Colt Single Action Reproduction Question

[Alpo]

Question on the issue:

Why is it no one has an opinion on the Heritage Big Bore guns?

Just asking?

Thoughts?

I don't know about the others, but here's my take.

Many years ago, when the Heritage Rough Rider first showed up, it sold for about 70 bucks. Handling one in the store, it appeared to be a crude (as in "tooling marks", "grips don't fit the frame", that type thing) copy of a Single Six, with the addition of a hokey safety. For less than one quarter of the price.

When a price difference is THAT great, it makes me leery. Yes, I know sometimes you pay for the name (Buick vs. Cadillac, or anything Colt), but that seemed just TOO cheap.

I handled one in three or four different stores. They all felt "clunky". The actions felt gritty. I was not impressed.

When, a few years later, they came out with the Heritage Big Bores, I never even bothered to look. If their 22 was that bad, why would I think they could make a good 45?

Now, I have seen many people write that the have a Rough Rider, and it's a wonderful 22, and it's accurate, and it's smooth. Maybe they've improved 'em.

But I was so unimpressed by the 22 that I have never even thought about handling a Big Bore. So how could I give my impression?

There just might be many others with the same experiences.

 

[THE PILGRIM]

As far as single actions are concerned I would stand with Ruger. Have several enjoy them all.

I also vote Ruger. I don't have one, but if I was in the market, it would be Ruger.

 

[Hellraiser]

I vote Ruger.

BTW... if ya ever watch John Wayne in his very last movie, The Shootist... he's sportin' two "antique", engraved, Ivory-handled "Colts", per the movie's opening remarks by Gilliam Rogers (Ron Howard). Those are not Colts, but are some reproductions made by a now-defunct company... Great Western.

At the end of the movie Gilliam Rogers tosses a gun across the saloon... and that is a Ruger Blackhawk... modified to look like a Colt.

 

[cass]

My ranch gun is a Cimmeron in 45 Colt. It gets a lot of hard use - very hard use - and has stood up perfectly. I can't say that about my Colt SAA. Just for grins, my next one will be the Ruger NV.

 

[feralmerril]

This is a .45 colt "Dakota". I bought it cheap maybe thirty years ago. Probley made by Pietta for cimmeron arms? The first and "probley only" time I fired it the ejector housing and rod flew off. I sent it back and they made it good. The gun looks to be well made and fitted up. It does have a deep V notch rear hog wallow with a thin and tapered front sight that probley is hard to be accurate with. I just never bothered working with it but might wring it out soon after all these years. This would be considered probley one of the cheapest replicas out there and I suppose you can find one at cabellas for $350s or so. Still, its a fine looking replica for about a fifth of a similar colt. I dont believe a colt is really worth five of these either.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

I have a couple of Uberti made Cimmerrons, a couple of 1970's JPSauers and 6 old model Vaqueros. These all have held up to several thousand rounds very well! The other clones have fallen apart during shooting a scenario. The reason people don't have comments about a knock off brand is we have been bitten too many times. I have a friend that started buying Colt SAA's (and N-Frame Classic guns) a few years ago, he has over 17 first and second gen guns now. Over half are factory engraved and a couple have elephant teeth. I give him boxes of light cowboy loads and he shoots them all, but they are just an investment since CD's pay nothing. I don't see anybody collecting clones in the future! Ivan

 

[cmj8591]

Here's my vote. US Firearms Army 45. One of the only modern guns I have seen that was able to come close to original Colt case hardening. It's a shame that they are no longer made.

 

[LouisianaJoe]

I bought this earlier this year. It is a 1969 vintage Ruger 3-screw Blackhawk .357 Mag. I found it on Gunbroker for $550 including shipping and transfer fee. It has not been "fixed" by Ruger. It sounds just like an original Colt when cocked and shoots nicely.

First target that I shot with it at 15 yds. The first 4 shots were in the bull then I got sloppy.

Then there is the 3-screw .41 Mag.