USFA Rodeo

Seller's photo of USFA Rodeo .45 Colt 4-3/4"

Got another new to me gun, a United State Fire Arms Rodeo.  This one has had an "action job" and a Belt Mountain base pin installed.  Yes, another .45 Colt and it fits the El Paso Saddlery and Mernickle holsters. The holster pictured herewith was sold long ago by the previous owner.  However, I don't have to get anything else to put it to use. As of this date the listed MSRP on this gun is $750.00.  USFA has this to say about the Rodeo...

The design of the Original Rodeo® was forged by history. It is handcrafted with our Cowboy Action Matte Blue™ a Special Glare-Reducing Finish. The balance is perfect. Reliability, unquestioned. Experience the benefit of fully machined bar stock parts, properly tempered springs and a hand built action in that first pull of the trigger.

The Original Rodeo’s easy to acquire sight picture is yours as you sight down a wide rear notch and square front blade with our special glare-reducing finish; cowboy shooting in bright sunlight is no problem.

The Original Rodeo® available in .45 Colt or .38 Special, with 4-¾" or 5-½" barrel. “US” hard rubber grips are standard on all base models.

The Original Rodeo® rides into the USFA product line to meet the demand of the SASS enthusiast. The Original Rodeo® is an affordable, Made in U.S.A. entry into the world of cowboy shooting, giving SASS shooters a choice of a 100% American made product instead of the imported clones so often found at the lower end of the price/quality market.

USFA builds guns up to a level of quality unsurpassed by any other maker - foreign or domestic. Using modern manufacturing techniques pioneered here at USFA, the parts we make are 100% American Made.

My first shooting experience with it wasn't so great. Using my current standard revolver load for the .45 Colt of 8.5 gr. Unique under the Keith bullet I didn't seem to get the accuracy I was looking for. Still, it might have been me. It certainly wasn't bullet fit in the chamber throats as a quick check shows them to correctly dimensioned.  This happens sometimes.  I have a bunch of the RCBS 270SA which I will be loading in the next batch.  It might do better.

USPFA and USFA Company and Firearm History

I needed to get some facts together so that I could make gun acquisitions in an intelligent and informed way. Unfortunately there was a dearth of information out there. Even one well known writer limited his suggestion to saying that I shouldn't get guns with the Italian parts. So, this is what I've got.

From this article, "All American Sixguns United States Fire-arms", in Shoot Magazine, I found this information.

From 1986 to 1997, foreign made parts were used in the production of firearms. After 1997, all parts were American (i.e. in the U.S.) made.

In 1993 the US Firearms Manufacturing Company was formed to provide historically correct firearms to discriminating buyers. Production has been limited to exacting duplicates of classic single-action Colts.

From Dennis Russell, author of Percussion Colt Revolvers – The Second Generation – Collector’s Handbook & Price Guide.

The original name for USFA was United States Patent Fire Arms (USPFA). Colt sued them because USPFA was too close to Colt’s original name – Colt’s Patent Fire Arms Company. Additionally, USPFA held no patents for the firearms they were producing.

Note: To order Percussion Colt Revolvers – The Second Generation – Collector’s Handbook & Price Guide by Dennis Russell send your $29.95 check or USPS Money Order payable to Jared Press at Jared Press, 3162 Johnson Ferry Road, Suite 260 – 607, Marietta, Georgia 30062

USFA Color Case and Dome Blue Single Action

A few years ago, United States Firearms company decided to have a "sale" in which they'd offer this model revolver together with a .45 ACP cylinder for $875.00. At the time they announced the sale, this was a good price for the gun with the extra cylinder. I took advantage of the sale and ordered this gun. By the time it was delivered they announced that $875.00 was the new, lower, price of the revolver (it had been $950.00) because they'd made changes in production that had reduced costs. The gun was still a good deal but, not quite so good. The price of the revolver has now gone up again to about $975.00.

I was really excited to get this gun. However, coincidentally I'd worked a deal to get two others, the Henry Nettleton and an earlier 7½" barreled version. Suddenly I had a whole collection.  I haven't carried any of them very much, there's been too many other things going on but I can look forward to a time when it will be possible to fully enjoy this accurate, quality revolver.

USFA Henry Nettleton Joins the Herd

Got a deal I couldn't pass up on a NIB USFA Henry Nettleton SA.  USFA's description and photos can't be beat so here goes...

