1873 Taylor vs Uberti

[pantannojack]

How does quality control compare between a decades old Uberti and a NIB Taylors for metal feel of rotation and lock work etc?

 

[Hair Trigger]

Shouldn't be any difference, since the Taylors is a Uberti. Uberti makes Taylors and Cimarron, and they have versions that are made with their own model names, but all are made on the original Colt pattern and design. Taylors and Cimarron are importers of Uberti guns, as is Stoeger. Stoeger markets Uberti guns under the Uberti name, while Taylors and Cimarron market them under their name.

An old Uberti might be a nicer gun than a new Uberti, simply because new production has tended to use different methods, such as computer aided manufacture and MIM parts instead of forged and machined parts, which is not specific to Uberti, but industry-wide. For the same reasons, I prefer an older S&W to a new one.

I have a fairly new Uberti 1873 Cattleman SAA, which is pretty much identical to the Taylors, except maybe the Taylors has checkered grips where mine are smooth, and Taylors calls theirs something other than "The Cattleman".

 

[Dvus]

The older Uberti will be true to the original Colt design, whereas the Taylor's will most likely be the new 3 click action with the safety system. Unless the Taylor's is a Pietta manufactured model, in which case the action will still be 4 click and likely very smooth, but not quite the quality of the Uberti.

 

[SF VET]

I bought a Hege Uberti 36 Navy back in 1972, along with a big Walker. the Navy is a very accurate pistol with the primitive sights, and has just gorgeous bluing. Plus is tight, perfectly timed, and has a superb trigger. It is a pistol Wild Bill Hickok would have been glad to carry when he killed the McCandless brothers and the kid at the Nebraska Shootout, which happens to be a few miles where my wife grew up on a farm in SE Nebraska.

Any way, my early Uberti is a really fine example of gunmaking, and a half century after it was made it is a delight to shoot and admire. I took it out of my gun safe just yesterday to handle it and once again admire it.

Just a comment about the Uberti pistols of long ago. SF VET

 

[s&wchad]

I bought an older Stoeger imported Uberti 1873 rifle chambered in .45 Colt from a club member last year. He was big into cowboy action shooting and reloading, but had to give up the game due to health issues.

The action is very smooth, which you'd expect on a gun that's been fired a lot. Uberti did a nice job on the fit, polish and bluing, but the case colors are pretty subdued. The sideplate screw was buggered, so I ordered a replacement from Taylors. It was a perfect match for the OEM screw and they were a pleasure to deal with. I suspect their current firearms are very nice, but I wouldn't hesitate to buy and older one if the price is right.

 

[Mike0251]

Not to throw to big of a wrench in this discussion but I researched them all in depth when I wanted my 1873 45 colt. I settled on the Winchester Miroku manufactured version. It is very well crafted and smooth as can be imho.

 

[.357magger]

These two span over 20 years apart with the Schofield being sold via Navy Arms and the 1875 Remington clone being of much more recent vintage. Even though built by Uberti, the Remington is a "4 click" action. Both are 45 Colt.

I find the fitment of the Remington to be well done, but the rollmarks are somewhat sloppy and uneven.

The Schofield is a serious piece of gunmaking art. Fit and finish is flawless.

 

[Puller]

I guess we're talking revolvers here . . . .

 

[Baltimoreed11754]

Coulda fooled me. They’re all ubertis, some have nicer fit and finish. Compare individual pieces. Occasional use won’t hurt them but cowboy action use will. Ubertis are famous for their too tight screws, too soft screws and too heavy springs but there are plenty of aftermarket parts available. My cas guns were vaquero rugers and 1894 marlins but I have a few ubertis too.

 

[Bill Lear]

Shouldn't be any difference, since the Taylors is a Uberti. Uberti makes Taylors and Cimarron, and they have versions that are made with their own model names, but all are made on the original Colt pattern and design. Taylors and Cimarron are importers of Uberti guns, as is Stoeger. Stoeger markets Uberti guns under the Uberti name, while Taylors and Cimarron market them under their name.

An old Uberti might be a nicer gun than a new Uberti, simply because new production has tended to use different methods, such as computer aided manufacture and MIM parts instead of forged and machined parts, which is not specific to Uberti, but industry-wide. For the same reasons, I prefer an older S&W to a new one.

