I had been wanting a top-break revolver for a while, saw this Beretta Laramie, said I didn't care that it wasn't the real thing nor even a really close copy but it would do for my purposes.

I do wonder if there is someone familiar with both that could tell me at least at a high level what the main design/hardware differences are...I'd just like to get smart enough to tell folks who might ask what the major differences, other than caliber, are between the copy and real McCoy

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SmthWsn the rgnl pntnclk nrfac

Hello, I do not collect antiques but I have learned a few things (emphasis on "few") here on the Forum.

I own a 6 1/2 nickel Uberti Laramie in .45 Colt.

It has an "inner" hammer safety which I removed before we even left the shop where it was delivered because it was not allowing the handgun to fire. HOWEVER, removal of the safety simply creates the original "standard" of five rounds in the cylinder which is how I carry all single-actions anyhow.

The rear sight and barrel "latch" assembly does not correctly match the original New Model #3. But it is entirely serviceable.

The cylinder "locking" screw on the top of the frame is not original to the New Model #3. It is a simple manufacturing holdover from the Uberti "Russian" to save money on their end.

The cylinder, I believe, is longer than an original to accommodate the .45 Colt. As is so the frame as well I think.

The fit and finish on mine is excellent.

It's front sight was too low for 25 yard 250 grain Schofield loads at 750 fps. An easy fix I had my gunsmith just build a taller sight and swap out the original. KEEP the original as when the gun sells someone may want it.

You can find reproduction S&W "gutta percha" type grips at Dixie Gun Works and Gun Grip - Home Page. They are the original maker and Dixie sells them as well. They will not give a perfect "frame-to-grip" fit but they do well enough that I like them.

I have attached a pic of mine. I like it very much.

There was some caterwauling over the fact that Uberti didn't "faithfully" copy the original #3 and in the caliber of .44 Russian as well. Those people who passed it up lost out. They now have attained a bit of collector status in their own right.

I load mine with actual .45 Schofield brass from Starline. I use 250 grain bullets at a reduced 750 fps to avoid too stout of a load that could stress the frame and stretch it. A 250 grain .45 caliber bullet at 750 fps is still a very potent load.

Attached Images

Laramie 6.5 inch 2.jpg (140.7 KB, 227 views)

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Have guns...will shoot'em.

The Schofield was a square butt revolver with a totally different latch. The revolver pictured is more akin to a cross between the 3rd model Russian nad the New Model #3.

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Tom
1560

It may not be an original OP, but it sure looks nice just the same!

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USMC 83'-87', NRA Member.

I have never figured out why Ruger and Beretta have always claimed to make copies of Old West guns, but change the appearance to NOT look like the originals?? As said above, the barrel latch is the most notable deviation and really throws off the whole perspective of the revolver. The round butt frame and stocks are particularly offensive in appearance, finish, and design for me. I am a Uberti Schofield fan and also shoot 45 Schofield rounds in mine, since the recoil is lower and it is just more authentic.

OK - certainly nothing wrong with your Beretta, and I am sure it is a very well built revolver, but not my taste in reproductions.

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Gary
SWCA 2515

Thanks folks...very helpful

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SmthWsn the rgnl pntnclk nrfac

S&W also sold a small number of "Reproduction" Schofield revolvers. I have never seen one, only pictures. They may have been made by Uberti, I don't remember. See: Anyone have one of the S&W Schofield reproductions?

The OP's picture is not a Schofield reproduction. It is a "reproduction" of the S&W New Model #3. As such there are people who call it a Schofield.

It is not an completely accurate reproduction of a New Model #3 and it "deviations" are due to the need to keep cost down. However at somewhere near $1,000.00 retail it is still cheaper than an original NMM #3 in the same condition and it is shoot-able.

Smith and Wesson's Schofield was almost an exact production of the original Schofield. It's only deviation I am aware of was that the firing pin was frame mounted and not hammer mounted. It was chambered in actual .45 Schofield.

