Who makes the best "old west" or "cowboy" looking revolvers?
- Thread starter 41 Colt
- Start date
- Location
- Somewhere on the Hudson Bay Coast
According to Hamilton Bowen (who I consider to be the ultimate authority on revolvers) the 3 screw Ruger is the best off the shelf single action period - particularly when it comes to the raw material to use as a basis of a custom gun. The Ruger New Model, while a good gun, has a more difficult trigger. When it comes to aesthetics however, everyone is measured against the Colt model P SAA.
You just looking for who makes 'em or looking to buy one? Decide how much money you want to spend first. Colts are horrendously expensive and are still using the 100 plus year old design for the innards.
The Ruger Vaquero is an exact copy on the outside with modern innards and has Ruger's legendary strength. It'd be the one(ok a pair) I'd buy.
Add:
U.S. Firearms Co. (They start at a grand USD.)
Taurus (Gaucho)
Navy Arms(although they may be Uberti's)
Cimarron
EAA
Freedom Arms(starting at $1600US)
IAR
Heritage Mfg.
There's a swarm of them.
The Ruger Vaquero is an exact copy on the outside with modern innards and has Ruger's legendary strength. It'd be the one(ok a pair) I'd buy.
Add:
U.S. Firearms Co. (They start at a grand USD.)
Taurus (Gaucho)
Navy Arms(although they may be Uberti's)
Cimarron
EAA
Freedom Arms(starting at $1600US)
IAR
Heritage Mfg.
There's a swarm of them.
Thanks for the replies. Seems there a quite a few.
Sunray, I'm looking to buy. I will be getting a Ruger New Model Single Six because they come in .22lr/.22mag, but I also want a more serious revolver. Not sure how much I want to spend, I'd say not over or too close to a grand.
Sunray, I'm looking to buy. I will be getting a Ruger New Model Single Six because they come in .22lr/.22mag, but I also want a more serious revolver. Not sure how much I want to spend, I'd say not over or too close to a grand.
Well, if you're looking for the real thing, it's a Colt, period. If you are looking for a clone, the strongest (and completely different internally) is the Ruger. The Italians (and that's pretty much every other maker) all vary as to quality, but all the ones I've handled so far have been good value for the money and shot decently. - dan
So far, I've bought Colts and a Uberti. Both makes have been excellent with no problems to report with either one. (So you know where I'm coming from, I look for quality that holds it's value. I dislike clones because, while imitation may be the sincerest form of flattery, it stifles innovation. My philosophy is that clones are what you buy when you want to pound the crap out of a gun and don't expect it'll be worth much when you're done with it.)
Colt SAA are retailing for around $1100-$1200 USD in the States. The Ubertis are getting up there in price as well. If my bank account couldn't handle Colt, I think I'd opt for the Rugers instead. You can shoot the hell out of them and not worry about beating them up or you're devaluing a future "collectable."
soldier506
Regular
- Location
- saskatchewan,canada
I was told that the ruger blackhawks are the safest with their firing mec over other single actions.
If by best you mean best quality as opposed to best deal, I would rank them as follows:
1. Freedom Arms
2. Colt
3. Everything else
Freedom Arms are hard to find in Canada and very expensive, but the high price is reflected by the quality. Colts are also well-made, though they are not quite on the same level as FA, and also quite pricey (new SAA sell in the $1600-1800 range). Italian clones are okay and a decent value for the money but have a spotty record when it comes to reliability/durability. Rugers are very strong and generally reliable but their fit and finish leaves much to be desired. I examined a stainless Vaquero not long ago and if I had to pick one word to describe it, it would be "cheap".
1. Freedom Arms
2. Colt
3. Everything else
Freedom Arms are hard to find in Canada and very expensive, but the high price is reflected by the quality. Colts are also well-made, though they are not quite on the same level as FA, and also quite pricey (new SAA sell in the $1600-1800 range). Italian clones are okay and a decent value for the money but have a spotty record when it comes to reliability/durability. Rugers are very strong and generally reliable but their fit and finish leaves much to be desired. I examined a stainless Vaquero not long ago and if I had to pick one word to describe it, it would be "cheap".
- Location
- Tucson, Arizona
Are you buying a name on the barrel or do you want reliability?
Colts have been overpriced since 1839. Coil springs are better than flat springs.
Rugers DON'T BREAK
The Italians make good copies of colts.
Oh by the way I own two Stainless Vaquero's and they are anything but "cheap" The reason I bought stainless ones is because a little bit of woth with a belt sander removes "Blackstones Law Library from the barrel and with a bit of work on the buffing wheel, you would never know it was there.
Also own pairs of Ubertis, and Cimmarons.
The Colt Cowboy models may look acceptable on the outside, but the lockwork is a bit rough.
I am always amazed at the price of a Colt compared to a Ruger. Why is there such a LARGE difference? They are both made in the U.S., so its not a question of cheap foreign labour.
Colts have been overpriced since 1839. Coil springs are better than flat springs.
Rugers DON'T BREAK
The Italians make good copies of colts.
Oh by the way I own two Stainless Vaquero's and they are anything but "cheap" The reason I bought stainless ones is because a little bit of woth with a belt sander removes "Blackstones Law Library from the barrel and with a bit of work on the buffing wheel, you would never know it was there.
Also own pairs of Ubertis, and Cimmarons.
The Colt Cowboy models may look acceptable on the outside, but the lockwork is a bit rough.
I am always amazed at the price of a Colt compared to a Ruger. Why is there such a LARGE difference? They are both made in the U.S., so its not a question of cheap foreign labour.
Why is there such a LARGE difference? They are both made in the U.S., so its not a question of cheap foreign labour.
Yeah, not to mention the Colt tooling must long be paid for...
I want a nice gun that won't break and I won't need to upgrade anytime soon, and if it has a good name and won't break the bank that would be great. It seems like the Ruger is the way to go. You guys seem to talk of them nicely. I also read one of their manuals regarding the safety system and it allowing you to keep six rounds in the cylinder.
