The Cold Hard Truth

[Doc Sunrise]

There have been many things that I have seen come and go, including some many great things.  USFA is one of those great things.  USFA was the result of a passion for something that didn't exist, a Colt quality sixgun at an average man's price.  USFA's passion and money allowed for subsidizing the idea until it became profitable, at least it was an idea.  Passion is a strong human driver, but not a great business manager.  Marketing would have identified the whole idea was dead before it started, but USFA was not run as a business.  It was an extension of one person's passion shared by a number of people.  It was great while it lasted, and USFA guns are worth a little more now for those who are willing to pay what they were really worth, the actual value put into building them.  The disappointment is very ironic.  USFA fans complained that their quality demanded higher values, but as reality of costs set in and prices went up to more accurately reflect the value being put into these guns, USFA fans split into different camps.  Some still willing to pay, but more not with more critics jumping on the Colt Bandwagon.  Most insulting is how USFA was reduced right back to a glorified Uberti.  When Colt tightened up and improved their own quality to address this new competitor, I don't think they were considering it just a glorified Uberti.  In fact I believe Colt went as far as to call their bluff by inquiring if USFA wanted to help be a supplier to Colt, knowing what the true costs are to make such a gun.

So, all in all, USFA was just like a government subsidized product.  A product created outside of the free market way of thinking that would never have allowed for such a product.  Once the product was asked to stand on its own without the subsidy and survive by true market demand, it collapsed, quickly!  There are people who realize how well built these guns are and their true value, but there are so many that won't even give it an honest review.  Future prices will be interesting!           

[Invinoveritas]

Good post.

I am no gun expert, but I think  the single action gun world is a better place for the 20 years USFA was making them.

So many get hung up on "it's not  a Colt" . No kidding.  And a Colt is not a USFA. I know gunsmiths who will say USFA was the best built single action of all time. Some will disagree. I guess that's what makes it  so interesting .

Those on this forum who have USFAs may well be the beneficiary of a discontinuance ,  if that is what happens with USFA handguns. Everyone is pi$$ing on the Zips for reasons I cannot understand . There is no reason to expect anyone to keep throwing good money after bad on revolvers, just because a very small group (us) like them. If making the Zip is even more folly, so be it.

Enjoy your USFAs.

[RRio]

Problem being, so many of us have seen too many follies with USFA such as the multi-colors SAAs and not enough of the ones that some of us were waiting for, like the '75 Remingtons, and other old west guns that have been suggested over the years.

Yes, USFA's quality was second to none, but the customer appreciation and business sense were lacking. the proof of this being, that if it were  not, wee would not be discussing that at all right now.