NWMP 1876 Decision

[gto364cid]

New to the forum, I'm looking to get a replica NWMP 1876 in 45-75.  I'd probably go for the Cimarron/Uberti, but I can get the Chaparral for less than $800.  Is it really much worse and does Chaparral have a presence in the US for warranty work?  Thanks

[Hobie]

I have the Chaparral and I like mine.  Get the Uberti.  Uberti/Cimarron have a customer service presence Chaparral doesn't have.

[Grizzly Adams]

I have the Chaparral and I like mine.  Get the Uberti.  Uberti/Cimarron have a customer service presence Chaparral doesn't have.

+1 Sound advice! 

[Garret]

I can vouch for the Cimarron/Uberti  as I opted for it after having trouble locating a Chaparral in .45-75.  That was last spring and now I'm seeing the Chaparrals available.  The fit and finish on the Uberti are fantastic and I just had it out for the first time to plink with some BP rounds I loaded myself.  It cycled flawlessly and I received a nice thump after every round.  Quite a bit different from the .44-40!  I'll be getting down to some serious shooting at target soon.

There are two drawbacks to the Uberti that come to my mind.  One is the high gloss varnish on the wood.  If you don't mind refinishing that's not a problem.  The wood on mine has some really nice grain in it and will be really pretty once I strip it off and oil finish it.  The other issue is the rear sight.  I took it for granted that Cimarron meant what they said when they advertised having sent an original to Uberti to copy.  I posted on the forum about the interesting variant sight Cimarron was using, and was corrected about my mistaken assumption.   Unfortunately it turns out they didn't send a NWMP example so the rear sight is not correct for this version of the carbine.   I have yet to find any source for a Spanish Meter sight to replace.  I have contacted Chaparral in Italy and they referred me to Marstar in Canada and CDNN here in the US, but no help offered in getting ahold of a sight from any of the three. 

There are a couple of alternate sights that the first NWMP Carbines had that I'm considering for a replacement.  I have no reservations about the Cimarron as both Hobie and Grizzly posted they have customer service here in the U.S..  Good luck with your decision and welcome to the forum and the wonderful world of the Winchester '76!

[larryo_1]

Garret:
One piece of advice is that if or when you do decide to refinish the wood.  DO NOT sand it off but rather scrape it off with a piece of plastic.  Then use steel wool or verrrrrrry fine sand paper.  The wood will have to be died before the final  final finish.  When I did mine I used Linseed oil and alot of hand rubbing.  The die I used was a leather die that I can't remember the name of right now.  I could go out to the shop and find the bottle but am sort of handicapped as I just had a total knee replacement a week ago or so and am not too mobile.  Griz can probably tell you who did the original write-up on this proceedure and the name of the die that fellow used.  All I know is that my wood really turned out super and looks more original that an original.

[gto364cid]

Looks like it's unanimous, thanks guys!