Olsherm
Blackhawk
Question: Do you guys think the USFA guns are going to increase in value much? I have a few of them and was just wondering if I should hang on to them for a while until we see what happens to them? Thanks
US Firearms
- Thread starter Olsherm
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woodsy
Buckeye
No.
Ditto no. Ultra fine guns, but not to re-sell for a profit now or in the future.
TiteGroups
Blackhawk
- Joined
- Dec 23, 2009
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- 513
Quality work will never increase in value.
Boxhead
Buckeye
TiteGroups said:
Huh?
powder smoke
Hawkeye
Quality work will never increase in value? I got to disagree with that statement, as for US firearms NO!
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M'BOGO
Buckeye
What is the word with USFA? I recall they stopped taking orders to catch up on production, and some rumors swirling around, any hard facts?
Cholo said:
Anything is quality will increase in value. Economic fact.
Romney will probably be elected and coming out out this depression were are in, inflation will increase the value of anything desirable and quality. Another economic fact. The question is how much inflation will happen.
I say hold onto them a while and sell next early spring, when the bounce will hit. Then it will take a year or so for inflation it hit.
I had a friend who owned 1 of 2 71 hemi cuda convertables with a 4 speed. At that time he said he could get $15,000 for it. (That was in 1981) I told him to sell it as that was a lot of money. He sold it a couple of years later for $35,000. The last I heard it went for $5 million. I learned from that. I have seen time and quality go up in value ever since.
John
trapperon
Blackhawk
I believe perhaps the rodeo model would increase in value because they were somewhat underpriced to begin with. the rest of them were right in there with colt saa prices. most would rather just buy an original colt for the same money.
Ron
Ron
CraigC
Hawkeye
I guaran-friggin-tee they will increase in value as soon as USFA officially closes its doors or changes direction. They will increase in value by a huge margin over virtually any 3rd generation Colt.
For the record, a USFA sixgun comparable to a Colt SAA would sell for $200-$300 less. The USFA Pre-war model was similarly priced and if you think it's a similar sixgun, you need to handle one. They are head & shoulders above anything Colt has produced in a very long time and a bargain at $1200.
For the record, a USFA sixgun comparable to a Colt SAA would sell for $200-$300 less. The USFA Pre-war model was similarly priced and if you think it's a similar sixgun, you need to handle one. They are head & shoulders above anything Colt has produced in a very long time and a bargain at $1200.
The USFA are good guns .The ones I have were about $1150 to $1250 when I got them except for the Rodeo II. I like them but I also have a Colt.And I would rather have them all in Colts if I could get them with the proper chamber deminisions ect. I would trade one for a new Colt now if I could get one that was correct specs.I wonder if the new ones coming out now are correct in the barrel to chamber specs?
CraigC said:
I agree completely! I remember reading on their website a quote from someone else that said something like "USFA's are what Colt should have been building all along". The key is if they're still producing Colt SAA clones. I lusted after one and even built one from their spec sheet but never made it happen. If they'd have made a clone Colt New Frontier .44 Special, I'd have been all over it! I ended up buying one of the good 3rd. gen. Colt New Frontiers NIB about a year ago. As long as their doors stay open, I don't see them increasing in value.
Olsherm said:
My understanding is that the new Colt SAA's are up to spec.
Timber Wolf
Single-Sixer
jpickar said:
I agree with the concept of buying quality, but comparing Hen's Teeth Hemi Cuda's to current production (even limited production) sixguns is a bit of a streach. "Invest" in guns, or cars, that you can afford and enjoy to shoot, take care of them and if you make a little money on them someday, consider yourself fortunate. :wink:
Cholo said:
If by "up to spec" you mean .456-.457 throats, then Iguess they are. I bought mine a year ago and that is what I got. With my Rugers at least I could ream them to proper diameter. All I can do with a Colt is have a custom cylinder made.
sixer, I'm basing my "up to spec." on writeups I've read about Colt's latest New Frontier, not actual experience. That's why I said "My understanding is that the new Colt SAA's are up to spec.".
"If by "up to spec" you mean .456-.457 throats, then Iguess they are." sixer
Yikes! :shock: Probably not, a least in your example. In my 3rd gen. NF .44 Special, the throats are .001+ a little oversized. Easy fix with a properly cast bullet.
