Ordered SAA - USFA Deal on their site

[Stainz]

If heritage counts, I believe the USFAs are made under the old Colt 'blue dome' in Hartford. Okay, not the way they once were - now with modern CNC equipment for high uniformity. I'd love one of those old SAA .45s... even if I find the Ruger BHG more 'fun' to shoot in .45. Still, what a nice revolver - and beautiful, too - you will be elated! Congartulations.

Stainz

 

[LAH]

If you don't load, get the 38.

If you want to load, skip the gun & use the cash to get started. You could get a very nice set up for 800.00 that will last the rest of your life. Just my 2........Creeker

 

[JohnBT]

They really are all fine guns, at least the examples I've seen up close.

I'm overthinking things. I've always been better off when I found a gun I liked at a shop and bought it. That's how I ended up with a Colt WWI Repro - I saw one - I didn't even know they were making them.

OTOH, with the price of these things being what they are, I feel like I should get my money's worth out of the shopping experience.

I'll hit the big gun store over in the Valley tomorrow on the way back from visiting my parents; the gun show this weekend; the gun shop that caters to cowboy shooters; and then the big store up the road. Maybe I can decide something by Monday - unless I run across a well put together specimen first in my travels.

John

 

[sgtdevildog]

Oooorrrrrrr - get the gun and with the $310 in savings start buying your reloading gear - then you have both.

 

[sgtdevildog]

I've got a WWI repro and love it. Despite the small sights I can do fairly well and enjoy the nostalgia factor. Other than SASS and CAS does anyone know of any specific sights for more info on SAA's? Also, check out www.tenring.com - it looks like he has a large number of USFA SA available. Shopping is part of the fun.

 

[Hawk]

If heritage counts, I believe the USFAs are made under the old Colt 'blue dome' in Hartford.

I believe they moved out. Not certain about that though. Wiki doesen't always get it right but I think I heard it from some other place as well.

The company purchased a new site in late 2001 (a 4 acre campus estimated at over 40 million in todays dollars) to expand operations in Hartford and from 1993 maintained both the Historic Armory and New facility for the production of Lightning Magazine Rifles, New Model 1910 Automatics and of course the Legendary Single Action Army revolvers.

The Historic Colt Armory was sold to investors represented by B. F. Goodrich in 1997 and was divested in about 2001 to Homes for America, Robert & Rebecca McFarlane.

The Last Revolvers made "Under the Blue Dome " by U. S. Fire Arms in 2003 were a series of special runs of the Single Action Army Model, Mixed finishes including Old Armory Color Case and Dome Blue, 7 1/2 inch, 5 1/2 & 4 3/4 barrels, chambered in .45 Colt bearing special serial numbers and several different grips styles. The first in the series remains in the Company's Archive today.

@OP. The Turnbull/USFA trigger isn't in the least bit horrid. I'm betting you'll like it just fine. FWIW I would've never set off down that STI path if I knew how long it was going to take - I'd be happy if they bought out their CT supplier and moved the whole works to Texas.

 

[sgtdevildog]

Well, looks like the CC has been hit and it should be on it's way. I think they ship ground so I may not have it until next week but here's hoping. Are there any manuals on disassembly, etc that folks recommend? How about a good source for .45lc ammo? If this works out I may have to start reloading. Oh well.

 

[Hawk]

The Kuhnhausen manual is pretty good - I got mine from Brownell's. Haven't had occasion to open one up yet. The basic "field strip" will be in the USFA manual.

The .45 Colt inspired me to buy my first progressive press. Welcome to the club!

 

[Rexster]

USFA has moved the production machinery out of the old domed building; vibrations were a bit much for the old structure, according to one source. USFA does make some very, very good stuff; I have one of their older models made in the mid-1990's of Uberti parts, through three China Camp models, to my most recent, a 7.5" Single Action. These are the "good old days" in regard to single action sixguns, for sure, with Colt once again delivering a good product, the high-quality replicas, Freedom Arms and Ruger filling their market niches; life is good.

