to add one to my collection of sixguns, and thought I'd look for their best "brand".

[Bear Claw Chris Lappe]

Oct 9, 2010 6:06:21 GMT -5 jimmarch said:

AWA was doing the same for a while, and in some cases retrofitting a coil main spring conversion...I think they were doing something other than Uberti though, Pietta maybe?

Jim, could that possibly have been ASM (Armi San Marco)?

I recently bought one, and while trying to find out more about them on the web, saw some stuff that linked them to AWA.