Older Uberti Quality Question

[bsparker]

I have my eye on an older Uberti Cattleman in 357, dated 1971. Stamp says, A. Uberti & C. Gardone V.T. Italy on the barrel and LA Dist. Inc. NYC - NY on the frame. The color-case hardening and brass caught my eye.

I'll be using this with .38sp and as a casual shooter.

Are there any concerns with this era of Uberti? Are they generally good/consistent quality?

 

[CraigC]

Don't have one that old. Got my first new in 1986. If it's cheap and passed the inspection, I'd take it but given a choice, I'd rather have a newer gun. Both Uberti and Pietta have made dramatic improvements to their guns over the years but especially in the last 10.

 

[bangswitch]

Uberti has always been a quality firearms maker. They are all forged steel frames and cylinders, new ones since about 2000 (when Uberti was purchased by Beretta) are CNC milled, but the action parts are still and always have been hand fitted.

If the one you're looking at doesn't show obvious wear from mishandling or extreme use, and the action works properly and smoothly, It should be a good shooter, especially if you're sticking to .38 Spl loads. The 1873 Cattleman is made exactly to the original Colt patent drawings for the SAA "Peacemaker". The only deviation has been in the newer guns that have one of two changes made to add a safety to the hammer. That change can be retrofitted back to the original 4-click hammer.

I don't know how much is being asked for the one you're looking at, but a brand new Uberti Cattleman II can be had for around $650, so I wouldn't pay more than 2/3 of that on the one you're looking at.

 

[Blackpowderwarrior]

I have one in 44 magnum. In handles all standard 44 mag loads quite well.

 

[CraigC]

I have one in 44 magnum. In handles all standard 44 mag loads quite well.

Real nice case colors on that one.

 

[Blackpowderwarrior]

Real nice case colors on that one.

Thanks brother she shoots a dream as well

 

[Jackrabbit1957]

Uberti makes a decent product. The newer percussion revolvers have nicely fitted and finished internal parts. Uberti starts to tune them then stops about halfway through the process. Once the pistol is tuned and setup properly they are great guns.

 

[Jim Watson]

Ray Ordorica once wrote that period revolvers were better fitted, because they were for serious social purposes.
A repro in the sporting goods department has less demanding duty.

 

[CraigC]

Ray Ordorica once wrote that period revolvers were better fitted, because they were for serious social purposes.
A repro in the sporting goods department has less demanding duty.

They also had to be hand fitted because the machining was so coarse.

Probably a lot of truth in that though. Consumer expectations factor in heavily and these guns are largely just props and range toys. People expect repros to be cheap (they really expect everything to be cheap). Look at all the uproar over USFA's pricing. It didn't matter that they were head & shoulders above Colt in quality. Yet they still get mad if they have to have the arbor fixed on a $300 Uberti. It never makes sense.

 

[Blackpowderwarrior]

My cattleman was built in 1972 and the build quality is great, it's a excellent gun.