Some years ago I was working at a gun shop, and a customer came in and asked to look at our selection of SAA types. I was showing him what we had, a couple Ubertis and the like, and a used Colt or two, when another customer came up and joined the conversation.
Now, I know most of you are probably thinking, "Uh-oh...another gunshop guru who can't wait to share his opinion on everything"...but it was nothing like that. This gentleman was very knowledgeable about all of the different builders of SAAs, and had owned and shot most of them in the SASS. He offered his opinions on the pros and cons of the various makes and models, without completely denigrating any of them, and without potentially quashing any potential sale I might be about to make. To be honest, since I had very little working knowledge of them at that point in time...I only knew what I had read, so I was thankful for the information, and for his assistance with my customer.
After the 1st customer left, I continued to chat with the 2nd customer, and I grilled him a bit more for info on SAAs, because I was interested in getting started in SASS shooting. After a bit of conversation, he boiled it down to this...he said the Ubertis and similar Italian clones were decent guns for the money, but...he said he only bought Colts now. He said that he could own the Colt for years, shoot the bejeesus out of it, and sell it for practically the same amount he'd paid for it originally. He said he could never do that with the clones. And, in the meantime...you're shooting an honest-to-god Colt.
Unfortunately, I believe that the Colts he was accustomed to are a thing of the past. I did go ahead shortly thereafter and purchase a sequentially numbered pair of 5 1/2" nickeled Colts, in .45 Colt/.45 ACP. They've worked quite well for me.
However, at the same time, a very good friend of mine bought an identical gun, and it had to go back to Colt for a myriad of problems. After six weeks or so it came back, and it was pretty much in the same condition. He sent it back again, and after many weeks and many phone calls, they finally admitted that it was so fouled up that it could not be fixed, and so they sent a replacement gun...which has been fine. This is not a great statement, when these guns, supposedly, had come through their Custom Shop!
I did note that, when looking through the manual on my Colts, it states about every other page (in bold red lettering) that the owner should consider not firing his new Colt, as it would seriously depreciate its "collector" value. It makes one wonder if they anticipate that most buyers are not planning on shooting them, therefore they can't be bothered to waste time unnecessarily making them usable, better to just make them look pretty, and discourage new owners from ever shooting them.
I did also manage to acquire a USFA SAA. It's a beautiful gun, and I'm very pleased with it. Luckily, I bought it when they were reasonable (I believe I paid $500 or $550), and I'd always intended to get one or two more, but the prices started to go through the roof. Sadly, they no longer seem to be building them.
I know the OP isn't too keen on Rugers, but I have to add that I also happened upon a great deal on a SS Vaquero in .45 Colt/.45 ACP. It's a smooth little shooter, and it feels great in the hand.
All-in-all, I'd hate to get rid of any of them. Maybe someday I'll find a nice deal on an Uberti or some such that I just can't pass up. Let's hope so!
Tim
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