Big thanks to WD (Peter R. per chance?) and Gary. As with the guns, it is easy to get confused on what was actually going on, when, at USFA. Like the gun quality, things progressed as to what was actually done in house as well. Thanks to both of you for giving us a better picture of how things were done, "from the beginning to the end."
20 years is a long time....
"In the early years, as WD mentioned, several parts were sourced out. When I arrived in late 2005, other than springs and the the black grips, all parts were made in house. Frames, cylinders, backstraps, trigger guards, and hammers were machined from bar stock. "
As a business USFA was around from 1991 or so? to 2011. First USFA serial numbered gun #20100 built on Uberti parts around 1997 or 1998. Full in house USA production guns was ongoing by 2005 per Gary's comment on his arrival. Very fun that we have a beginning and a end now. It is that middle number that will be interesting as to when actual USA production began in house and a serial number to match the date. By WD's comments and past recollection it has to be during or after 2002 when they went into the new building and started producing USA frames in house.
Great stuff guys! Thanks very much! The real time frame that I find interesting at USFA is between 2001 and 2003 as they ramped up production and acquired the CNC machines to do everything in house. So far serial numbers we can verify from those years have been hard to come by.
some serial number references
21024 parts gun
21213 parts gun
21215 parts gun
21600 parts gun
21601 parts gun
21651 parts gun (likely 1999 and prior)
22113 parts gun
22180 parts gun* transitional guns by the # out of order?
(2002+ production?)22154 USA gun* transitional guns by the # out of order?
22293 cone USA
22421 cone firing pin (likely prior to 2004)
22934 cone USA gun
and dates we have collected here as a group
-1999-
2102x
216XX
2002
A675 (some A's are known parts guns)
A676
-2004-
2271x
2276x
22966
22967
2299x
2310x
23123
2313x
78018
was digging around and found this:
"SHOOT magazine....."There is an article about the history of USFA. It states that for the first 11 years , the guns were produced in the old Colt factory, under the blue dome . In 2001-2002 they moved to a state of the art , 30000 sq. ft. manufacturing ,which became a necessity, when additional CNC milling units were acquired and it was determined that the wood beam floors of the old Colt building were not designed to hold the additional weight. "Tucked away on a two lane side street off I-91, this unobtrusive building belies the high tech industry that is housed within."
The address given for USFA in this 2006 article is 445-453 Ledyard St. Does that address now look like it houses a 30,000 sq. ft. state of the art maufacturing facility ?
Also found this today...
http://www.zoominfo.com/p/Douglas-Donnelly/82740857