colt or usfa

[Half Moon Tune]

Howdy Boys! I am new around here, and this is my first post. I see that no one has commented on this for several months, so lets see if I can stir the pot some. Back in 1995 I got the "I have to have a Colt" fever, REAL bad. I went to the local Phoenix gun store and looked at the Colt Peacemakers and if I were generous I would call them junk, but actually, they were WORSE than junk. I wanted one in the worse way, but couldn't see spending $1200 on something SOOO bad. Then I looked at the "U S Patent Firearms" Peacemakers (that was what they were called in those days. I bought one for $595, one of the last of the imported but unfinished Italian ones (finish done here). I put some money down for an action job, and to this day that USFA Peacemaker is the most accurate Peacemaker I have EVER owned (I've owned several Colts, Rugers, and other Italian replicas). My original USPFA takes a back seat to no gun I have ever fired. My son recently layed claim to it and now it is his. Still, it is THE BEST, BAR NONE!

Now, fast forward to about 2 years ago...and I was again looking to buy a Colt. I had heard that the quality was better and the ones I saw looked good. I finally spent $1250 on a new in the box black powder frame Colt 45 with a 4 3/4" barrel. Craftsmanship is excellent, and after several hundred rounds it still has NO cylinder drag marks(and I still havn't had an action job done yet!). Is it as good as my USPFA Peacemaker? No. But it is REAL close. It will probably never be as accurate, although it is very accurate in and of itself and more accurate than I can be these days with my eyes as they are. The USPFA gun has a better bullseye ejector rod (closer to the early Colt's), and I still don't like the super polished Colt hammer with the "enammel" finish on the top. Still, the fit and finish of this new gun is worthy of the name "Colt" and I am very proud to show it to my friends. Fit and finish are excellent and I will have it till the day I die. I put it next to my original 1851 Navy (manufactured in the fall of 1861- and I still shoot it!!) and I am very pleased to have 2 real Colts. For the longest time I wanted a "real" Colt, and just couldn't afford to buy one. In years past when I had more money, over the years I had bought several, and then foolishly sold them when things got tight (like when I sold my 1900 vintage Colt 45 to pay the doctor when my daughter was born. DUMB!!). I am glad that Colt again makes a quality product, and glad that for a short time 2 years ago I was able to afford one.

A lot of folks prefer the Rugers, and they are great guns. A lot of folks can only afford the Italian guns, and they two are awesome in quality (when it came time to ante up the $1250 for my Colt I felt a moment of guilt and almost bought a Great Western II. Awesome little gun for the price). My advice, buy the best you can afford, and shoot it with pride, wether it is a Colt, USFA, Ruger, Uberti etc.  Unlike the old days of a few years back I don't think you will find a junk gun in the bunch.

[shieldsmt]

Glad you stirred the pot. Again, I have owned Colt SAA's, third gen.  I own two USFA's, one I bought used from a poster on this site and the other brand new from USFA through my Montana FAA.  None of the Colts shot point of aim.  Fit and finish was bad to OK.  The USFA's are dead on, best metal to metal fit I'veseen on anything.  I'll never sell them.  I sold all the Colts.  I need (want) one more USFA.  A 5.5" in 44 wcf (the others are 45 Colt).  If they cost more than the Colt I'd still buy them instead.  If you are looking at one or the other you'd be making the right decision to go with the USFA. 

[Half Moon Tune]

Shieldsmt, thank you for your reply. As I remember, My USFA Peacemaker had to be sighted in. The front sight was left too high intentionally so you could file it down to match the load you wanted, and the gun shot several inches to the left. I took a target to the gunsmith to show him and he turned the barrel into the frame about 1/16" or so. It has since then shot true to form. A few years back these type of adjustments were standard, regardless of what make of single action you purchased. I gather from what others have said that this is no longer the case with the USFA guns, just another extra that they see to, to make their gun more competitive with the Colts.

[Marshal Deadwood]

I dont see how'it'd be possible to have a better SAA than my USFA 7 1/2", .45colt. well,,of course multiple barrel lengths and calibres,,all from USFA.
The best, period.

MD

[Rowdy Fulcher]

Marshal Deadwood
I will have to argue  with you on the BEST choice ? that would be a USFA prewar in a 5 1/2 44wcf   
  I LOVE all my USFA pistols

[kcub]

I bought a Colt blue/cch 4.75" 2 years ago and it was rough to the point that the hammer wouldn't always hit the primer hard enough to detonate.  It did shoot right to point of aim though.  I got a good smith to finish the job Colt started and now its a great gun.

Last month I bought 2 nickel 7.5" Colts, one .45, one .357.  Both are near perfect right out of the box.  Great fit and finish, slick actions, both shoot dead on to point of aim.  At the same time I handled a new USFA nickel .45 and the action was quite rough, not impressive at all for an expensive Colt knockoff to me.  I also handled a used nickel 2nd generation Colt nickel .45 and it was also no where near as smooth as the current 3rd gens nor was the fit and finish in the same class.  Investment wise I should have bought the 2nd generation Colt but it was that perfect 3rd gen gun that called and seduced me and I made the right choice.

The point to this being that yes, 3rd generation Colts have had spotty quality in the past, but the best ones are being made right now and come in the blue cardboard Colt custom shop box.

[Shadow Catcher]

i know i been asking a lot of questions that you all have probably seen a billion times but I am new to single actions and was wondering if I am going to spend over $1000 should I go with the usfa or a colt. Thanks

Purposely ignoring all the stuff before - it's really pretty easy to decide.