"If by "up to spec" you mean .456-.457 throats, then Iguess they are." sixer
Yikes! :shock: Probably not, a least in your example. In my 3rd gen. NF .44 Special, the throats are .001+ a little oversized. Easy fix with a properly cast bullet.
DGW1949
Hawkeye
I don't know if a USFA will go up in value or not, but I'd bet a dollar to a doughnut that the price for a nice example will keep up with inflation.
DGW
DGW
CholoCholo said:
Wasnt trying to slam ya. I have heard the NF's are nice. Yes, I have measured these throats with snap gauges and a micrometer.I was shocked too. I had to check the calibration of my micrometer. I checked with pin gauges also with the same conclusion. I will admit I can get decent groups with a .455 bullet. I had Mountain Molds make me a Keith bullet that will drop at .456 and I size to .455.
I have a Beretta Bisley 7 1/2 inch with large cyl mouths about 455 to 456. I fired some unsized 454190 bullets in it (around .455 to .456 dia) and they grouped good at 25 yards.I am going to try some in the Colt soon. I have tried .454 in the Beretta and the colt and they did not group as well as the unsized ones.
Sixer, I didn't take it as a slam. It just amazes me that Colt, and Ruger BTW, over/under size their .45 Colt SA's. I don't know if Ruger still does it or not, but for Colt to do it in their high $ modern SA's is inexcusable.
Walter Rego
Single-Sixer
I bought a USFA .45 Colt with extra .45 ACP cylinder about 4 years ago when they were running a sale on them. It is a beautifully finished gun. The throats on both cylinders measure a tight .451 and the B/C gap is .002" with the .45 Colt cylinder and .003" with the .45 ACP cylinder. It shoots great with cast .45 Colt bullets and is a tack driver with .45 ACP hardball which surprised me given the long jump that the bullet must make to the forcing cone. I would be sorry to see USFA fold up, but they sure made some stupid business decisions these last few years.
David Bradshaw
Blackhawk
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On a visit to a friend several years back, we were shooting revolvers at one of my "Tin Man" steel silhouettes, cut from 1/4-inch mild steel. Distance, taken with my Nikon rangefinder, 190 yards. I was shooting my Ruger 03 with the .45 Colt cylinder. Pretty much nailing Tin Man every shot, offhand.
"Let me see what you can do with my Colt," said my friend. He fetched his 1897 Peacemaker .45 with 4-3/4" barrel. I was reluctant to use my smokeless ammo, although I'd loaded it under, or at, SAAMI pressure standards for .45 Colt. The load consisted of cast 255 SWC over 6.7 gr./HP-38 in Federal brass. I deep-seat the bullet to crimp above the front band.
I started with sighter shots at a Tin Man set at 25 yards. A cluster group----tight----although POI registered a hair low and 2.5-inches left. With my friend on the spotting scope, I shifted to the Tin Man at 190 yards. Offhand. I held one Tin Man to the right, with a good bite of the front sight over the narrow notch. First shot----CLINK. And so it went. That ancient Peacemaker hit Tin Man 5x6 shots----one shoulder, 4 torso----at 190 yards!
My friend was stunned, but no more than me. While most of the finish was worn from his 1897 Peacemaker, there was not a buggered screw, and the rubber grips were as perfect as could be for a gun that had lived.
We took the revolver inside, and measured the groove diameter and chamber exit holes. Chamber exits measured an astounding .452", as did the barrel grooves. That, Ladies & Gentlemen, is a Hartford on the Connecticut River six-shooter, from machinery driven by cowhide belts, when .45 Colt bullets are said to have measured .454-inch.
David Bradshaw
"Let me see what you can do with my Colt," said my friend. He fetched his 1897 Peacemaker .45 with 4-3/4" barrel. I was reluctant to use my smokeless ammo, although I'd loaded it under, or at, SAAMI pressure standards for .45 Colt. The load consisted of cast 255 SWC over 6.7 gr./HP-38 in Federal brass. I deep-seat the bullet to crimp above the front band.
I started with sighter shots at a Tin Man set at 25 yards. A cluster group----tight----although POI registered a hair low and 2.5-inches left. With my friend on the spotting scope, I shifted to the Tin Man at 190 yards. Offhand. I held one Tin Man to the right, with a good bite of the front sight over the narrow notch. First shot----CLINK. And so it went. That ancient Peacemaker hit Tin Man 5x6 shots----one shoulder, 4 torso----at 190 yards!
