USFA Rodeos Are Kick'n Some Serious A!!

[Doc Sunrise]

I have to give credit when it is obviously due.  My recent Rodeo deliveries are even better than my previous ones.  The internal polishing of the hand channel and clean curve of the hand window are great.  The action is very smooth and timing feels perfect.  The Case Colored Hammer falls as crisp as the trigger pull is.  Cylinder measurements inside & out are excellent which made shooting tight groups a breeze.  Fit & Finish is fantastic, and the checkering on the rubber grips is deep and clean for a great grip.  As far as I am concerned, this kind of attention to the fine details has definitely knotched quality up a step.  I can't wait until I get my Pre-War and remaining Inspector Series guns.  If you want serious SAA quality, just take a look at some USFA SAA's.   

[Rowdy Fulcher]

I have to give credit when it is obviously due.  My recent Rodeo deliveries are even better than my previous ones.  The internal polishing of the hand channel and clean curve of the hand window are great.  The action is very smooth and timing feels perfect.  The Case Colored Hammer falls as crisp as the trigger pull is.  Cylinder measurements inside & out are excellent which made shooting tight groups a breeze.  Fit & Finish is fantastic, and the checkering on the rubber grips is deep and clean for a great grip.  As far as I am concerned, this kind of attention to the fine details has definitely knotched quality up a step.  I can't wait until I get my Pre-War and remaining Inspector Series guns.  If you want serious SAA quality, just take a look at some USFA SAA's.   

I see the word is getting out about these quality pistols .

[Steel Horse Bailey]

Howdy Doc & Rowdy!

If you can answer, what's the list on these fine pistols and do they still have that black Parkerized-looking finish?

Adios

[Advertising]

[RRio]

I plan on adding a Rodeo to my Pre War and SAA, very soon.

Howdy Doc & Rowdy!

If you can answer, what's the list on these fine pistols and do they still have that black Parkerized-looking finish?

Adios

Check Marshal Halloway's prices, nobody around this neck of the woods can beat 'em. And yes, still have the matt black finish that antiques out nicely.

[Kid Carson]

I have to give credit when it is obviously due.  My recent Rodeo deliveries are even better than my previous ones.  The internal polishing of the hand channel and clean curve of the hand window are great.  The action is very smooth and timing feels perfect.  The Case Colored Hammer falls as crisp as the trigger pull is.  Cylinder measurements inside & out are excellent which made shooting tight groups a breeze.  Fit & Finish is fantastic, and the checkering on the rubber grips is deep and clean for a great grip.  As far as I am concerned, this kind of attention to the fine details has definitely knotched quality up a step.  I can't wait until I get my Pre-War and remaining Inspector Series guns.  If you want serious SAA quality, just take a look at some USFA SAA's.   

I couldn't agree more with this...I ordered 2 a month ago, but chose to go with the walnut grips. After inspecting the entire line of USFA guns in person, I came to the conclusion that they really were the guns for me. I looked at a lot of other brands and settled on the Rodeos for the sheer quality of fit & finish, balanced feel, and accuracy to the original Colts.

[Rowdy Fulcher]

Howdy Doc & Rowdy!

If you can answer, what's the list on these fine pistols and do they still have that black Parkerized-looking finish?

Adios

Well the Rodeo can be purchased at Whittakers for $522.00 plus tax if you need his phone number 270-229-0140 and yes the Rodeo has a matte finish. If you don't like the finish it can be easily removed , also the matte finish is illegal for NCOWS unfortunately . I have been shooting a pair
for about 3 years and have had no trouble. I tell all my friends about these quality AMERICAN made
Firearms . I think we need them to make a NCOWS pistol what do you think .

[Doc Sunrise]

Isn't the new USFA Cowboy or Gunslinger legit!

[RRio]

Well the Rodeo can be purchased at Whittakers for $522.00 plus tax if you need his phone number 270-229-0140 and yes the Rodeo has a matte finish. If you don't like the finish it can be easily removed , also the matte finish is illegal for NCOWS unfortunately . I have been shooting a pair
for about 3 years and have had no trouble. I tell all my friends about these quality AMERICAN made
Firearms . I think we need them to make a NCOWS pistol what do you think .

   No matt-finished or brushed-finish stainless steel firearms are allowed except as specifically exempted in these Rules and Regulations, e.g. only those stainless steel firearms whose finish resembles an original nickel-plated finish.

I think that only applies to stainless.

[Rowdy Fulcher]

The USFA Cowboy has a blued finish which is legal . The Gunslinger has an antiqued finish which gives the look of a100 year old gun . As far as the Rodeo it has a matte finish which is basically not legal .I own 3 Rodeos and yes I striped the matte finish off . Then I blued them they do look alot better blued . But I did have a problem with the thought I had to strip  the finish off my pistols to make them legal .

