Funny - not!
I gave an honest appraisal of what I received from Cimarron after a four month wait.
Guess if I had waited four months and been dreaming of them I'd be contacting the dealer/distributor/Cimarron to make them right. I've bought a few percussion and a Richard/Mason conversion from Taylors and have had excellent luck and service with them. They advise no gun leaves their business without being checked by a gunsmith. Taylors do offer the Open Top in both Army and Navy frames but only do so in 45LC and 38 Spec calibers, same with their R/Mason models. Don't know why no 44's, maybe Cimarron has an agreement with Uberti. ??. I've found over the last ten years or so Taylors has cheaper prices in parts vs VTI and Cimarron, just sayin.
Well ...... I have been explaining to folks for years what they will get with an Uberti Open Top. A "KIT." The Open Top has alway been that way and has not been improved by Uberti since day one. Just the way it is with the Open Top. Actually .... ALL of the Open top design guns by Uberti, whether a Suppository shooter or percussion.
Yes and no Coffinmaker. I know you always contend this, but alot of owners/shooters of Uberti open top style revolvers be they be percussion or conversion type have expressed they've had no problems with their Uberti firearm. Tuolumne Lawman in his last post stated all five of his were fine. My thought is the workers at Uberti differ in attitude at the assembly line and inspection station. Many need an attitude adjustment hour. If it's the higher ups pushin for faster production, maybe they need it and/or a different vocation. While I got a bummer OT at first, the 2nd one was fine metal/metal fit and finish except the need for arbor washers and a new bolt. As I stated in prior post, my Richards II is a prince charming, fine out of the box. The R/Mason 38 needed just a little tweaking. Eight of my ten percussion hoglegs are Uberti, all run timing wise with five stars. I believe maybe half needed arbor washers, all I did to the eight was some fine stoning to the innards, same as I did to my two Peitta's. I'll agree with ya on the fact that a lot of the Uberti's have poor arbor fit, sort of their calling card to a lot of their shooters it seems.
Coffin I know you've worked on umpteen more shooters than I ever will and have vast more experience with them, but to label them "All KITS" IMO is an overstatement. I've been around handguns and shooters since the late 60's, have seen many gun come from Smith, Ruger, and Colt that needed tweaking and TLC by manufacturer and/or owners, a few of em myself. I know by your posts you prefer Pietta's, but they aren't "lily's in white" either. Not saying that Uberti doesn't need to do better quality control wise and distributors need to make sure they're selling quality products, esp when they contend what they sell is 'top shelf' and receives extra this and that. If I were Mike Harvey or the gals at Taylors, I'd be on Uberti's case. No excuse for letting Q control slip as it does from time to time. Oh well, love your posts Coffinmaker and like banterin' with ya once in a while. Agree with your five choices to PJ, but would add a 6th, return for two OT's in 44 Spec asp (!!!!) that don't exhibit the problems he's having. My choice! If every gun produced was 100% to the good, be they handgun or rifle and everyone could shoot 1" groups or better, we'd have no fun tryin to do better accuracy wise or improving the operation of the things. Be no challenge. Have a good day.
Late edit: Good post Cliff Fendley!