[CraigC]

If it is a Colt, what does that mean? To me it's still a Uberti assembled domestically. Which means they have better case colors and bluing but are they on par with a purely domestic produced gun? Most gunsmiths say no. An early USPFA is still a USPFA but everybody considers the later domestic guns to be much better, for various reasons. Because you can only build a gun as good as its parts. Would you not look at a Colt SAA differently if it were made from parts sourced from Uberti? I'm sure you would. Would it be as good as a new production domestic Colt? Nope. It would be different if Uberti's were widely regarded as equal or superior quality but they are not. Good guns and a good value but not 'as' good.

IMHO, a Colt SAA costs a lot more than a Uberti replica but it's a lot better gun. A Colt 2nd or 3rd generation percussion gun costs a little more than a replica and it's a little better gun.

The Winchester leverguns are a little different because Miroku builds a better levergun than Winchester has in 100yrs. They're also clearly stamped "Made in Japan".

 

[CraigC]

All the Uberti's have fake case colors. Some are better than others, some almost look like the real thing. There's no mistaking the difference and that was what I was referring to about better finishes. I don't see a difference between any of the importers and I have guns from all of them.

I've also spoken to custom gunsmiths who think that the 2nd and 3rd Colt's are no better for overall quality than a new Uberti. That for a custom gun that gets refinished anyway, there is no advantage to building them off Colt's, versus new Uberti guns. It's worthy of note that Turnbull can apply authentic finishes to a Uberti just as easily as a Colt. They're working on my newly engraved Cimarron Open Top as we speak.

 

[CraigC]

I don't know about Colt percussion guns but I can sure as hell tell the difference between a USFA made of domestic versus Uberti parts. HUGE difference.