 

[JohnBT]

Good old days indeed. I did a little window shopping on the way back to the office after lunch. Well, it was 2:30 and I hadn't had lunch, but what the heck.

They had a half dozen or so Colts in .45 LC and .357, and one I really liked in .38. The barrel lengths were all 4-5/8ths or 5.5", except for one .45 that was 7.5". They also had 2 USFA Sheriff's models, so at least I got to compare the workmanship. My conclusion, they all looked good.

The Colt's ran between $1299 and $1399. No, this isn't a cut-rate dealer, it's a big hunting and fishing store with a sign on the front that says GUNS.

The USFA guns are looking even better. Would they make me one with a little pony on it?

John

 

[sgtdevildog]

You can always get different grips with the pony medallion on them. ;-}

 

[Hawk]

The USFA guns are looking even better. Would they make me one with a little pony on it?

You blaspheme!

The Colt prices don't suck. I believe Ken at Wild West was getting 1135.00 for a base Colt but a little bump for local isn't bad especially if he hasn't wire-tied the things. Buying a chastity-belted revolver isn't any different than buying one sight unseen off the internet IMHO.

I don't place any value on pictures of horses, the Colt brand or history so the tariff on a Turnbull or STI made sense to me. However, I believe I'm a minority of one in that regard. If you're going to have lingering longings for renderings of horses eating sticks, best get it out of your system early on IMHO.

I'm one of those that routinely spent more money on an STI 1911 than a Colt and this simply seemed the natural order of things. When it came to revolvers I was rather surprised to see STI actually getting down into Colt's price range - they generally don't do that with the race guns - which the Texican is supposed to be.

Nothing wrong with Colt but they just never did anything for me. Be warned though: buy a Turnbull or STI (or worse, both) and you'll have no shortage of people pointing out that "you could have gotten a Colt for that amount of money". If this troubles you, get the Colt first.

 

[Gordon]

I bought a Turnbull USFA 32-20 7 1/2" last fall and it shoots extremely well, my handloads go into 1.5" at 25 yards from the bags!.

 

[JohnBT]

I know, I know, too many choices and I can't decide. Certainly not tonight anyway. While I'm kicking it around in my head, I have a question.

Has anyone measured the trigger pulls on any of the guns being discussed? I'd prefer something light, but crisp and 3 pounds or so would be okay for plinking.

I've been spoiled by the 2# factory trigger on the Single-Six i bought in '72.

John

 

[sgtdevildog]

Well I got the call last night - my USFA is at my dealer. Can't get to it for a day or two, then I will take some photos and post. So from the time I ordered on the website to arrival was one week. Not bad at all.

 

[Pilot]

The USFA guns are looking even better. Would they make me one with a little pony on it?

I have a USFA Rodeo in .45 Colt. I love it. It was $450 NIB about a year ago, so more than half the price of a Colt. I know prices are more like $600 now, but still a good value.

Maybe Colt should outsource their production to USFA so you'd get the best of both worlds.

 

[JohnBT]

Take your time with the photos, we're having a good time. One week is great, it would come real close to satisfying my need for off-the-shelf instant gratification.

John

 

[sgtdevildog]

Pics are in!

Sorry I'm not a better photographer - but I hope you get the idea. I picked up the SAA last night. Fit and finish are very nice the CCH is very well done IMO. A better photographer would be helpful. The trigger pull on it is very nice - no noticeable creep, probably around 3 pounds or so. Here they are - I hope you like.

 

[JohnBT]

Oh yeah. That's a fine looking gun and the trigger sounds good to me. Good pics too.

<sigh> Now I really want to go shopping, but I'm already at the office and have to work until 5:45. (Yes, I'm working, I'm answering e-mails on the other monitor.)

Congratulations.

John

 

[steveracer]

Ever wonder why Connecticut is making so many amazing guns, and their guns laws suck?
Just wondering.
Your SAA is really very nice, and you can all see my USFA 1911 when I get home.