Just Ordered 2 SA Revolvers - Thoughts & Opinions

[johnnyflake]

Hello To All - I'm new to this board. I just found it after some searching. I have always wanted a couple of Western Style SA Revolvers and after a couple of weeks of online research and speaking with a few people who are involved with Cowboy Action Shooting, that I met at a local Gun Show, I made my choices, and just yesterday, I ordered two guns from Bud's Gun Shop in Lexington, KY.

1 x Uberti 1873 El Patron .357 Mag 5 1/2" Case Hardened/Blue

1 x TAYLOR 1873 Style SMOKE WAGON DELUXE 45 Colt/LC 4.75" Case Hardened/Blue

As I understand it, Taylor is no longer producing any of those revolvers, but if you search hard enough, you can still find a few. Taylor Guns are basically Reworked, Fitted and Tuned Uberti Guns, with coil springs. I believe the work is done by Long Horn or something like that.

The Uberti El Patron Series is also a reworked, fitted & Tuned 1873 Model, with coil springs. The El Patron is true to the Colt Design, with the firing pin on the hammer. However, the Taylor uses a Transfer Bar system.

Everything I've read about these and have been told about them, puts them in a class far above all the other basic clones out there. Several people, especially the Cowboy Action Shoots say they out perform even the best Colts you can find. I have no idea. These are the first Western Style Revolvers I have purchased.

I'll post some photos once I receive them.

I would love to hear from anyone who owns one or both of these models.

What are any of your thoughts, about these pieces, from anyone?

Thanks

[olddoc]

To the best of my knowledge, the Smoke Wagon and the El Patron are both made by Uberti and are virtually identical except for the markings. The Smoke Wagon is distributed through Taylor & Co and is prominently featured on its website, so I doubt that it has been discontinued. The El Patron is distributed by Uberti USA, a subsidiary of Beretta. Neither of these guns feature a transfer bar system and are both faithful to the original Colt design. Taylor's sells the Smoke Wagon in both a standard and a deluxe version, the latter having an action job by a smith in West Virginia. Not sure who does the action work on the El patron, probably in-house at Uberti. Longhunter Shooting Supply buys standard Smoke Wagons and re-works them to sell through their website. Hope I got most of this right and that it has been helpful.

[johnnyflake]

Thanks for your input. You may be correct about the Smoke Wagon not having a transfer bar. I believe I miss understood one of the articles I read. As far as Uberti being a subsidiary of Beretta, that is not correct. Uberti is now actually owned by Cimarron.

The El Patron is assembled and distributed by Uberti, however, the Smoke Wagon is not. The parts for the Smoke Wagon come from Uberti but the gun is assembled in the USA by Taylor.

I have read so many articles and Forum Reviews on those two revolvers, that I am sure my thinking is a bit mixed up, however, not so mixed up that I decided to buy one of each in different calibers.

[goodtime]

You certainly picked up two very nice guns. I have some Uberti Cattlemen and one Cimmaron. Love'em. I'm aspiring to pick up an El Patron 357 5.5" from Bud's; they have a great deal on them.

[CraigC]

Uberti is owned wholly by Beretta. Cimarron is just an importer.

[wishbone]

I was very tempted to order that El Patron from Buds during the black friday sale. If it had a 4.75" barrel I probably would have.

[johnnyflake]

Wishbone,

I also would have preferred the 4.75" barrel on the .357 El Patron, but the price was right. Also, I did get the Smoke Wagon .45 with the 4.75" so, overall, I am very happy.


CraigC,

I certainly cannot dispute what you say, but I could swear that I read, more than once, during my research over the last few weeks that Cimarron now owned controlling interest in Uberti. I try to find out which is correct.

[olddoc]

Nov 27, 2011 20:39:00 GMT -5 johnnyflake said:

Wishbone,

I also would have preferred the 4.75" barrel on the .357 El Patron, but the price was right. Also, I did get the Smoke Wagon .45 with the 4.75" so, overall, I am very happy.


CraigC,

I certainly cannot dispute what you say, but I could swear that I read, more than once, during my research over the last few weeks that Cimarron now owned controlling interest in Uberti. I try to find out which is correct.

If you go to the UbertiUSA website, and click on "Uberti History", you will find that Uberti is owned by BenelliUSA. Further research will yield the fact that, Benelli, Franchi and Stoeger are all owned by the parent company which is Beretta.

[peacemaker]

It seems a little late to be asking for opinions

Looking forward to hearing range reports. Welcome to the forum.

[johnnyflake]

CraigC & Olddoc,

My latest research tells me that you gentlemen are 100% correct about Beretta owning Uberti. Heck, they own a lot of companies.

Peacemaker,

I was seeking opinions just to learn what other owners or even non-owners thought of those pieces. I had already made my decision to buy.

I truly appreciate the information that has already been presented.

[joeg0812]

Are you sure about the El Patron having coil springs? I have one in .45 and it has a flat mainspring. Be that as it may, it is a nice revolver. Just need to get a different set of grips as I don't care for the checkering.

[johnnyflake]

joeg0812,

As I stated above, I have read so many articles about the two guns in question that I may have that confused as well. I'll check that when I get the guns.

Have you done any checking on replacement grips yet?

[joeg0812]

Thinking about Sack Peterson Stags.

[jayhawker]

As to coil springs, you are most likely remembering that the hand spring is a coil spring. Rest of springs are traditional Colt SA style springs.

[Frank V]

Johnnyflake
Welcome to the forum.
SAs are a lot of fun, I think you'll enjoy them.
Frank