Do you want to own a Colt - or a good copy of a Colt.

All the other rationalization and justification is just that - people explaining
why their copy of a Colt is as good or better than a Colt.

As old Will once said - "me thinks the Lady doth protest too much" . . . . .

I've a new third gen Colt - excellent gun - going to get a set of ivories real soon -
a good gun all around and its the real deal . . . no explaining required!

My Rugers are great toy guns for playing games - my Colt is a Colt . . . same for my 1911's -
every one to date has been a Colt -

Spend your money on a Colt - even if you have to spend a few more to make it perfect -
it will always be a Colt. . . amd you may not have to spend a dime - they're pretty darn
good fresh out of the oven . . ..

What's to think about . . . .

Shadow Catcher

[Marshal Deadwood]

Rowdy,,,lad,,,I just was never a 5 1/2 barrel man. I know lots love'em,,but im a 7 1/2 barrel fella. Just my 'thang.'...but ain't  these USFA's the perfect SAA....1
Lifes too short not to shoot the best,,,,that rules out Colt third gens for me.

MD

[shieldsmt]

Third Gen Colt is a late 1970's modified copy of the SAA when it comes right down to it. The USFA is more Colt than the General Dynamics / Colt Industries guns. USFA is consistent, passionate, committed. My opinion.

[Old Doc]

Kinda depends on what you want to leave to your grandkids. In my case, the decision is easy. He's 8 months old and his name is Colt.

[Ten Wolves Fiveshooter]

Kinda depends on what you want to leave to your grandkids. In my case, the decision is easy. He's 8 months old and his name is Colt.

         Doc, my decision was easy too, I named my kid Great Western ll, I hope he can live up to the name, but I know he can.


                     tEN wOLVES

[Marshal Deadwood]

Doc, they ain't much resale on boys. Trust me on this one. 

MD

[Colt Lover]

Colt.

The only thing that's a Colt, is a Colt. Not Uberti, USFA, and certainly not Rooger.

[Doc Sunrise]

The saddest thing to this whole "controversy" is to see how loyal people can be to any company, yet those companies themselves lose their way and lose some of their customer loyalty along the way.  Unfortunately for Colt, being around for some 174 years they have lost their way a few times, and have opened the door to competition.  That competition has created some great companies and great customer loyalty for themselves, and it also has stirred Colt enough to come back and try again.

That being said, I believe USFA has one major advantage over Colt.  USFA seems to work with its customers to not only create traditional products and many variations of those traditional products, but it has also created some new products. 

[RRio]

Doc,

To me, there is no controversy any more. When I think of USFA, I automatically think of the highest quality SAA on the market.

Also to me, I want a historically accurate SAA and the USFAs fit that bill better than the new Colts.The beveled cylinders and BP frames are special order items from Colt.

The little pony on the grips or on the frame just doesn't mean much to me anymore, because any knowing, truthful six-gun aficionado cannot deny the quality of USFA.

[Colt Lover]

Doc,

To me, there is no controversy any more. When I think of USFA, I automatically think of the highest quality SAA on the market.

Also to me, I want a historically accurate SAA and the USFAs fit that bill better than the new Colts.The beveled cylinders and BP frames are special order items from Colt.

The little pony on the grips or on the frame just doesn't mean much to me anymore, because any knowing, truthful six-gun aficionado cannot deny the quality of USFA.

Actually, any knowing, truthful six-gun aficionado cannot deny the quality that Colt makes today. And, would you rather have your USFA that's suppose to be so much like the Colt 1st gen, or just actually have a Colt 1st gen?

[RRio]

Actually, any knowing, truthful six-gun aficionado cannot deny the quality that Colt makes today. And, would you rather have your USFA that's suppose to be so much like the Colt 1st gen, or just actually have a Colt 1st gen?

For shooting, The USFA because of the modern metallurgy. And now-a-days, I doubt I could afford a first generation BP framed Colt.
Don't get me wrong, I don't dislike Colts, I'm just not gonna pay extra for the little horse.

[Colt Lover]

Let me guess, you're a gun dealer and you sell USFA.

Why do USFA guys always !@#$% about Colt but not Ruger. Ruger isn't even close to being the real thing.

I don't care what you shoot, but don't start mouthing off to others about what they shoot.

Colt made junk for awhile. I have a SAA that is proof of that. However, they've gotten their act together in recent years and their current guns are of very high quality. That can't be denied. I don't think anyone would be dissatisfied with a so-called fourth gen.

And yes, 1st gens can still be shot and shot well.

[RRio]

Let me guess, you're a gun dealer and you sell USFA.

Why do USFA guys always !@#$% about Colt but not Ruger. Ruger isn't even close to being the real thing.

I don't care what you shoot, but don't start mouthing off to others about what they shoot.

Colt made junk for awhile. I have a SAA that is proof of that. However, they've gotten their act together in recent years and their current guns are of very high quality. That can't be denied. I don't think anyone would be dissatisfied with a so-called fourth gen.

And yes, 1st gens can still be shot and shot well.

Don't recall myself "mouthing off to others about what they shoot". Just giving the reasons I choose to shoot USFA.

And no, I am not a USFA dealer, but I am a gunsmith that specializes in SAAs, whether they be Colt, USFA, Ubertis, or Pieattas, and I have been doing that since 1978.

Also, I said nothing 1st gens not be shot.

[Blackpowder Burn]

Colt Lover -

I think your handle says it all.  Are you interested in a discussion, or do you just want to rant at people that have other opinions?  The folks in this forum generally enjoy a good civil discussion with different points of view.  We all learn something from them.