It's finish was not that much better than the Uberti Schofield clones I have seen but...it was made by Smith and Wesson, not by anyone else. They have since attained a collector status.

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Have guns...will shoot'em.

It's amazing that S&W would have tooled up to make only a short production run of their Schofield. I would have expected that they would have just re-marked parts from someone like Uberti who was already making it.

Yes, I thought the same thing but as I understand that is exactly what they did. And...the revolvers did not sell that quickly, probably because at the time of their introduction no one was producing the ammunition or brass. But ammunition and brass did become available shortly thereafter.

Anyhow within a few years of the "closing" of the production they achieved a "status" simply because it was a limited production I guess.

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Have guns...will shoot'em.

Kind of, but what draws my eye is the extractor pawl that was only available on the Schofield. Other than that, it has characteristics of at least 3 models. NM3 round butt, short ejector housing and humpback frame, plus Third Model Russian, with the top screw that holds the cylinder catch in place. It seems that Beretta went out of their way to pick some relatively unattractive attributes of several Old West S&Ws??

I remember the introduction of the Performance Center Schofield 2000 that was made from 2000-2003. It was around $1500 back then. The factory took subscriptions before putting the gun into production. Don't remember how many were made, but nickel guns and Wells Fargo versions were also manufactured. They were about double what the Uberti Schofield was going for back then, so I bought the Uberti.

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Gary
SWCA 2515

I'm beginning to think of my Uberti/Beretta as the platypus of the clone world...from many parts, one.

Interesting...

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SmthWsn the rgnl pntnclk nrfac

Howdy

The Beretta Laramie was (it is no longer made) a relatively accurate reproduction of the S&W New Model Number Three.



The Laramie has the same basic grip shape as the New Model Number Three and the same latch arrangement. Unlike the New Model Number Three the Laramie was only available with a drift adjustable rear sight. The New Model Number Three Target Model had a similar rear sight, but it was not standard. Unlike the Target Model New Model Number Three, the Laramie had a regular round front sight. The S&W Target Sight looked like this:





Yes, the cylinder of the Laramie, like all the Number three Top Breaks manufactured by Beretta/Uberti, is longer than the originals, to accommodate longer cartridges such as 45 Colt. However the frames of the reproductions are not longer. The longer cylinder fits into the same length frame because the bushing or gas collar at the front of the cylinder has been reduced in length. Because of this, the reproductions do not tend to shoot well with Black Powder, they tend to bind up after not very many shots.

S&W New Model Number Three cylinder bushing:




Reproduction cylinder bushing:

That's good information on the replica frame length. I've read several times and places that the replica frame was longer to accommodate a longer cylinder for .45 Colt, but have never personally touched or seen a replica up close.

The Schofield 2000 guns were made completely in-house at the Smith & Wesson Factory and assembled by the Performance Center.

I'll bet they lost money on each one they sold.

Cimmeron firearms offers one too?

Having one in nickel would be cool.

I have both the Uberti 3rd Russian in .44 Russian, and the Beretta Laramie in .38 Special. Both are well-built, handsome guns, but neither is 100% faithful to its original for cost, safety, and reliability reasons. The Laramie, BTW, was made by Uberti in Gardone, Italy, but under the new Beretta ownership. Cool guns.

Larry

AND----------------

Turnbull got into the act too-------with the S&W clone. I don't know if S&W went to Turnbull or the other way around, but Turnbull "re-did" an unknown number of S&W clones-----and they are GORGEOUS!!!

Ralph Tremaine

Driftwood, that's some good information, thanks, and thanks to all the others who have added to my understanding of the Laramie.

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SmthWsn the rgnl pntnclk nrfac

Buffalo Arms and Taylor's Firearms sell the original "Laramie" by Beretta/Uberti but they have a different name for it.

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Have guns...will shoot'em.

For comparison here some pix of my New #3 ----