Another Attempt to Keep BPC Alive

[Dave T]

I have a USFA single action revolver that I have owned for about 2 years but not fired until about 10 days ago. I got it for a very good price on GB (slipped under the radar) despite it being a desirable model. It's a 45 Colt with a black powder frame, sporting a 4-3/4" barrel and bullseye ejector.

I have one just like it in the "Pre-War" finish that has been my favorite gun to shoot as it feels and handles just like the 1st Gen Colts I once owned. It has what USFA called "Old Armory Bone Case and Armory Blue finish".


The gun I just fired for the first time was purchased as a back up and because it was several hundred dollars under valued. It has the standard bluing (a blue/black color) than the better finished example above. Still it is pleasing to the eye and upon close examination it hadn't been fired very much or it had been so thoroughly cleaned you couldn't tell the difference.


I had a set of fake ivory stocks that didn't fit the grip frames of any of my other USFA revolvers but I was delighted to find they fit this particular version nearly perfectly. I like the look and they were comfortable through 30 rounds of full powder black powder hand loads. And it shot minute of steel plate with every pull of the trigger.

I like this one so much it may become my regular shooter in that it will go to the range no matter what else I'm planning to shoot. The Pre-War isn't being retired, just on leave for a while. (smile)

Dave

 

[Miguel Loco]

Awfully nice pair!

 

[Mark_Mark]

Nice GUN! what do those bad boy run?

 

[Dirty Bob]

That. Is. Sweet! Fantastic score! I'm very happy for you! Great to see a beautiful pistol fall into the hands of someone who appreciates it as much as you obviously do. Thank you very much for sharing!

 

[1KPerDay]

Dang that’s a looker

 

[hawg]

Nice GUN! what do those bad boy run?

They haven't been made since 2011 and start around 1,800.00.

 

[Mark_Mark]

They haven't been made since 2011 and start around 1,800.00.

well dang! minus well get a real Colt SAA then

 

[paul harm]

And just what does a real Colt cost in that condition ? The OP was just showing us his guns - which he was proud of. He wasn't making a statement about cost. If you think that's too much, then buy a Colt. And, he never said what he paid.

 

[StrawHat]

well dang! minus well get a real Colt SAA then

Good luck finding a “…real Colt…” in that price range. In your price range, look at the Italian replicas.



This is one of mine, set up to my preferences.

Kevin

 

[hawg]

well dang! minus well get a real Colt SAA then

You'll pay the same money for a shooter grade. To get a real Colt that looks like Dave's you'll have to shell out at least another grand.

 

[Mark_Mark]

You'll pay the same money for a shooter grade. To get a real Colt that looks like Dave's you'll have to shell out at least another grand.

I had a few come my way when I was only interested in Plastic Guns. I’m sure a few more will come by now I’m interested. Let’s see what happens. My Ubering in Seattle has been profitable, so I’m back in the money for guns again!!!

 

[Kookla]

If memory serves, the USFA guns were considered to be better than the Colts.

@Dave T thank you for sharing those pics- they're beautiful.

 

[Dave T]

If memory serves, the USFA guns were considered to be better than the Colts.

@Dave T thank you for sharing those pics- they're beautiful.

The late production USFA single actions, like the two guns I pictured, are the equivalent of the 1st Gen Colts. The fit and finish is superior to the 3rd Gen Colt and some say even the 2nd Gen. Don't want to get in an argument about it, just wanted to share the good fortune I stumbled on, and of all places on GunBroker.

Dave

 

[.455_Hunter]

The story of USFA's downfall and transition to the .22 Zip is the stuff of nightmares.

 

[hawg]

The late production USFA single actions, like the two guns I pictured, are the equivalent of the 1st Gen Colts. The fit and finish is superior to the 3rd Gen Colt and some say even the 2nd Gen. Don't want to get in an argument about it, just wanted to share the good fortune I stumbled on, and of all places on GunBroker.

Dave

You did well. That's a nice pistola.

 

[Mark_Mark]

I’ll take any Colt! or USFA or Clone or Fake!

 

[1KPerDay]

The story of USFA's downfall and transition to the .22 Zip is the stuff of nightmares.

Indeed. Tragedy of epic proportions.

 

[Dirty Bob]

Indeed. Tragedy of epic proportions.

Ian, at Forgotten Weapons, calls it the Worst Gun Ever. His Zip 22 videos are a must-watch. How far USFA fell! It really makes me wish they'd stuck with what was working so well! Sad.

Forgotten Weapons: "USFA Zip 22: How a Garbage Gun Destroyed a Good Company"

Regards,
Bob

 

[Mark_Mark]

Ian, at Forgotten Weapons, calls it the Worst Gun Ever. His Zip 22 videos are a must-watch. How far USFA fell! It really makes me wish they'd stuck with what was working so well! Sad.

Forgotten Weapons: "USFA Zip 22: How a Garbage Gun Destroyed a Good Company"

Regards,
Bob

you don’t get rich selling hand crafted steel guns. You do by molding plastic and selling a bunch of it

 

[hawg]

USFA guns were expensive but they were excellent quality. They had their following. He may not have gotten rich off of them but I'll bet he lived comfortably off of them. He went bust with his cheap zip guns. He didn't even work all the bugs out before he started marketing them.

 

[Dave T]

The story I heard (or more likely read) on why USFA collapsed was two fold. An former employee on another forum said the way they built guns was the most expensive way possible, as Mark_Mark alluded to above. But the kicker/final straw was because USFA was in the middle of a deal to bring out the 1875 and 1890 Remington single actions. If my memory is correct it was a three way thing between USFA, Remington, and Uberti. Uberti would produce the forgings, Remington was authorizing the use of their name and possibly some funding, and USFA would build the guns. They even has some prototypes ready for the SHOT show. Remington backed out suddenly and the whole thing fell apart. It hit USFA hard financially (they supposedly had a lot invested already) and they folded as a serious gun maker (there's nothing serious about the stupid Zip thing).

I don't swear to all of that but it's how I remember it being explained. Sad story, what ever the details, and a loss to those of us who love these firearms.

Dave

 

[hawg]

You may be right. USFA was taking orders for 58 Remingtons in 08. If Remington backed out at the last minute they would have been in a nine line bind. OTOH the zip gun was the owners own design and I heard he was so enamored with it that he sold all the tooling for the SAA to build them. This is a USFA 58 Remington that was probably shown at the SHOT show.

 

[1KPerDay]

I suspect peyote or perhaps a CIA developed hallucinogen was involved. It’s the only thing that makes sense.

 

[BillKilgore]

Congrats @Dave T . They are fine looking pistols.