Remember how USFA tried their hand at reproducing more than just SAA's? I had one of their Lightning Rifles, and it remains the most exquisitely machined firearm I ever had the pleasure of owning. Unfortunately, they copied the original too closely without a proper understanding of how to make them run properly--especially when chambered in anything but .44-40. Mine was in .45 Colt and, though I suspected that it was the shape of the ejectors that were causing its issues, I couldn't bear to take stones and files to it. Regardless, its subsequent sale is one of those I remember with remorse.
Then USFA came out with their "1910" model, which was a bit of a fantasy piece in that it utilized a hammer shape Colt had abandoned well before the 1911 debuted. I wanted one, nevertheless, and that hammer even appealed to me, evoking the earlier Colt pistols.
Then there were their very, very few percussion revolvers (finished Uberti parts, I know), and their 1875 Remington that never got off the ground. It is very hard to make a success of reproducing old-world firearms if one does it using all machined parts and American labor. I don't blame Doug Donnelly for quitting when he did, though I never did understand the completely antithetical ZIP .22.
I don't know if Standard's SA revolver will ever be a long-term success. The Italians' use of castings, cyanide case colors, and lower-cost labor makes it just too hard to compete, especially since the Italian clones actually look good and work well. And the relatively rare (but documented) poor examples of quality and customer service from Standard certainly don't bode well.
But back to my original paragraph. Remember when USFA's apparent goal went from just selling finely-fit and finished Uberti parts to manufacturing their own copies of, not just the SAA, but other discontinued Colt firearms as well? Checking email today, I noticed this from Standard.
https://stdgun.com/22-semi-automatic-pistol-royal-blue/?utm_source=Standard+Mfg.+Co.+Newsletter&utm_campaign=3f3fb02110-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2021_03_26_07_59&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_8f9ecb6acc-3f3fb02110-198648085&mc_cid=3f3fb02110&mc_eid=41562ab945I don't know how folks will take to a $900 Colt Woodsman copy, but I have to admit that it appeals to me to have someone bring back an old-school all-machined Woodsman. Much more appealing than the Beretta Neos. If anything, I hope they make a lot of magazines.