Standard Mfg SA on its way

[silicosys4]

Found this beauty online, story goes it was custom ordered through an FFL back in 2020, then the customer never paid so it sat for 4 years before the FFL listed it for sale.

I'm interested in seeing how it stacks up against a USFA.

 

[Shark Bait]

I saw you posted about that one on another forum. I have to admit that I'm a little jealous. I look forward to hearing how it does for you. It's a beauty and in .44 Special, too.

 

[44wheelman]

Very nice! Your case coloring looks great.

Just looked at a SM blue 1911 and their .22 semi yesterday. Fit and finish was very good. I am thinking about ordering a case colored 1911.

 

[BillBro]

Im happy for you! That thing is beautiful!

 

[Photog]

Very nice! There was a discussion on another forum that asked questions about Standard SAA's being available in .44 Special. Although there were several pictured, according to Standard, they only make them in .45 Colt. Not sure why they would deny making them in any other calibers, as there have been pics, including the factory tags, showing them in .44 Special as well as .44-40. If I could get a 7.5" in .44 Special, I would be pulling out my credit card so fast, it might melt! Anyway, beautiful gun and enjoy it! .44 Special is my favorite caliber.

 

[PALADIN85020]

I find the USFA single action is superior even to the original Colts in every way - I have both, and the fit and finish on my "pre war" clone in .45 Colt is excellent. Here is a pic I took of it for comparison with my Colt .44 special SAA made in 1980. Both are new and unfired since manufacture.

John

 

[silicosys4]

thanks everyone,
I had a Colt SAA in .44 special that I moved on because it had issues, and a late USFA in .44 special that I moved on because it was a 5 1/2" barrel and my heart has been set on a 4 3/4", CCH .44 special for a long time.
This will be an opportunity to see what Standards idea of a .44 special throat, bore, and chamber is.
I have another late USFA in .45 Colt that I'll be able to compare when it gets here. I'm interested in just how closely they match. Supposedly Standard does their CCH in house while USFA used Turnbull.

 

[SuperMan]

Beautiful gun in a unique to SM caliber....

Standard is only a couple towns over from where USFAs used to be...and they bought all the machinery used to make SAAs when USFA went out...they also hired a couple of their employees. So I'm sure they have the capability to make any caliber they want to.

Had a USFA .45/4.75" along with an identical Colt about 15 years ago...both EXCELLENT shooters...and sold both. Last year bought a 1998 vintage unfired Colt and just recently a SM that was in a local shop for a good price. It was a 2021 and unfired.

Both shoot right to the sights with 250 grain loads. The trigger on the Colt is astounding. While the CCH on the SM is bright, more like Turnbull/USFA, I actually like the muted CCH on the Colt more...

Bob

 

[ladder13]

USFA 44sp, 4.75 never fired ANIB

 

[TheTinMan]

Comparing a 100% US made USFA to a new Standard Manufacturing single action, it really depends on your priorities.

This Standard Manufacturing single action has beautiful case hardening on the frame. The fire blue details really “pop” and the screws are all timed so the slot runs front-to-back. The trigger is crisp and works great for me. It cost $1,500 used and I shoot it fairly often.

That said, these two USFA revolvers are another step up in quality to my eyes.

The grips fit perfectly with the frame. The shoulders at the back of the frame just below the hammer are perfectly flush where the Std. is a little bit “off” there. Everything feels and looks so solid, like every part was hand fitted. Both of these were finished in “Armory Blue” and Turnbull Customs did the case color hardening. It’s not as “flashy” but looks just right to me.

The USFAs cost a lot more than $1,500 each. I bought them LNIB and they will stay that way. I really enjoy shooting the Standard Manufacturing revolver.

 

[silicosys4]

Comparing a 100% US made USFA to a new Standard Manufacturing single action, it really depends on your priorities.

This Standard Manufacturing single action has beautiful case hardening on the frame. The fire blue details really “pop” and the screws are all timed so the slot runs front-to-back. The trigger is crisp and works great for me. It cost $1,500 used and I shoot it fairly often.

That said, these two USFA revolvers are another step up in quality to my eyes.

The grips fit perfectly with the frame. The shoulders at the back of the frame just below the hammer are perfectly flush where the Std. is a little bit “off” there. Everything feels and looks so solid, like every part was hand fitted. Both of these were finished in “Armory Blue” and Turnbull Customs did the case color hardening. It’s not as “flashy” but looks just right to me.

The USFAs cost a lot more than $1,500 each. I bought them LNIB and they will stay that way. I really enjoy shooting the Standard Manufacturing revolver.

the USFA's i've had have been almost perfect in every way. I'm curious to see if the Standard holds up, some say its just as good, some say its not quiet up to USFA's precedent.

Either one makes my Colt SAA's look like dog droppings

 

[The Norseman]

Done Right

Congratulations on your purchase. Nice find.

Standard Manufacturing L.L.C. are quite a
piece of Art, something Colt wishes they
could make. U.S.F.A. is Art too.

Here’s mine. It’s in the Range Bag rotation.
It gets shot and is accurate.

 

[2152hq]

Standard Mfg'g is Connecticut Shotgun Mfg'g Co (CSMCo)
CSMCo has been doing their own CCH since the late 1990's. I don't recall the exact date.
I visited their shop more than once to assist in the set up and offer any help I could at the time.
They were still at the orig location in NewBritain at the time.

Up till that time Turnbull had been doing their CCH on the AHFox guns they were making.
A few concerns made CSMCo switch to doing it themselves in house.
The Standard Mfg part of the Company was not even in the picture at that time.

That came along after the CSMCo moved to their present location, what once was a Stanley Tool Works factory in NewBritain.
The Standard Mfg'g are the sme machines, same people making the guns that didn't fit under the custom SxS & O/U shotgun & Double Rifle catagory that the company started out with.
They are money makers (or they they get dead ended as far as production goes). They keep people & machines busy.

When Colt downsized and let many of the older worked go that worked the SAA and 1911 line, CSMCo hired them on as the STandard Mfg'g was bringing out both models onto the market.
It worked out well for both.
I was shown the prototypes of the SAA at a SxS shoot in PA one summer by the owner. The 1911 was already out there IIRC.

I hadn't heard about the aquisition of the USFA machinery, but I don't doubt it.
Tony is that type of person that goes all out and has done a things like that all the time.
He has employees from all over the gunsmithing world,,literally.

All of these including the orig Colts will be judged by each individually I expect, or maybe should be.
There are some polishers that are better than others, that's for sure.
QC all the way through the operation is paramount in an operation where the product is still an assembly line one.
For the prices in todays USA labor, they cannot allow for much hand fitting.