[Kid Carson]

Call me crazy...but I actually prefer the look of the Rodeo matte finish to their Cowboy all blued look. I have two Rodeos with walnut grips and I think they look better than the Cowboys. Just my opinion though. 

[Lone Gunman]

The "Rodeos" were voted as 'not allowed' during the Nov 2005 Congress meeting specifically because of the matte finish.

Motion from the floor to add the USFA “Rodeo” to the list of approved firearms. N. Rollins/ Chenault. Motion failed (proxies not voting) 3-7, 6 abstaining. Voting “Yes” were Chenault, N. Rollins, Thorpe. Abstaining were Burman, Bursovsky, Carpenter, Garnatz, Goodwin, C. Rollins.

 

However, as Rowdy stated, it isn't difficult to make that finish look more authentic, then there isn't a problem.

Sorry for the confusion RR, I edited in a couple of commas to try and make that sentence a little more clear.

No matte-finished, or brushed-finish stainless steel, firearms are allowed...

[RRio]

Thanks for the clarification, Lone Gunman!

[Virginia Gentleman]

Seems really stupid to me, but I like the idea of antiquing them so they fit into the "historically correct" category.

[Steel Horse Bailey]

Howdy!

Virginny Gent, I agree that the "old" look fits many of these guns well.  However, part of this decision to buy them or re-finish them to the old look depends on the historical situation.  If you're just in this game to shoot old type guns and have lots of fun, then they might be for you.  However, if you're trying to portray someone (either specifically or in general) back in the mid to late 1800s, then think of it this way.  If you portray a military person in 1880 for instance, and you have an 1873 Colt SAA, then AT MOST, your gun is 7 years old, and if you're a civilian, your gun is most likely only a year or two old, since very FEW 1873 Colts got into civilian hands until 1877 or so.  There WERE some exceptions, but I'm speaking in majority terms.  it might not look "right" if you're carrying a gun that is 2 years old, but looks like it's not a day over 125 years old! 

It all depends on your own situation.

I have a really cool 1851 (type) Colt that has been expertly aged to look old.  (Before I got it)  It is, IMHO, very handsome.  But I wouldn't try to pass it off as a 10 year old gun for Civil War use!  It is simply too old and worn looking.  As a living historian, which I attempt to do sometimes, I want my equipment to look used but not ancient.

Yer mileage may vary. 

[Black Powder]

Agree with SHB.  When I was looking for a CW rifle musket, I didn’t like the new shininess of them.  Until I browsed thru my Mathew Brady books and saw pics of soldiers with ’61 Springfields, all with shiny barrels and bayonets.  No patina on any of them cuz they wuz new.

A $500 AMERICAN-made entry-level gun is a great thing for USFA to have provided.  I just wish the Rodeo was available in 7½“, in something other than that matte finish.  And black powder frame.  And still for $500! 

BP

[Virginia Gentleman]

That is true, if you were a soldier and for inspection had to take care of your weapon, it would not have that aged look.  I guess is if one was really handy with gunsmithing, you could disassemble your USFA Rodeo, take the barrel off/ejector rod off and polish it and the backstrap to 600 grit and rust blue them yourself.  The frame could be polished too and have torch colors applied with a map gas torch at low flame and then violin/piano varnished to protect the simulated case colors.  Small screws and parts could either be rust blued too or nitre blued.  It would then look more period correct for the timeframe when new.     Lots of work, but it would be cool to see the results with a Rodeo or any of the other matte finished budget models by Uberti etc.

[Steel Horse Bailey]

The way I've heard it, a LOT of Rodeos have been refinished. 

I like the Rodeo, but it has always looked - to me - as if it was an 1873 Colt, but issued by the modern US Military; non-glare finish and all.  It'd be a really good gun for "discrete" carry.  And yes, I would HAVE carried a SAA for self defense.  It's ALL about the training and mindset. 

[Doc Sunrise]

All I know is that my Rodeos are fun to shoot.  I just took out my 4 3/4" Rodeo to the range and was totaly surprised at how easy it was to shoot in .45Colt.  It was far more pleasant than the bark of my 3" S&W 57 in .41magnum.  I personally like the finish on the Rodeos. 

USFA has enough different models now in different finishes that I am sure someone can find what they are looking for.

Black Powder,

Call gary Granger at USFA, they sometimes have some guns in stock in the out of production styles, and they just might have a 7 1/2".

[Black Powder]

I will.  Maybe I'll stumble across something so completely irresistable that it will make me change my mind on everything I thought I was gonna do.  Thanks!   

BP

[Virginia Gentleman]

Blackpowder:  If you saved a few more shillings and got the USFA with a blackpowder frame and nice case colors from Turnbull, you would be in heaven.  Then get a Cimarron for a "second gun."