USFA vs. Great Western Arms Co.

[Capt. John Fitzgerald]

Coffinmaker's post, titled "Following Along,"  got me to thinking about the business history of Colt and some of its SAA "competitors."
In the early '50's there was a renewed, but somewhat limited, interest in SAA revolvers.  Inspired by this, William R. Wilson founded Great Western Arms in 1953, in Los Angeles, CA.  From what I have read, he did this with the assurance from Colt that they had no intention of ever reintroducing their line of SAA's.  With the popularity of TV westerns in the latter part of the 1950's, consumer interest in the SAA greatly increased.  Seeing a market, Colt then reintroduced their 2nd generation SAA.  It was the death knell for Great Western Arms.
Today there seems to be little collector interest in GWA SAA's.  It is a shame because, from what I have read (and I have no personal experience here), they were, in their prime, well made guns.  They have been gone now for over 50 years.
So... here is the point of this posting:  What, in your opinion, will be the general consensus regarding USFA SAA's 50 years from now?  I know it is pure speculation on your part but do you think that history, and the shooting community, will be any kinder to USFA than we have been to Great Western Arms?  I, for one, would hate to see USFA become nothing more than a footnote in firearms history, much like GWA has become.
 

[yahoody]

I suspect much like GWA, the eventual foot note will be some good ones, and some really not so good ones by comparison.

If Colt goes under in the near future and the prices on both Colt and USFA guns will continue to rise IMO.

http://www.greatwesternfirearms.com/models/

[buttebob]

Great Western also sold guns in kit form. It depends on the skill level as to what you get with one of these.
When I think of different levels of skill I always think of those internet posts of "red neck" home repairs or car repairs. Scary.
I've only seen one Great Western for sale at a gun show and that was over 33 years ago.

[Major 2]

there were a goodly number at Stembridge Gun Rentals,
Western Costumes had some as well.....most were in well beaten ....I recall many had cheap plastic grips and a lot were missing parts.

These were OK for holster hanging, but better guns went to the principals.

[Capt. John Fitzgerald]

Yahoody,
Should Colt go under, do you think that people who are now paying ridiculous prices for USFA's will shift their interest to Colt SAA's, thus causing a drop in prices that we have seen USFA's going for?

Buttebob,
Yes, Great Western Arms did offer "Kit guns" and I imagine that there are many ill-fitted, ill-finished examples out there.  Did you know that at one point USFA considered offering kit guns as well?  If you go way back on this forum you will find a post from Gary Granger asking for the general consensus of our members regarding this.  I, for one, tried my best to shoot the idea down.  Kit guns were never offered by USFA but the idea was there.
 

[Capt. John Fitzgerald]

Ah hah!  I found it!!!
Going back through the old posts I founds the inquiry regarding "kit guns" posted by GaryG (Gary Granger) who, back in the good old days, went by the name "Banjoman."  Here it is;

http://www.cascity.com/forumhall/index.php/topic,10612.0.html

[yahoody]

Should Colt go under, do you think that people who are now paying ridiculous prices for USFA's will shift their interest to Colt SAA's, thus causing a drop in prices that we have seen USFA's going for?

Good question. My impression is most of the Colt Community  looks at USFA much as they have at Great Western.   From that I get, "not worth the time, effort or money".

The best of the USFA USA made guns have more recently been getting prices reserved for decent 1st Generation or NIB 2nd Gen Colts.  $2000+ and into the $3K range is good money for any SAA no matter who made them.  I don't  think we'll ever see or have seen the Colt community into buying USFA guns.  Just no history there.  Having a gun that actually shoots well means little or nothing to the majority of them.

My guess is the COLT SAA guns will slow to a no existent trickle (if they haven't already) and the Colt prices will continue to go up on all the Colt guns.  Likely biggest increases in prices will be the SAA just by supply and demand economics.

As an example a Colt's, nickel, 4 3/4" .45, black rubber grips, Model #1841 retails/msrp today for $1630.   And you could buy them on a regular basis for that price on GB a year ago.  Today same gun fetches $2000 to $2500.  USFA guns have done the same  but they have been out of production for a few years now.  If Colt publically stops production...prices will go crazy and a feeding frenzy will ensue.

I suspect if a guy wants either, better to buy today and "have" than wait and try to buy tomorrow for more money.

[buttebob]

Capt. John, I stumbled across that post this morning. I wondered who Banjoman was.