A Glimmer of Hope?

[mtone]

Slainte,
Send an email to the owner saying something like "Mr Donnelly'
I ordered a pair of single actions from ______ about 18 months ago.  I need a straight yes or no answer, will I receive these guns within the next 60 days?  If not when.  Please don't pass this on to your sales people.  I need the answer from you.

[Major 2]

Texagun, obviously not somebody I owe an answer to.

Coffinmaker

That's the way I see it.... too

IMHO you have earned your credibility 

[Pettifogger]

Slainte,
Send an email to the owner saying something like "Mr Donnelly'
I ordered a pair of single actions from ______ about 18 months ago.  I need a straight yes or no answer, will I receive these guns within the next 60 days?  If not when.  Please don't pass this on to your sales people.  I need the answer from you.

That's about like asking a politician for a straight answer.

[mtone]

True but hold his feet to the fire.  Based on rumors and others that have posted, there are probably hundreds more in the same situation.  This has been going on since at least mid 2011, if not earlier.  If a closing is in the cards it would have happened months ago (last year?)

[Doc Sunrise]

My Father took ill in December, passed away in March, I have been renovating a home since May, and I sold my home in August.  In all that time conditions and scuttlebut for USFA is still going in one direction.  Doesn't look good!  USFA now has earned ALL HAT NO CATTLE status in my book.  However, USFA can be thanked for getting Colt straightened out.

[wileycoyote]

here's a 4-page thread over at Single-Actions Forum on this topic, for those who aren't already following it:

http://singleactions.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=sas&action=display&thread=8396

[Slainte]

Is no answer also answer

Would realy appreciate a answer !
Looking at the latest web site, I would not be surprised if in the very near future a no connection possible will pop up.

[Buckaroo Lou]

I haven't been here in awhile and this is the first I have heard about USFA's possible demise. Didn't the USFA folks use to monitor this forum? If they still do, they know what everyone is speculating and I would think they would let their loyal customers know something. They have to know what we are all thinking. Maybe they don't care. I am like you all, I am sure glad I have the ones I do have if there are going to be no more. Is it possible that the current economic situation ia a part of the reason?

[Deadeye Don]

I haven't been here in awhile and this is the first I have heard about USFA's possible demise. Didn't the USFA folks use to monitor this forum? If they still do, they know what everyone is speculating and I would think they would let their loyal customers know something. They have to know what we are all thinking. Maybe they don't care. I am like you all, I am sure glad I have the ones I do have if there are going to be no more. Is it possible that the current economic situation ia a part of the reason?

I haven't seen a thing from Gary Granger here in years.  I personally believe that the way USFA has ignored their base customers is a big reason they appear to be going under.

[texagun]

I haven't seen a thing from Gary Granger here in years.  I personally believe that the way USFA has ignored their base customers is a big reason they appear to be going under.

I have personally dealt with Gary Granger over the years, having purchased 2 USFA SA's directly from him and received excellent service both times.  If I called him, I always received updates on the progress of my guns and received both of them when promised.  Later I called and ordered some spare parts for my SA's to have on hand, and instead of sending me what I had ordered, he sent me TWO of everything I ordered at no cost for the extra items.  I thought that was rather nice and demonstrated to me that they valued their customers very highly and wanted to treat them well. In this current world of poor or NO customer service, I would rate the customer service I received from USFA among the very best.  Just my personal experience with USFA.

[J.D. Yellowhammer]

Me too. I've bought several USFA's from Gary with great results. The last were two Rodeos that he had specially made for me, since they weren't building .44-40 Rodeos at the time. When I got them the headspace was a few thousandths off. They took them back, adjusted the cylinders and put new barrels on them. 

It's just anecdotal evidence, but all my anecdotes with USFA have been first class.

When I was growing up, the USA was known worldwide for it's premier manufacturing quality. Throughout my life I've watched as less and less stuff is made here, and as quality has often gone downhill.  For me, USFA kept alive the tradition of a small, American company that cared about producing a first class product out of first class material. If they go under it's more than just losing a gun manufacturer--we're losing another little piece of our heritage. (climbing off the soapbox now...)

