USFA aka US FIRE ARMS OUT OF Business??
 

The is one or two auctions on GB that are pumping their guns saying that there will be no more made. One auction wants $2800 for his pistol. The is one on this forum now for sale also stating the same thing .These single action colt "clones" were made with gorgeous case hardening from Turnbull and supposedly were better quality than the Colt produced single actions. They were made in Hartford and it was said they used old colt machinery. A call to USFA today was answered by stating that their backorders were going to take two years to fulfill and they are not out of business. Another forum had a post which said the equipment was sold and the employees fired. These US made pistols were high quality, beautiful blue and case colors and sold from $700 to $900. Does anyone know if there is any truth to this rumor that no more single actions will be made?
Thanks
Haris Goldman
SWCA2382

From what I have learned, USFA quietly phased out its SA manufacturing and is now exclusively promoting a .22 contraption. You can find it if you check the link to the USFA site, which is completely redesigned. Most USFAs, except for the Rodeo, were considerably more than $700-900. Speculators are now asking ungodly amounts for NOS models ... so be it. The company made fine pistols in low supply, which catered to a very small niche of high end SA enthusiasts. Tough to compete against Cimarron, Uberti, and Ruger in the SA marketplace.

I was looking for an SAA a couple months back and was considering the USFA. Word on the Colt forum was that they were closed or would close soon. I ended up buying an early 3rd gen Colt.

This link is still active:

U.S. FireArms - Old West Guns and Cowboy Action Shooting Rifles

That page only lists one single action model. Most of the links are not functioning, and it does not allow me to log into my account. I had received email about the .22 a few weeks ago, I did not see it mentioned on this site.

That's a shame-they looked to be beautiful guns.

What a loss. The finest SAAs made today, and they offered a pretty great selection of finishes and barrel lengths.

YEP, my gun dealer who probably sold over a thousand USFA's a year notified us that he can get no more from the factory. He is reduced to buying them on GB and then selling them in San Antonio. I have lost a few to him, HE HAS DEEP POCKETS AND I DID NOT WANT TO GET INTO A BIDDING WAR. I will just get them at his store. I have two 32-20's and they sold me a 327 cylinder. I have been trying to get a second one and forget it they told me. It is a sad day indeed:(

That's a shame as I was just contemplating getting their "Pre War" model, said to mimic the 1st Gen Colts. I had them build a 44sp for me a few years back.

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c4...d/000_0121.jpg

They are. The bluing on The one my dad has, is like old school. Deep.

this is sad, i wanted one just couldnt afford it. they were pricey but if i coulda ponied up the dough i woulda pulled the trigger

Isn't this the same reason Colt handguns disappeared originally? High quality, low supply and high cost. Priced themselves right out of business.

USFA COLT CLONES- I GOT LUCKY!!!
 

Today I was able to nail down 3 unfired USFA single actions from 800- 900 apiece. ALL are unfired, one is a Henry Nettleton 7 1/2 cavalry model, on is a 4 3/4 case hardened/blue with hard rubber grips and the last is a all blue 5 1/2 inch.

http://img546.imageshack.us/img546/472/p1090405.jpg

http://img542.imageshack.us/img542/5062/p1090406.jpg


http://img37.imageshack.us/img37/3386/p1090407.jpg

Uploaded with ImageShack.us

Thank you , my fellow smithophiles for letting me know something about these guns that are soon going to be scarce and run up in price

Good job Haris, score of the day, imo. :)

USFA was also going to make a copy of the Colt Woodsman post
war match target model in 4.5 inch and 6 inch barrel.

That never seemed to happen. It would have been nice if it did.
Who knows they could of sold a few thousand at least....

Haris ... That is a remarkable trifecta. The Nettleton is extremely hard to find. Not only will that trio appreciate in value, but you now have three incredible SAs to enjoy, all obtained at excellent prices.

You did well grasshopper!! Just try to get those on GB and they would of cost over $3,000 easily. Here are mine I bought this year, I have not even seen them yet!! Both are in 32-20 but it is funny, I do not have any ammo for them yet!

