USFA pre-war?

[Buckaroo Lou]

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OK, I'm going to let my ignorance hang out again. What is the difference between a USFA premium SA and a pre-war SA. OR, maybe a better way to ask it is what makes a pre-war USFA a pre-war?

[Capt. John Fitzgerald]

Primarily, it was the bluing process used.  Standard models were blued using modern bluing processes which USFA referred to as "Dome Blue".  Pre-war models were blued using the older carbona bluing process and this was called "Armory Blue."   Pre-wars also came with the CCH hammer.  For the past couple of years CCH hammers were a $125.00 option on standard models.   Black powder frames were the standard for pre-war models but they could be special ordered with cross-pin frames.

[Buckaroo Lou]

Capt. John, thanks for the info.

I, however, am still a little confused. Can a pre-war have either a BP frame or cross pin frame? What specifically constitutes a pre-war USFA model?  The Blue Book shows them to be a distinct model valued differently than the standard Premium SA model.

[Capt. John Fitzgerald]

Just the finish.  As stated, carbona bluing, which is more labor intensive and as such more expensive, and CCH hammer, which was an option on standard models.  Black powder frame was standard but they could be special ordered with the cross pin frame.  Apart from that there were no physical differences between the two.

[Buckaroo Lou]

OK, so if I understand correctly, a SA with BP frame, Armory bluing, CC hammer constitute a pre-war. The same gun with Dome bluing is just a premium SA with CC hammer upgrade and BP frame upgrade, and their actions and the function of those actions are identical. Am I correct?

 Another question. Can a USFA gun have a cross pin frame, Armory bluing, and CC hammer and be a pre-war model or is it just a Premium SA with upgraded bluing and CC hammer?

And finally, the recent Sheriff model I purchased has the BP frame, Armory bluing, bone CC on frame and hammer, so is it a pre-war or are Sheriff models even considered pre-war?

I do apologize but this all gets somewhat confusing to me.

[Capt. John Fitzgerald]

Any gun with the Armory Blue finish and a CCH hammer is considered a pre-war.  Dome blue, with or without the CCH hammer, is considered a standard, or premium model.  Same gun, different finish.
Basically you are looking at three levels of finish quality (and cost) with USFA;
Rodeo: matte blue or satin nickel
Standard/Premium:  Dome blue w/o CCH hammer
Pre-War: Armory blue with CCH hammer
Apart from the finish, there is no difference in quality between the three.  The pre-war isn't a better gun, it is just a gun with a different finish.

[Buckaroo Lou]

Capt. John, I think I understand now. Thanks much for your patience and understanding. I had read some post that made it seem as though there was a quality difference and the way the Blue Book reads makes it sound as though there is a difference with regard to quality and I was trying to determine if there was and what it was.

[Capt. John Fitzgerald]

No problem, Lou.  There is no difference in the quality of parts or construction among the three models.  Price differences merely reflect the cost of the finish.

[Jughead]

So, my box says "Old Armory Bone Case & Dome Blue", has the CH hammer and BP frame. Which is it?

[Capt. John Fitzgerald]

You have the standard model.  As for the CCH hammer, they were standard issue with the early guns and later, when USFA went to the white sided hammers, they became an option.