[Jim Watson]

I can see forging the barrel blank for a Schofield, but a SAA barrel is just a pipe, readily turned and drilled from bar stock.
Everybody's heart goes pitty-pat over forged parts but if you look at a raw forging for a receiver, it is what you might call a 15% part.

Yes, mkk41, ASM has been out of business for years, but I have been shooting for years, I had a 4-digit SASS badge. The SAA is not bad but their idea of a Schofield was dreadful.

 

[GunsnRovers]

Had a brace of EMF Pietta SAA's when I shot SASS in the early 1990's. Not top shelf, but they never failed.

Had a USFA Rodeo, a $500 SAA that was awesome provided you were OK with the working mans matte blue finish. When worn, the matte finish looked amazing. Sold it long ago to pay for medical bills foolishly thinking there was no way USFA would go out of business and I'd get one later. USFA really screwed up. They could have owned this market. You're at an easy $1000 and more for a 2nd hand Rodeo these days.

USFA is a mixed story. While they were "Made in the USA", a high percentage of parts were Uberti. Later, their Premier Guns, Rodeo II's, and Gunslingers were all US parts, or were claimed to be but you can go onto the SASS boards and find later examples still using Italian bits and pieces. The USFA owner had a history of interesting claims that were gray area at best. Their 1911 and zip guns follow that model.

All that said, Colt sourced out a decent percent of their SAA parts and you can look at Springfield 1911's and the Brazil connection. Take it all with a grain of salt.

 

[dsf]

I have a fair number of Uberti made SA revolvers, a few Colts and a USFA Bisley SA revolver. My experience is only mine, others may vary ..

Depending on who stamps their name on them and to what level of finish, Uberti is the McDonalds of SA revolvers. They seem to always hit the mark, no issues and you know what you're going to get. They pretty much always seem to work well. A recent disappointment though is their "almost traditional" SA action with 3 clicks rather than 4. Yes, easy to modify with a new hammer or even just a new firing pin, but I'd prefer they kept it traditional.

I recently picked up a 2nd gen Colt SAA in 357 Magnum. ANIB, it had the worst action I've ever laid hands on. Fortunately some work with graphite paper and buying new action screws (the originals were flat and roughly blued) and it's a terrific piece. Based on serial number seems this one was made during the fairly well known Colt union troubles.

USFA had two permutations. The first, Italian parts brought into the US and finished, to include case hardening by Turnbull. And US made entirely. The Italian-US are pretty good but generally sell for less than the US made. The Colt Forum has a tutorial on how to tell who made what and even then there can be some mysteries. The Bisley I bought had been sitting unattended in a "tacticool" gun store and I gout it for under $1K. Needed a little TLC but was beautifully finished.

One version not mentioned was the American Western Arms version. I used to have one in 32.20 but traded her away. IIRC these were made by the previously mentioned ASM and had some QC issues. But they did get the frame and cylinder dimensions correct and when well done were really nice. Unfortunately their QC was right up there with Springfield Armory - or "down there" depending on how you look at it.

I'd like to pick up a Standard Manufacturing SAA type. Not to draw too much of a comparison to USFA "Zip Gun" debacle, but Standard did just come out with a very odd double barreled 22 magnum plastic pistol. I hope Standard isn't the reincarnation of USFA in that endeavor.

 

[Colt191145]

I have a Colt .44 Special SAA gen 3 and a USFA Rodeo II .45 Colt. Both needed an action job, I replaced the grips on both. I found an unfitted black factory set for the Colt. The USFA wears elk stag from Sack Peterson. I shoot both of these revolvers, no safe queens. The USFA is superior in fit and finish, although a leg on the bolt broke and I had to fit an oversize bolt. The lock up was worth the time it took to get it right. I would not hesitate to buy another USFA, they are excellent. Colt SAA's can be a mixed bag, some great others not so much. Most are great though. The Standard SAA is on my list, and when I do get one I will shoot it. As far as the Italian copies I will pass.

 

[mlin]

ASM made really good replica to Colt's. I will continue to enjoy this one until I can find a Colt SAA.

 

[DarkLord]

I can say with confidence my 2018 SAA is built 100% right. Fit and finish are outstanding, sights regulate perfectly, no end play on the cylinder, cylinder mouths right at .005 over bore...And it is wicked accurate!! It will shoot groups just as tight as my Python.

 

[Tactical Rico]

As several have mentioned above.........If it doesn't say COLT... it's not a Single Action Army. There are some other Single Action Revolvers, and some are quite serviceable, but I'll repeat myself. If it doesn't say COLT.....etc.
I have a pair of mid 2000 Gen 3 Colts, and shot alot of S.A.S.S. matches ( and I have a four digits number as well) with them. Never had an issue with them and they're still the best SAA out there.

TR aka RICO S.A.S.S. #9760

 

[dsk]

As several have mentioned above.........If it doesn't say COLT... it's not a Single Action Army. There are some other Single Action Revolvers, and some are quite serviceable, but I'll repeat myself. If it doesn't say COLT.....etc.

