I will answer that as NO if in “good” your meaning USA parts. It’s still a good gun, but the 20xxx serial is a very early gun, definitely Uberti parts,not the much more desirable and more expensive USA parts USFA. Looking closely at the frame to grip frame and trigger guard fit, and stock fit to frame, typical Uberti parts fit of that time. Nice colors and finish which is what USFA was REALLY offering with their gun at that time.

I think the asking price is about right for the gun. 45LC 4-3/4” is a popular configuration. No mention of box and mention of minor blemishes.

 

Thank you! Yes... I meant US parts. I had a feeling that this was built with Uberti parts just based on the price but I thought it might have been s later model . Appreciate the info!

 

Ben, I cannot read the address line. YAHOODY on another site detailed the serial number reference which lead me to believe what you know.

Would it say USPFA vs USFA?

 

Bill, the USPFA marking was only used on the very early USFA guns. There were a few years in there where the guns had uberti parts but were marked USFA. I have not ever seen a 4 3/4“ with a one line address tho? I’m sure WWYS can answer for us. Did they make many 4 3/4” with one line addresses?

 

Would this serial number range #20xxx still have the hammer block safety?

 

USFA 4 3/4" guns will all have a 2 line address. Typically a USFA gun will not have a hammer block safety but a USPFA gun will/can depending on the production number and time frame.

USPFA was the original firearms company name until sued by Colt when USPFA changed their name to USFA in 2000. No clue how many guns USPFA produced but all were Uberti parts guns.

Between 2000 and 2010 according to BATF, USFA produced a total of 38,701. I also have those numbers broke down by year and caliber. I would guess by the data and serial numbers I have collected over the years that a full 25% if not more of the total USFA production were made from at least some Uberti parts.

True USA production of their "premium model" guns did not start till after 22,200. Although the earliest gun I have seen that was out of sequence and still NIB and not returned to the factory was 21,154. I tend to only look at USFA Premium guns with numbers past 22,300 and Rodeos later than a B prefix on the 3 digit serial numbers.

One thing how ever is written in stone with USFA....."buy the gun". Don't buy the story, don't buy the box, don't by the paper work and don't buy the serial number if it is close to the transitional time frames. "Buy the gun".

 

The market on these early USFA Ubertis/parts gun has been kind of interesting lately. I’ve watched a few of these early “premium” models on the big named auction sites sell upwards of $1,300.00 in the last few months. Not sure if this is indicative of uninformed buyers or folks that legitametely feel they’re “worth” that. Food for thought, a newly manufactured, base model, Uberti is going to run you around $500.00. With the newfangled safety garbage now standard on all their offerings, you will need to invest about $125.00 in replacement parts and be fairly comfortable tinkering with your gun to get the thing back to “proper” model-p status. Now for cosmetics, if your a stickler for traditional bone/charcoal case colors, you’re looking at another $250.00-$500.00 to send the gun off to a reputable shop to have the frame/hammer color case hardened the “right” way. And then there’s those dreaded high gloss, red stained stocks. Looking at some serious time and effort to build some more traditional looking one piece walnuts yourself, or your sinking another $250.00 min to have a pair custom built/fitted by someone with the proper know-how. Does make you wonder if $1,200.00 for one of these earlier USFA SA’s is an unreasonable price to pay for a shooter with all the cosmetic bells and whistles...

 

The gun in question might have left the factory as a 7 1/2" later shortened to a 4 3/4". No box/label invites speculation.

 

Good point, AlanC. The style and label of original box would have told the tale. The black hinged box of this era came in three box lengths for the respective barrel length and the white and blue label preprinted to the caliber and barrel length.


Example

 

I’m looking closely at the trailing edge of the front sight. I think it does look more like a newer style front sight instead of the canted rear edge of the Uberti parts front sight. No doubt that this should have been all Uberti parts gun being that early of a serial. If that front sight is not original, that explains a barrel shortening and the one line address.


What do you guys think?

 

Agreed on the front sight profile WWYS. Also notice the discrepancy in bluing wear on the ejector rod housing vs muzzle.

 

In my experience, the end of the e-rod housing always gets lots of wear if the gun has been carried/stored in a leather holster. Of course, having a cut-down barrel would make the end of the barrel show less wear.

 

The gun in question might have left the factory as a 7 1/2" later shortened to a 4 3/4". No box/label invites speculation.

All in, it does indeed invite some speculation. This is a odd gun no matter how you look at it.

By the look of the lighting in the photos shows an ejector rod housing that is worn. The seller and Ben's enlarged photos do seem to show a lot of wear "

It does have what looks like holster wear on the bluing at the right side forward portion of the case ejector housing (visible in photos). " ​

Barrel crown is as factory as it gets. And the fact the cylinder end looks unfired brings me back to never say never. USPFA/and early USFA guns were many times literally hand made "as in lunch box guns". In other words they built what was ordered from the parts they had. Uberti didn't start out with a two line address on the 4 3/4" barrels. And I'd bet this is a factory one line address 4 3/4" barrel.

Hard to disagree with the photos. "Buy the gun"...is my punt here. A 100% American made Rodeo can be had in that same price range easy enough.

A few of the reasons, the cast hammers and checkering, and the poorly cut rear v notch sight, is why I don't intentionally buy these guns. Current Uberti gun are better there most of the time.

I'd vote for a clean 20xxx series USFA gun. I do believe the front sight profile (more US than Uberti of the time) is correct for the time frame as most early USFA guns were BP frames. What I had not noticed until now is this is actually a very rare (as in VERY rare) USFA version...cross pin frame and V notch sights. I just bought two USFA guns and don't need a third today. But for any USFA collector if this actually is a V notch and cross pin (we know it is cross pin) it is one of what I think is the "holy graill" USFA guns.