My friend was stunned, but no more than me. While most of the finish was worn from his 1897 Peacemaker, there was not a buggered screw, and the rubber grips were as perfect as could be for a gun that had lived.
We took the revolver inside, and measured the groove diameter and chamber exit holes. Chamber exits measured an astounding .452", as did the barrel grooves. That, Ladies & Gentlemen, is a Hartford on the Connecticut River six-shooter, from machinery driven by cowhide belts, when .45 Colt bullets are said to have measured .454-inch.
David Bradshaw
CraigC
Hawkeye
I've heard reports of the new & improved Colt .45's going both ways. Some correct, some oversized.
In the past three years I have bought 4 new Colt SAA's with three of them being chambered for 45 Colt. All of them had throats that went .454 to .4555. My bullet of choice for these was the Hornady soft swagged .454 dia. 255 gr. which worked very well in all three.
David Bradshaw
Blackhawk
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Prior to our shooting the 1897 Peacemaker, my friend had a USFA convertible .45 Colt/.45 ACP, 4-3/4" bbl. Accuracy was fine, but he could not abide the flat black finish, which cost considerably less than the blue and case hard version. He sold it.
David Bradshaw
David Bradshaw
CraigC
Hawkeye
And some fine lemonade it is! 
Major T
Blackhawk
When No. 1 cousin died in an accident, he left the kids a pile of Colts. I had some connections back in the day and brokered a lot of his deals. Most were bought at or very near (+/-) dealer. The estate asked me to oversee the disposal of the farm equipment and the guns. I got good money for the guns, but realistically they just kept pace with inflation at retail, so the kids made a few bucks. No charge for even expenses from me except that he had marked three rifles for me, should something happen to him.
Now my next (semi-related) story. Several years ago while I was double dipping, I had set aside more than enough money for an African plains game safari, and maybe even buffalo. Never went. I had not renewed the money as a CD when the rates dropped. Put it in money market and kind of forgot about it. When doing the 2010 taxes, I called the bank and told them that I had no 10-99 for those funds. Long story short, there was not a $5 earning so none was required. I told the banker that the money would not be there next year. He wanted to know why. I told him that I could make more than that buying and selling fence posts! When our artificial economy goes away, stuff is going to hold value better than money. I am still turning my safari into stuff. Used guns, ammo, silver, and some other things that don't eat. jack
Now my next (semi-related) story. Several years ago while I was double dipping, I had set aside more than enough money for an African plains game safari, and maybe even buffalo. Never went. I had not renewed the money as a CD when the rates dropped. Put it in money market and kind of forgot about it. When doing the 2010 taxes, I called the bank and told them that I had no 10-99 for those funds. Long story short, there was not a $5 earning so none was required. I told the banker that the money would not be there next year. He wanted to know why. I told him that I could make more than that buying and selling fence posts! When our artificial economy goes away, stuff is going to hold value better than money. I am still turning my safari into stuff. Used guns, ammo, silver, and some other things that don't eat. jack
Timbo22
Single-Sixer
I have two USFA Rodeo revolvers, one in 45 Colt and the other in 38 Spl. Both bought used. The plain black finish if fine with me as I think they will gain more character with use. I am still amazed at the very fine fitting of all the parts on these 'lesser' finished revolvers. I have always been very carefull with my firearms, but normal finish wear and tear is the price you pay in using them. It doesn't bother me so much with these two as I will let them 'antique' on their own. They are fun plinkers.
I too find the USFA Rodeo to be a great value. As I understand it, they put the same level of quality into the moving pieces as with their higher end models. The only difference is in the surface finish on the barrel, frame, and cylinder.
I bought a Rodeo a few years ago and love it. I'm curious to see what happens to this great company, and what might happen to the value of their product if they go under. But I don't expect my Rodeo to ever be worth much. It was designed for use by CAS shooters. I play around with it and just enjoy owning it--will probably keep it forever. And the matte finish doesn't bother me at all. I have an Uberti with a finish that's similar but even rougher. They both function fine, and they're easy to take care of.
I bought a Rodeo a few years ago and love it. I'm curious to see what happens to this great company, and what might happen to the value of their product if they go under. But I don't expect my Rodeo to ever be worth much. It was designed for use by CAS shooters. I play around with it and just enjoy owning it--will probably keep it forever. And the matte finish doesn't bother me at all. I have an Uberti with a finish that's similar but even rougher. They both function fine, and they're easy to take care of.
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