I have a fairly new Uberti 1873 Cattleman SAA, which is pretty much identical to the Taylors, except maybe the Taylors has checkered grips where mine are smooth, and Taylors calls theirs something other than "The Cattleman".

I think the Stoeger models are a bit less authentic in their rendering than Uberti's interpretation. I have several Uberti 1873 models that could easily pass for Colt's given the exact same markings, and in fact, many years ago when Colt was still marketing their black powder models direct to consumer I purchased an 1849 Pocket - GORGEOUS little revolver, that had the exact same, tiny bit of offset on the cap cuts in the cylinder as does every Uberti I've ever handled...kind of like a 'fingerprint" as it were. I surmised that Uberti made the guns and shipped them over to Colt, who applied their proprietary markings and finish, though anyone who has ever handled an Uberti knows, they don't need Colt to "reproduce" beautiful replicas.
A friend of mine has several Piettas and they've come a long way over the last two decades but there are subtle and not-so-subtle differences that keep them from ever being mistaken for a COLT regardless of markings.
The LEAST Colt-like of all SA revolvers is the abortion known as the Vaquero - both old and new versions. They're heavy, clunky, and totally devoid of "personality" with their transfer bar mechanism and two PIN design. As the Blackhawk and Super Blackhawk they're "genuine" because they don't try to be part of the herd, but the Vaquero is a poor translation to the gracile handling characteristics of the 1873 pattern.

 

[Hair Trigger]

I think the Stoeger models are a bit less authentic in their rendering than Uberti's interpretation. I have several Uberti 1873 models that could easily pass for Colt's given the exact same markings....

That seems a sort of contradictory statement. How can they be "less authentic", but "could easily pass for Colts" at the same time?

Taylors and Cimarron Uberti's can be slightly different than the Uberti from Stoeger, as Taylors and Cimmaron have Uberti manufacture their guns to their specifications. But they are still manufactured by Uberti. Taylors and Cimmaron are also independent of Uberti, as they are not part of the conglomerate owned by Benelli, as Stoeger and Uberti are. Stoeger is only an importer and has no bearing on Uberti manufacturing.

As a side note, the Colt Walkers used by John Wayne in True Grit and by Clint Eastwood in The Outlaw Josey Wales were Ubertis. All the firearms used in Dances With Wolves were Uberti-made.

 

[pantannojack]

counting clicks

The older Uberti will be true to the original Colt design, whereas the Taylor's will most likely be the new 3 click action with the safety system. Unless the Taylor's is a Pietta manufactured model, in which case the action will still be 4 click and likely very smooth, but not quite the quality of the Uberti.

It has been many years since I handled a cattleman or a old model Black Hawk, but I don't remember anymore than 3 clicks.

From hammer down: 1) safety notch
2) half cock, cylinder rotates freely
3) full cock, will fire when trigger pulled.

Am I mistaken? Where is the 4th click?

 

[SF VET]

Here is my 36 Hege Uberti Navy, bought new in 1972. Really a nice black powder pistol, accurate, tight, nice bluing. But the men and women who carried and shot them back in the mid 1860's must have had small hands, or Sam Colt had small hands, and made the grips and pistol fit his hand. But I have big hands, and i can't get my whole hand on the grip to shoot it. i have a nice Cavalry flap holster for it.

all the best,, SF VET

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[WR Moore]

My one & only SA is on the bench now. In pieces. However, the 4 clicks when cocking are as follows:

1. Safety notch, trigger forward.

2. Half cock, cylinder will rotate.

3. Cylinder stop/bolt rises and/or stops cylinder rotation.

4. Hammer at full cock.

 

[pantannojack]

Thanks for that WR Moore, I don't hear well enough to perceptive the stop bolt rising.

Now "they" are describing three click models; More confusion.

 

[WR Moore]

I'm guessing that with transfer bar systems, they eliminate the "safety" notch. Using that is an easy way to break triggers. Or so I was told, lo, many decades ago.

 

[dsf]

FWIW, very easy to take the current "3 clicks" to 4 by replacing the hammer with a "no safety" version from Taylors. Will work whether you have a Uberti or Cimmaron branded type. Instead of replacing the trigger entirely just clip the dogleg and it functions fine.

I've bought a fair amount of Uberti made SAA revolvers and the difference seems to me based on what the branding seller specifies for quality, fit and finish.

Uberti also made SAA types for USFA early on with CCH done by Turnbull.