USFA

[weagle99]

Aug 16, 2012 16:48:41 GMT -5 CraigC said:

On their way out. I was hoping somebody like Turnbull would buy them out but it doesn't look like it.

Can you expand on this? I am interested to know the back story of what is going on.

[CraigC]

No you're not, you want ammunition for your argument for Colt over USFA.

[weagle99]

Aug 17, 2012 11:56:08 GMT -5 CraigC said:

No you're not, you want ammunition for your argument for Colt over USFA.

I'm not trolling for an argument, but of course you have no obligation to provide details. My guess would be that the plan to expand the company into other platforms (1911, Woodsman, etc) was found to be more difficult than they originally thought and a company of their size has had a hard time staying afloat selling just single actions. I also read once that the entire company was effectively the hobby of its wealthy president; perhaps he has lost interest? Just my guesses.

USFA makes a quality gun but some of their marketing has puzzled me. Hate to see any gun manufacturer go under though.

[hammerdown77]

I was told by a couple of guys here locally (gun stores) who had dealt with them in the past that while they were a company of wonderfully skilled gun builders, they were AWFUL at the business and customer service side of things. One gentleman related an instance where he called them several times over the course of a week to handle orders for several customers, and every person he got on the phone was like the grumpy old man they kept in the back of the shop who hated the world and just wanted to be left alone to file on steel.

Good gunsmiths do not necessarily make good service oriented business people, I suppose.

[CraigC]

Aug 17, 2012 13:38:27 GMT -5 weagle99 said:

Aug 17, 2012 11:56:08 GMT -5 CraigC said:

No you're not, you want ammunition for your argument for Colt over USFA.

I'm not trolling for an argument, but of course you have no obligation to provide details. My guess would be that the plan to expand the company into other platforms (1911, Woodsman, etc) was found to be more difficult than they originally thought and a company of their size has had a hard time staying afloat selling just single actions. I also read once that the entire company was effectively the hobby of its wealthy president; perhaps he has lost interest? Just my guesses.

USFA makes a quality gun but some of their marketing has puzzled me. Hate to see any gun manufacturer go under though.

Far as I could tell, they stopped shipping to Davidson's a year and a half ago. I think my .38 Rodeo II was one of the last shipments received. The Woodsman was later dropped. Then Davidson's dropped them altogether. Then they stopped producing the Rodeo's, reportedly to catch up on premium guns. Then they stopped taking orders altogether. Alex Hamilton reports that the batch of guns he got with the engraved cylinders or 50% coverage guns would be the last. Then I hear that they sold off equipment and that some of their talent had left the company. Then it gets shared in an email from Turnbull that USFA will probably close its doors in the near future.

It would seem as if all the negative things we've heard about Donnelly have come to fruition. Poor marketing. New designs that never see production. Lackluster customer service, when you can get them to answer the phone. It doesn't "seem" like a lack of sales was ever the problem. They seemed to never be able to keep up with demand. Perhaps they went broke trying to undersell Colt. At any rate, it's a crying shame that a company producing such an outstanding product couldn't keep it going.

It would be nice if it were all just a stack of rumors.

[hammerdown77]

I can't believe that with all the money rolling into the firearms industry over the past few years, someone wouldn't buy out their operation.

Cimarron?

[CraigC]

I think so too, maybe Donnelly just wants to close it, rather than sell. I thought even Doug Turnbull would want to buy them out.

[tek4260]

smith-wessonforum.com/guns-sale-trade/263397-fs-45lc-usfa.html

Just noticed one for sale since they are apparently going the way of the dinosaur.

[CraigC]

My friend talked to someone at USFA this afternoon and they spoke as if they were just catching up on backorders. So either they're just sticking to their story or maybe it's all just rumor.

[towboater]

I hate to think that they would go out of business.

Here's my two.

[texagun]

Aug 17, 2012 22:23:58 GMT -5 towboater said:

I hate to think that they would go out of business.

Here's my two.

Me too. I have had excellent customer service from them. Everyone I have dealt with at USFA has been very courteous and helpful.

[crazycarl]

I would love to have one of their 12 shot .22s.

[CraigC]

Like this one?

[crazycarl]

Yeppers. That'd do it.

[towboater]

dang, that nice. I want one too!!