I did not have a picture of the Lend Lease so I got the picture from the brocedure. I also had the gunsmith fit a 45 colt to the lend lease. I have a Rodeo also coming in. Revolvers purchased this deployment

USFA 4
S&W 2

As far and repairs, I thought they would last forever!!

If you shoot them, you'll eventually need repairs. Will real Colt parts fit?

USFA
 

COMMENTS
Super nice pistols , Peyton, the Lend lease one is both pretty and super cool. Cant wait to have you post of pic of it in person.
Texas Star,your question as to colt parts fitting them, I have been told that they do and I dont know if its 3nd gen or 3rd gen ones. ALso, USFA;s website is down till tuesday but they still had parts available. Maybe its wise to get a few
Thanks for all the posts,
Haris1
SWCA 2382

I got mine. Ain't never gonna sell it, and I wish I had another.

http://i430.photobucket.com/albums/q...A-JBP3904a.jpg

Guys, if all this is true that they wont be made any more, right here is your oppertunity for the newest collector investment fad. When winchester quit a couple years ago remember the buying frenzey and how the prices shot up? Remember how the bidding war went on twinkeys a few weeks ago?

I guess not enough folks wanted to spend big bucks on an obsolete revolver design, no matter how sentimentally desirable.

By the way, I've got some investment-grade Twinkies I'll let go for the right money. :)

Guys, the demise of USFA is true. You can read more about it here:

http://www.cascity.com/forumhall/ind...c,36900.0.html

Basically it seems that the owner lost interest, or maybe was not turning a profit and decided to move on. They now manufacture a plastic .22 thingie. One of the members on the other forum actually drove to their factory, and was not allowed past the receptionist. They use to give tours to anyone that asked. The rumor is that they sold off all of their CNS mills, and laid off their work force.

Jared

Was a good source of parts to fix Colt SAA's too.
I think the guns were priced to close to the Colts for a long time and didn't sell enough of them.
Regardless of the quality,,people want them to say 'Colt' when it gets right down to it.
Too many promises of special projects and guns that never materialized too. Lots on the web site that never came to be.

If they stay around, they'll probably make stuff like that 22 plastic assault rifle thing they came out with. That's where the money seems to be unfortunetly.
Even Turnbull's making AR-10s.

This is what I heard, and that he is reasonably well to do and was doing it because he liked it and had fun, and when it stopped being as much fun he got out. Take that for what it's worth as something I read somewhere on the interweb.

It is a shame. They were darn nice guns and to my mind worth the money compared to what is out there.

That is my impression also. It was a hobby for this guy and when it quit being fun and became work, he bailed! Too bad, I had been saving up for another one if their SAA's. I will buy a Colt now.

A couple of years ago my wife got a yen for a purty SAA. After some calling around she got a 5 1/2" nickel SA in .45 Colt. I had to do just a bit of fitting with the hard rubber stocks, but upon inspection I was very impressed with the overall quality of the gun. She had a presentation case made, and since it was bought to be a safe queen it's unfired and likely to remain so.

It's a ringer for my 1881 Colt which, like me, is now retired. Its successor is a stainless NM Vaquero, which I'm quite pleased with. The USFA is one beautiful gun, but the Vaquero at half the price is a lot of gun for the money.

If USFA bites the dust it'll be a shame, though.

Here's an excerpt from the website of Alex Hamilton of Ten Ring Precision gunsmithing. He was one of their largest dealers so would be in a position to know:

"United States Firearms Manufacturing Company is now “out of business.” The building is empty, the lights or out, phone lines disconnected and the property is for sale. It is a shame this has had to happen to a first class firearms company making the finest guns in the world today, but I guess that’s the way it ends up sometimes."

Too bad. I had a matched pair of their Rodeo II revolvers (brushed nickel finish), gave one to my son and kept the other. I've owned a lot of Colts both old and new, and the USFA's were every bit as good as any of 'em. I'd say if you can find one you like buy it now - they ain't gonna get any cheaper!

I recently wanted to order one and realized this. Too bad.

They make some beautiful guns. That's for sure.

I wanted an Omni Potent Six Shooter and placed an order some time ago, and they never made it. :(

You got a really good deal on the Nettleton! If you can find one around here, they are $2000.