 

I don't know if it's one of the good ones or not hearsdriver, but I can tell you that it's one beautiful looking Single Action.

One of the prettiest I've seen.

Bud

I have read mixed reviews when ti comes to the USFA single action revolvers. Is this one of the "good" ones?
https://www.gunsamerica.com/919634878/US-Firearms-Single-Action-Army-4-3-4-45-Colt-Beautifu.htm

 

Thanks for all of the feedback. Im just trying to educate myself on the USFA's. Im not sure Im ready to pull the trigger on this one but it does look beautiful to me.

 

If I were in the USA I'd grab that one up in a heartbeat.

Good luck, and let us know what you decide would you?

Bud

 

as a quick comparison here is what the late USA made guns look like...

 

My first thought on the gun was Its an early gun.. lunch box parts type thing too.. I’ve got some early USFA black grips where USFA would take Colt grips and sand off the rampant Colt in the circle and put the US logo in there.. and they left the eagle on it. So no telling ..
But. The more that’s been pointed out, the more I have my doubts. The amount of wear on that ejector rod housing end , and the rest of the gun looks brand spanking new, unfired. I just can’t see the front edges of the cylinder staying that new if the ejector housing is getting holster rubbed that badly. Since they’re not shooting it, the cylinder shouldn’t be getting rotated much and should get a spot rubbed too probably. I tend to find that USFA guns that remain unfired - more often the owner has the box, but that’s not hard evidence since one may keep the gun safe queened and the box gets lost in a closet and disappears one day.
Early USFA grips that started out as Colt grips. CUSFA grips ???



BUT !!!!
That one line address , perfect muzzle and very worn ejector housing is adding up to 1 + 1 = Collector gun?? or Frankengun ?? One or the other and I’m not sure.

 

The V notch rear sight groove with crosspin frame is extremely rare . The Uberti frames of USPFA were I think all Vnotched, but all BP framed. So I agree that this gun is rare in that aspect, although looks like somebody or some machine was learning as rough as that channel looks.
That I know of, I have only one gun that meets that V Notch/crosspin frame criteria and that’s my Old Armory Original model USFA. They were the most expensive standard production gun made late in usfa’s career... and as one might expect, not many made and sold not too well when a premium model was hundreds cheaper.
I don’t know if my other v sight/crosspin framed gun counts really, because it’s an Omni snub model instead.

Old Armory Original





Omni snub

 

The USPA and/or USFA models are kinda like me and karate: I can yell, but I don't hit very good!

This is the only one of either that I have or have been around. Bought it a couple of years ago as it was/is NIB, unturned and in .44 Special. I"ve Colt SAA's in .44 Spcl that shall use instead of this one - leaving this one NIB for upcoming generations, let them have the enjoyment of firing the first round!

S/N range is 25,xxx. With box, white box end label and paperwork: Safety & Instruction Manual, Lifetime Warranty card, The World of USFA card in the plastic holder, green felt USFA sock, black box and shipping sleeve. S/N on box and shipping sleeve match that of the gun. Being a later made gun: US or Uberti parts or both?

I'd speculate it's one of the later ones made, going by the S/N 20,xxx comment. No idea of when it was made - anyone care to comment on when made, it's appreciated. Hammer checkering is a bit finer than the one shown in a previous Post. Would the later ones have a cast hammer or not? Square notch rear sight. Double line address on barrel.

Again, I'm not familiar with the USFPA or USFA models, but maybe showing this will help some.
regards to all...

 

Ive got an early Birds head gripped gun that is plain to see that it’s got the Uberti style front sight, The rear edge of the front sight cants inward at the top and comes to a point almost.

 

Your serial 25xxx gun is well within the USA parts era, Silver tip. Being NIb complete and unfired, it should draw some strong interest in that caliber too.

 

What years were they made: From - to ?
Any particular place might be able to garner more information - other than in this splendid Forum of course!!

Kinda answered some of my own question!!
Why 'wikipedia' of course! Along with some other 'net research.
2011 looks to be their last year.
Not sure when they first began making 'em though?

 

USPFA (US Patent Firearms ) was the original name in 1995 Colt sued over the word Patent and the name became USFA in 1996. Guns were first all Uberti parts and then to a mix in early 2000’s. By serial 23xxx give or take .. USA parts. Presumably all USA parts until end of production in 2011.
It’s pretty tough to know any exact production date unless you have a USFA letter (rarely the case) or maybe a fired casing in the envelope that would have a date typed on it ( I’ve gor a couple of Rodeos with fired casings) , or original sales receipt, or I have some that I called USFA and asked during the time they were still in business. Box styles and serials can give a sort of guess. The Uberti parts - USA parts is the factor that buyers/owners mostly concentrate on.

 

Much appreciated your time is, thank you WWYS,
In doing some research, since my above Reply, there was at one time quite the whizzing contest going on
in the Forum here, which dog was better?
Sometimes I have to agree with a good friend's view: "People, an experiment that went wrong!"
I'd say just be glad 'someone' was making them and enjoy 'em as they are: the same thing . . . only different!!

 

225XX is generally a safe start of the USA made guns. Or as Ben wrote 23XXX is a better bet. 25XXX is a mid range USA gun and stellar production value. 28958 and 959 were engraved 7.5" guns and the highest numbers I have seen. 29XXX is getting close to the last of the production numbers for a Premium gun. The last (27XXX+) guns are, or at least seem to me, the cream of the crop from USFA.

 

Thanks Yahoody...