I have no problem buying Uberti Single-Actions, but that is largely due to the fact that I get a serviceable SAA clone for nearly a quarter of what a Colt costs nowadays. But no way in Helsinki would I pay Colt prices for a USFA or a Standard, no matter how nice they are. To me they are still just copies of the original, meant to be shooters rather than collector's pieces. A grand for a USFA or Standard? Sure. Two grand? Hell no!

(then again I think two grand for a Colt is a bit ridiculous as well)

 

[old doc]

Before transitioning from SAA's to 1911's, I accumulated several Ubertis, about 10-12 Colts and as many USFA's. The last ten USFA's made were "Twentieth Anniversary" models. They should have been named "Twentieth and Last Anniversary" models. They were planning on making 20 of them but by that time, only had enough frames left to do 10. I have one and my brother has two. Always wonder, what they are worth to a USFA collector. I have a rule with 1911's, that no matter how nice or expensive they are, they all get shot. Not so with my Colts and USFA's. Many of them are unfired. If I feel the need to go cowboy, I'll pack a Uberti.I have a nice Uberti Hombre. I bought it at Cabelas on sale for $299. I blackened the brass backstrap and trigger, then antiqued the rest of it. Looks just like an old Colt. It is very accurate and after a spring kit, has a very smooth action. It shoots just like a Colt or USFA and preserves the unfired value of the real deals.

 

[best.45]

growing up as a kid watching westerns, i always wanted a .45 ssa. at a gun show i found a .44 spl. sa 120x. paid $400 for it. this is probably due to skeeter skelton. it shot really well, and still does. mine shot to point of aim, which they did not always. the spring for the bolt broke, so had to get a replacement. numrich had real colt parts at the time. put leather washer, under it and it still works. i don't have a trigger gauge, but it has to be in ounces. i usually dry fire a few times to get used to it. the pawn shops and bars used to have a few lying around that had been traded or pawned. prices? about $50-$100! that was in the 50's early 60's. but i sure wish i was old enough to work to have gotten a few of them. most had little finish. an old gunsmith told me you needed 3 saa's. one to use, one for a back up, and one at the gunsmiths! hard to imagine how many rounds some of those guns had run through them. then too, fast draw was popular. they 'fanned' the hammer and held the trigger down. i think the er's saw a few of those boys. i never abused mine, but it does have a lot of finish wear. i will never ever sell it. i may be buried with it. its a best....44! james

 

[old doc]

ASM made really good replica to Colt's. I will continue to enjoy this one until I can find a Colt SAA.

I had one of those, they were called "Peacekeepers". They were such a good copy, that Colt sued them and forced them out of production. Not only did the pony on the grip too closely resemble the one on the Colt, turns out some years before, Colt had made a double action revolver named the Peacekeeper and still held right to use of the name.

 

[best.45]

interesting, old doc.

 

[Frank Vaccaro]

As several have mentioned above.........If it doesn't say COLT... it's not a Single Action Army. There are some other Single Action Revolvers, and some are quite serviceable, but I'll repeat myself. If it doesn't say COLT.....etc.
I have a pair of mid 2000 Gen 3 Colts, and shot alot of S.A.S.S. matches ( and I have a four digits number as well) with them. Never had an issue with them and they're still the best SAA out there.
View attachment 613470

TR aka RICO S.A.S.S. #9760

THIS!!!! If it isn't a COLT it isn't a SAA! It is a SA, a copy, a clone, but it is a SA Colt is the ONLY SAA! Some, USFA & Standard, are very good! They are SAs COLT is the only SAA!
Ok rant over fire away!

 

[glider]

OK, one of you Uberta or Cimarron experts tell me which model would be the best one to look for. I have decided, I need one and I prefer 45 L.C. Thanks in advance

 

[RON in PA]

Glider IMHO get the Cimarron copy of the 1873 cavalry revolver. It’s as close to the real thing as you will find today. Mine is a beauty and a great shooter.

 

[glider]

Thanks, I will do just that!!

 

[sandog75]

Cimarron Calvary model, complete with U.S. Government markings, inspector's cartouche and F Co.7th Cav stamp on bottom of frame. They do shoot nice.
One below it is the Artillery Model (5 1/2") that has Cimarron's "original" antique finish.

 

[LimaCharlie]

My Colts get carried and shot

I haven't shot my gold plated Uberti yet.

 

[best.45]

long live the king! is the long barrel nickel unfluted?

 

[dsf]

THIS!!!! If it isn't a COLT it isn't a SAA! It is a SA, a copy, a clone, but it is a SA Colt is the ONLY SAA! Some, USFA & Standard, are very good! They are SAs COLT is the only SAA!
Ok rant over fire away!

Lighten up Francis ......

Just to show I'm on the good side of the discussion -

a 3rd gen in the best Colt SAA caliber - 44 Special

And a 2nd gen in 357 -

Worthwhile story on each. The 3rd gen cost me a grand total of $1,100.00 about 5 years back and the 2nd gen was "cash & carry" from NV to CA courtesy of my C&R FFL. A little instant gratification usually denied by federal law and the weenies who run CA.