[wileycoyote]

you guys are right - when i spoke with gary directly, i ALWAYS received the best service anywhere. he is a real gentleman.

but i had no luck at all leaving voice messages with the front desk, or emailing the company's standard email address.

in my mind it was gary alone that made dealing with USFA possible at all. gary was great, but i can't say that for the rest of the firm.

USFA has produced the finest production firearms i've ever owned. sure glad i have the ones i do...

[Deadeye Don]

Ok, so why doesn't someone take the time to post a brief statement about what is going on with the company now or why didn't anyone come here in the past and tell us what was going on with other projects they had such as the Remington fiasco?  All I am saying is that if a company doesn't take the time to respond to their base customers to let us know what is going on, all they will have is rumors spreading far and wide.  Customers are always alot more loyal when they feel a company gives a hoot.

[Harley Starr]

Ok, so why doesn't someone take the time to post a brief statement about what is going on with the company now or why didn't anyone come here in the past and tell us what was going on with other projects they had such as the Remington fiasco?  All I am saying is that if a company doesn't take the time to respond to their base customers to let us know what is going on, all they will have is rumors spreading far and wide.  Customers are always alot more loyal when they feel a company gives a hoot.

Damn straight.

[Capt. John Fitzgerald]

After receiving the latest USFA "newsletter" today regarding the 20th Anniversary model, I went to Ten Ring Precision's web site to see what they had to offer.  Here is what I found;

The USFA single actions listed below are the last of the last.  There will probably never be any more of these high quality six-guns created.  I might be able to have a few more built, but the chances of that happening are slim to none so if you desire one of these fine USFA's I would "strongly suggest" you buy one "now."  The four single actions you see below will probably be gone within the next couple of weeks. Call for availability! (210) 494-3063

(August17, 2012) I HAVE BEEN PROMISED TWO USFA 20TH ANNIVERSARY SINGLE ACTIONS IN A MONTH OR SO.  THEY WILL BE IN 45 CALIBER, 5 1/2″ BARRELS, FULLY ENGRAVED, COLOR CASED AND BLUED. THESE ARE UNIQUE, BEAUTIFUL SINGLE ACTIONS.  THE PRICE WILL BE AROUND $4,200. Sorry, they are both sold as of (09-05-12)

[J.D. Yellowhammer]

They were saying the same thing a year ago. I'm not sure where they get their stock, but they've got a couple for sale now and recently sold a few. (most with light engraving, $1600). 

Bottom line, all we have is rumors and 3rd-person speculation.  These rumors have been around at least a year and so far USFA hasn't gone belly-up. Doesn't mean they won't, though. It's too bad they won't do anything to settle the issue, like a press release or something. The rumors have to hurt business (if there is any).

[sack peterson]

Odd to bother with an anniversary model if they don't intend to stay in business.   

Given the recent anecdotes it's been proper to expect that they will close their doors anytime now.  But since they haven't... yet... I wonder if "retooling" isn't sensibly explained as trying to get back to where they subbed out their component rendering.  Frames, barrels, cylinders, etc.

[Pettifogger]

They bought all new CNC machinery just a few years ago and had a production slowdown while they were getting the CNC's set up.  Why would they need new machinery when their production numbers are so low?  Doesn't seem likely they have wore out machinery when other companies make literally 100s of times the amount of guns as USFA and are still using the same machines.  I sure hope they stay in business 9although they long ago quit making replacement parts for my USFA Lightning rifle) as they build nice guns.  However, a glimmer of hope vs. grasping at straws are two different things.

[Graveyard Jack]

It will be truly sad if USFA goes away. Their product is without peer. That said, I'm glad I got the four guns I did but always wanted a Bisley Flat-Top Target model .44Spl or .38WCF. My latest is this .44Spl mildly engraved Turnbull model.

[sack peterson]

Yes, we probably have no reason to take "retooling" at face value.  It's obviously mere phraseology to some extent.  Something blithely told to customers who are waiting.

But insofar as it's a meaningful explanation, I wonder if it's better understood as them reimagining their mfg process to make it cheaper.   I don't think their price point was their biggest problem, but it was a problem.  A lot of that cost was built into rendering components that can no doubt be gotten cheaper  via domestic or foreign outsource.  Yes, it would be undoing a prior business decision at that point.

That is what it is.  As a fan, grasping at straws, idle speculation, trying to read the tea leaves... etc.