USFA 1851 Navy

[LonesomePigeon]

A USFA 1851 Navy just sold on gunbroker for $905.
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=512824498

I was bidding on it but it went out of my current price range. I know the fit and finish on these is very high quality, what I am really wondering is how good of shooters they are out of the box? If I was to send an Uberti to a good gunsmith would they be a able to make it shoot every bit as good as a USFA does out of the box? I'm speaking specifically of cap and balls.

[Capt. John Fitzgerald]

Lonesome,
I seriously doubt if there is any difference between an Uberti and a USFA '51 Navy as the USFA's were made up entirely of Uberti parts that were finished and assembled by USFA.  Only real difference was the quality of bluing and CCH.
CJF

[Coffinmaker]

Uberti Cap and Ball guns have some issues.  Out of the box, they will shoot.  The ball will go in the right direction.  If ALL you want it to do is shoot once in a while, out of the box may well serve you well. 
If, however, you want it to shoot well, be user friendly and perhaps seriously play the CAS game with it, it's going to need some serious TLC. 
While still a shingle hanging, practicing Gunsmith, I did not have the opportunity to fondle a USFA built Cap Gun.  USFA or not, if I
intended to shoot it more than once, It would have to come apart, be fully checked for tolerance and any shortcomings attended to.
Since it is begat from Uberti parts, I would expect shortcomings.  If built from ASM parts, shortcomings as well.  I would not expect
USFA Cap Guns to be "players" out of the box.
I hate to be the resident "nay-sayer,"  however, from a shooter's standpoint, I would not consider a USFA Cap Gun to be worth $900
either.  Remember, from a "shooter's standpoint."  Collectors, on the other hand are altogether different animals.  Pay whatever the
market will bare.

Coffinmaker

[LonesomePigeon]

Thanks for the replies. If USFA cap guns don't perform any better than Uberti then I guess I'm glad I didn't keep bidding. The first gun I ever got was a new Uberti Walker from Cabela's and I was pretty disappointed with it. The guide holes in the barrel that the two little frame pins are supposed to go into were drilled off center, making it impossible for the barrel to connect correctly to the frame. That's the kind of thing I was hoping to avoid by purchasing a USFA.

I still like the way the USFA look in terms of the finishes, the barrel address and the lack of proofmarks. Anybody know how many 1851 Navys USFA made? How often do USFA cap guns show up on the auction sites?

[Major 2]

Less than 50 is the number most associated, with the how many question...

I had one of the conversation prototypes, made by Dave Anderson ( I got from the 93 Shot Show )
It had ASM parts , I did shoot it... but sparingly, more because I knew parts would be an issue.
When anything USPFA  / USFA  mania started ..and was fever was rising I sold it , for some nutty numbers 

I couldn't help it the guy was insistent, and wanted it more than his cash 

[LonesomePigeon]

Less than 50 of the regular percussion '51 Navy were made? I thought it was less than 50 of the Richards-Mason conversion type but I thought the regular percussion type was a bit more common.

Sounds like you got a pretty good deal. You got to own it, shoot it and then pass it on, for a good sum.

[Jake C]

Thanks for the replies. If USFA cap guns don't perform any better than Uberti then I guess I'm glad I didn't keep bidding. The first gun I ever got was a new Uberti Walker from Cabela's and I was pretty disappointed with it. The guide holes in the barrel that the two little frame pins are supposed to go into were drilled off center, making it impossible for the barrel to connect correctly to the frame. That's the kind of thing I was hoping to avoid by purchasing a USFA.

I still like the way the USFA look in terms of the finishes, the barrel address and the lack of proofmarks. Anybody know how many 1851 Navys USFA made? How often do USFA cap guns show up on the auction sites?

Don't let a lemon gun turn you off to Uberti. They make solid firearms, in my experience. Sometimes the Open Tops need some work, but of the Uberti guns I've owned, I've only had (minor) issues with my new '51 Navy, and even those problems were easy to fix.

Even the best companies put lemons out there every now and then.

[Major 2]

Less than 50 of the regular percussion '51 Navy were made? I thought it was less than 50 of the Richards-Mason conversion type but I thought the regular percussion type was a bit more common.

Sounds like you got a pretty good deal. You got to own it, shoot it and then pass it on, for a good sum.

Correct to what I was alluding too , sorry for any confusion