uberti 1873 cattleman??

[shaner]

i just love those antiqued cattleman 1873  pistols,  but whats withthe little screw that they started putting on them that  holes pressure against the cylinder pin ?  anyone know ? whats everyones  oppion  on these guns? and the finish? anyone usein one? had one?

[BloomGrad]

The screw on the front of the frame is to replicate the original style found on old original Colt Single Actions.

Mine is in .45 Colt.  But it has the standard non-antiqued blued finish.  I am not sure the antique finish is worth any extra dollars.  The fun of owning a firearm is making your own scratches.  It gives it your personal history.  If you want scratches put the gun in a barrel with a chain and roll it around your living room floor while you watch reruns of Gunsmoke.  Sorry, that is in jest but you get the idea.

My impressions on the Uberti:  Sights get hard to see after a long day at the range or if the light gets dim.  Just like an old Colt.  Points nice like a SAA does.  Use snap caps to protect the firing pin, no dry firing without.  Watch any and all screws as they will back out.  The roll pin that holds in the firing pin to the hammer keeps backing out.  Cylinder mouth dimensions are a little on the large side.  I believe that is why it prints horizontal groups.

All in all nothing worse than any of my shooting friends reports about a real Colt of Pre-War vintage.

I have not shot this gun often so I do not have anything to relate about how they hold up under hard use like competitions.

If I found money on the street I would have the cylinder mouth corrected.  If I found a bigger pile of money I would convert it to .44 SPECIAL, as I love that caliber much more.

That is two of the three things I want.  A found pile of money and a .44 Spl Single Action.  The third is a curvy leggy buxom blonde with sparkle in her eye that lets me keep the money and the .44 Spl.

That is what dreams are made of.

[shaner]

thanks for the info , and the dreams hahahha i didnt realize they were so prone to problems? does the screw we were talkin about work loose  easily also? the one iam lookin at is in 45 also , i know forthe same money yo can get into  the rugers, but they just are the same feel  as the cattleman?

[BloomGrad]

The screw under discussion has not worked loose like the grip screws.  But you never know, it could happen someday.  I now put a VERY small drop of the BLUE Loctite threadlocker on this guns screws.  For heavens sake of you too use threadlocker on grip scews NEVER use the RED threadlocker.  It is for permanent lock down.  You would never get them out for cleaning the gun without a gunsmith.

The RUGER New Vaquaro was not available when I bought my Uberti.  Now, My thoughts if I were to do the same purchase today....

The New Vaquaro would hold up better than the Uberti.  Overall a more modern lockwork internals.  It would also hold it's resale value more.  That is a REALLY big point in the Rugers favor.  The sights would be better to see.

The Uberti has the more classic look and sounds.  It has the four loud clicks of the halfcock, pawl, fullcock and lock that " sing C-O-L-T " as you thumb back the hammer.  Those clicks warm the heart.  Makes ya feel like John Wayne before he takes out Lucky Ned Pepper in "True Grit".

If I were buying just to shoot 45 Colt and always hit the target I know now I would go Ruger.  Only because of my gun's poor chamber & hard sghts.  But if I really wanted those clicks and look and not shoot so much or just for plinking fun then the Uberti

But like I said In the other post neither make a good 44 Special.  44-40 ain't for me.  With that bag of money I would get either in 357 mag and have it rechambered.

If EXACTLY the same price... Ruger today.   Yup... Yeah...  Preeeetty sure... Yeah Ruger.  ( until I see Ned Pepper bite it again )

[44 Man]

I do have the 'new' Vaquero.  I did a complete teardown last weekend and was surprised to find that the grip frame screws are the 'nylock' kind that Ruger used to use in the original Blackhawks but got away from in recent years.  What a surprise!  No more action screws loosening up.  My only complaint with the ruger is the hammer shape.  And that's not an issuse for use, it work's great, but only for classic looks.  There is something just a little wrong with the shape of the hammer to look like a Colt.  The rest of the gun is fine and I am well pleased.  I do have to agree that I would also love one in .44 spl.  But then that's why I have the handle I have.  44 Man.

[timothy]

I'm with you 44man, the hammer looks funny but boy does it work well!