An Old Armory Original™. A Numbered Series Following the Original U.S. Government Inspector Stamped Revolvers. {Limited to Serial Numbers 47056 through 51083.}

The Henry Nettleton™ Cavalry Revolver is the first in the Government Inspector Series. It is an exact re-creation of the model inspected by Henry Nettleton, U.S. Government inspector of small arms in 1878. The Nettleton features the exact cartouche branding and hand-stamped markings as the original. Available only in historically correct “US Government Cartridge”- 45 Colt, with one-piece walnut grips.

The USFA Henry Nettleton is an exact number for number re-creation of the original, using exact old style hand numbering. These revolvers feature our Old Armory Bone Case™ Hardened Frame, Gate & Hammer. Artillery Model has 5 ½" barrel. A special historically correct Armory Blue™ {Military Polish} will be used on all other parts. This is not our standard Salt Bath Finish - Dome Blue.™ Armory Blue™ is a Genuine pre-1900 finish and is accomplished through the use of sterile parts heated in a forge. Although more costly, Armory Blue™ provides that absolutely correct and durable blue. Also available in Full Nickel Plate with U.S. Government Markings.

Mr. Henry Nettleton {H.N.} was a U.S. Government Inspector of small arms produced for the Springfield Armory founded by George Washington in Mass. Henry Nettleton received his commission as Inspector in Springfield, June 6, 1878. The Nettletons comprise the most sought after examples of U.S. marked guns today. We are proud to offer a replica of these exact serial number guns {47056 - 51083} for the experienced shooter and collector. These specific arms have exact Cartouche branding and all correct Inspector Handstamp markings, beveled cylinders & finishes.

Frames are Black Powder variation with ‘V’ notch and blade front sight as historically correct.

Government Inspectors in this series:

Orville W. Ainsworth Serial No. Range 200-14,343
Henry Nettleton Serial No. Range 47,056-51,083
David F. Clark Serial No. Range 53,006-121,238
Rinaldo A. Carr Serial Range No. 130,438-140,361

Worth every penny!

U.S Firearms (USFA) Single Actions Come Home

Today I picked up my two USFA Single-Actions. While my photos can never do justice to these fine guns, here they are, each on their own. The USFA guns are copies, in both every dimension and quality, of the Colt Single-Action revolver.

The first, a 4-3/4" color-case and dome blue .45 Colt with auxiliary .45 ACP cylinder was purchased to take advantage of the USFA "in stock" sale. Of course I came to the sale 2-weeks late (after I'd heard of it) and they were out of stock of the 4-3/4" guns but since it was still advertised, they honored my order and here it is (click on the photo to see some more photos/a slideshow).





I am really impressed with this gun.  From the vivid color-case (and I absolutely love color-case), to the fit and blue finish.  Wow!  For example, the front sight is brazed to the barrel.  The braze line is there but it is perfectly even and finished and the sight is on straight and true.  I've yet to find a flaw in stock-to-metal fit or metal-to-metal fit but that the right side of the hammer slightly, ever so slightly, rubs the frame.  Maybe that was me.  The fit is so good that I had a time getting the base pin out to clean the cylinder and barrel prior to firing. 

When I finally got it out to shoot I only had time for two cylindersful (10 rounds).  I'm glad to report that the 8 gr./250 gr. Keith load is minute of head at 25 yards.  Got some frogs legs for dinner but one guy on the bank just got stunned and blown back into the water by the substantial mud volcano he found himself resting on.  He got away! 

The second gun was unintentional as a friend had one he needed to move for the cash. An involved deal of multiple trades enabled me to give him the cash and get me the gun. Interestingly, these trades had started many months prior to the owner putting the gun on the market and only culminated just in time for the deal.  Fate?  I tend to think so. 

This second gun is a 7-1/2" barreled .45 Colt gun with wood stocks and of course it comes to me used. Fortunately, Mike saved the box and papers so it comes complete just like my new gun.  Fit is as good as the new gun but this is a used gun and there are some wear marks.  That's fine with me.  It is a good honest gun and I'm happy. 

One of the holsters under consideration for this long barreled gun is Ted Blocker's CC1 holster.  Another might be a Keith style (Lawrence 120) Tom Threepersons' angled for and worn crossdraw (or maybe something similar). 

That's all for now but I'll add more as time and experience permit.