I guess this is a "Schofield" reproduction?

I think I'd like to have one of these guns. Haven't seen one in person - only pictures.

If anyone has one, I would appreciate your opinions as to quality, fit & finish, and shootability (accuracy, etc.) before I drop $1,000 on one.

Thanks.

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Lorin

The vast majority of Schofield reproductions out there will be Uberti. Smith & Wesson did a brief run a while back, but unless you're dead-set on having one chambered in .45 Schofield and carrying the genuine S&W stamps (and have a healthy gun budget) a Uberti is your best bet.

Mine is the 5" model, which I've heard called the Wells Fargo configuration. It's chambered in .45 Colt and was imported by Stoeger.



The gun is overall blued with case hardening on the trigger guard, hammer, and latch. The coloring isn't especially vibrant but it is there. The grips are plain walnut without gloss and there's a copy of an ordnance inspector's stamp on both.

It's easy enough to shoot recoil-wise, and my uncle once demonstrated that the accuracy of the gun probably exceeds that of the shooter; he hit a 12x12 target offhand at a range of ~75 yards. It's also a hefty chunk of steel. I love mine.

That said, there are a few considerations.

First, even if it's built with modern steel it's still not recommended that you feed it anything other than cowboy loads. There's been some debate on just how warm they can be loaded, but so long as you aren't buying it looking for Ruger-like indestructability you'll fine.

Second, any holster you buy needs to come no higher than the cylinder. I carried mine for a few days in Colorado in a generic Hunter rig, and every time I seated it the holster lip hit the latch and tried to break the gun open. As an aside, I'm not sure if these models can fire without the latch fully closed - it seems reasonable to assume so, given the length of the firing pin - so always make sure you've got it locked up before you pull the trigger.

Third, if you're buying one for speed you might be advised to go to an SAA style. The Schofields definitely turn heads at the range and reload easy. Shooting...not so much. It's a long reach for the thumb (for me anyway) shooting one-handed. This may be not a problem for two-handed shooters. Can't say I've ever tried that; there's just something wrong about shooting an 1875 design from a Weaver stance as I see it.

Overall I'd say the pros outweigh the cons. Like I said, I love my Schofield. One of these days I'd like to pick up a Russian model for its mate.

I mean to do a formal review on it at some point, though that may be a ways off yet.

Not sure if this helps. I'm not an expert by any stretch of the imagination, but if you have any specific questions I'll take a crack at answering those.

Recently bought one imported and marked Navy Arms. Was hesitant to buy anything made by Uberti but it is very well made paid under $700.00 like new in the box.

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Len

I like my Uburti Schofield for both shootability and looks/fit-finish. The throat does seem to build up crude a bit and cause it to spit, but as long as it is kept clean I have had no issues with it. Suprisingly accurate, as I have hit an 8" or so block of wood at a paced ninety yards free hand. Fun shooters.
C'sD

I just worked on a Uberti today, an 1858 Target Carbine, blackpowder, in .44. Very easy to work on, simple design, good materials, could use a bit more finishing in places before assembly but not near as bad as some firearms I've seen. Main spring was busted, but I could tell that the owner had been "cowboying" it, spinning the cylinder and fanning the hammer, guess he's seen too many old Wild Wild West movies. Got an email in to a company that sells parts for a lot of these replica firearms for a new main spring, gonna set me back a whole $8.

John Frederick Bell is very dead-on.

On the holsters that "impinge" upon the latch, I just trim a cutout so the handgun fits better.

I have two Uberti 5 inch Schofields and one 7 inch.

I would not shoot anything other than "cowboy load" type loads. If you reload you might want to drop down even a bit more.

I load mine with actual Schofield brass to avoid shooting any thing too hot in .45 Colt (there I didn't say LONG Colt!!). And I load those Schofields with a 250 grain cast bullet to about 750 fps. Still a potent load but a bit less "battering" on the top-break action.

There is not much variance in the ability to adjust the sights if the weapon does not print close to point of aim for you.

I have seen the S&W "remakes" against the Uberti reproduction and the fit and finish was not much different.

If you shop around you might find a good Uberti Schofield in the $700.00 price range.

The Schofield does not seem to be too bad a "reach" for my thumb in CAS style "duellist" which is shooting and cocking one handed. However the Russian model (I have one) is definitely designed for an orangutan(g?). I must flip the handgun up to access the hammer.

Uberti (marked Beretta) also made a short run of a copy of the S&W New Model Number 3 with adjustable sights. It was called the "Laramie". I have one of them in the 6 1/2 inch barrel length. The hammer is easier to access than the Russian but of all the Uberti "S&Ws" I prefer the Schofield for duellist/one-handed shooting as the grip profile is close to a Colt/Clone SAA profile.

Be very careful in buying one used. Cimarron tried to beat Navy Arms in introducing a Schofield and they went to Armi San Marco to have them made. They were touted as being more "correct" in dimensions to the original models...HOWEVER they were badly fitted although nicely finished. They had a bad habit of not working well or not working at all. Cimarron recalled them and the rest were jobbed out to other dealers until the "run" by ASM was dried up. It is generally suggested you bypass any Armi San Marco made Schofields, regardless of who distirbuted them.

Here's pics of my Uberti top-breaks. Good luck in your search.

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Have guns...will shoot'em.

Nice looking revolvers.
Do they use a transfer bar system? or do they have the firing pin on the hammer like the originals with some other 'safety' incorporated like the Colt Open Top repros.

Just assuming there is some sort of safety built into the imports,,perhaps not!

All the Uberti guns I've seen have had the old style hammer-mounted pin. Can't speak for the S&W and Beretta offerings.

That said, if I can turn up the manual that came with mine, I seem to recall it making reference to some sort of safety modification. I'm going to say it's something to do with the lockwork, but...don't quote me on that.

John Frederick Bell,

The Uberti S&W clones (and I think this is in all of them) have a rebounding hammer setup. Additionally there is supposedly a hammer block inside the action that is released when the trigger is pulled and held down to fire.

BUT, it does cause problems because the Italians are "loose" in their craftmanship. I have heard of folks whose Uberti S&W clones had a bad trigger pull until the hammer block safety was removed. The rebounding hammer still works after the removal has been done.

I can say that my Uberti Laramie had the "safety" and fresh out of the box in the FFL's shop it would not allow the hammer to fall. We removed it right then and there and it has functioned perfectly since that time.

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Have guns...will shoot'em.

Thanks. Couldn't remember exactly - just knew there was some sort of factory modification relative to the originals.