USFA Storekeeper mini review

[wileycoyote]

NEW UPDATED COMMENTS ARE MARKED IN [ ] BRACKETS.

I recently purchased a USFA 3.5" 45 Colt with Birdshead (Bisley-style) hammer, standard grip, ejector, CH & Dome blue. It's much like their new Double Eagle except it has a standard grip frame and is called the Storekeeper.

It was purchased from Long Hunter (LHSS) and I had them do their standard-package upgrade before shipping it to me.





I've been playing with it for a couple weeks now and thought you'd enjoy seeing some photos & hearing my random thoughts.

Regarding USFA's design and construction, I have to say that it was beautifully done.

Balance of the 3.5" barrel with ejector is just about perfect. Very handy and quick. Workmanship overall is excellent. The case hardening is rich & colorful and the Dome blue is smooth deep dark black (although personally I slightly prefer their Armory blue which has a lighter gun-metal color and warm richness to it). Metal-to-metal fit is incredible. Grip-to-metal fit is also close to perfect. Almost every surface is seamless and square. It's very well fitted.

They did a great job redesigning their new Birdshead hammer. It classic and beautiful. The overall shape feels great in hand. My thumb likes the wide low feel.

One point in particular I think was brilliantly handled is the way they cut the ejector slot so the base pin can be removed without having to take the housing off the barrel (as one does with a 3.5" FA Model 97). An additional plus is being able to get as much ejection as possible. Wonderful! This photo says it all:



[I was just informed that there were approximately 200 early 3.5" ejector versions made that didn't incorporate the cammed slot. On these models the housing needs to be removed to extract the base pin. I'm very glad this new design is now available. Sweet!]

But there are only a few things I think USFA could still improve:

-The first is the way the hammer rubs on both sides.





[I just spend time talking with Gary at USFA, discussing my comments posted here (he contacted me!). This rubbing situation hasn't gone un-noticed at USFA. Options to keep this from happening might include relieving the frame or thinning the sides of the hammer to keep them from touching, but USFA believes that either method leaves too big a gap on either side of the hammer which looks even tackier than the rub marks. No easy answers have surfaced... Thinking about it personally, while I find the rub marks unsightly on a mint-condition gun, I also know that in just a few short days my revolver will start showing wear all over. And the fact is that I like the worn look of my older well-used USFA. It looks "real" and every mark on it tells a story of its history. The way the blue is worn off the backstrap and triggerguard on my 4.75" model actually adds character, as does every ding and polished high-spot. So while I wish a solution could be found to alleviate the rubbing, it isn't anything to worry about on a working gun.]

-The next thing needing attention are the very sharp edges around the top of the Birdshead hammer. It drew blood the first time I cocked it. Seeing that the casehardening was being rapidly damaged by the rubbing, I saw no harm in modifying it, so I radiused the razor-edges and then cold blued the newly exposed  steel. (While I was at it, I also radiused the sharp edges from the top of each gutta purcha grip).

[Good news: USFA agrees this needs changing and is planning how they're going to smooth the sharp edges on future hammers. It's great to not only get a response, but action. Wow.]

-Although it groups nicely, it unfortunately shoots left approximately 5" at 50 feet. USFA is well known for getting windage correct so I guess I just got a rare one.

[USFA has asked me to ship the gun back to them (at their expense!) and they're more than happy to correct this problem. They say that shouldn't have been allowed out of the shop, but sometimes even they miss one. Bravo USFA! The gun is headed back your way.]

All in all, I'm not too upset with these problems. The fact is, I can't think of a single thing I've ever owned that was perfect in every way, regardless of cost or maker. This includes some very expensive top-quality handmade custom folding knives by the world's best makers. Such is life. Absolute perfection is always just slightly out of reach and thats the way it should be. What a boring world it would be if we finally found it...

LHSS deserves special mention for the way they handled the purchase. Jim Finch of Long Hunter Shooter Supply of Texas was a pleasure to work with. I might even say he's the best-in-the-business that I've come across in the last 40 years. He was helpful, fast, honest and did a stunning job tuning this revolver before shipping it. He did his basic 7-upgrades (except for jeweling the hammer which would have ruined the case hardening). It greatly improved handling and feel. The trigger is the best I've felt in a SAA. Thanks for everything Jim!

Knowing that someday I would own a nice 3.5" SAA, I've had a custom Milt Sparks holster & belt on order for months. They arrived within days of receiving the USFA. Perfect timing. And what a lovely working outfit for daily-carry around the ranch.



So, overall I'm thrilled. It's become my favorite carry piece for both work and play. And once I get it back [from USFA] and shooting to POA, I'll be very happy indeed.

Thanks for listening. [And thanks to USFA for their gracious and generous response]

[RRio]

That's a great little gun, there! I'd like to have one of those for my collection.

[wileycoyote]

new updated comments have been added to my original post and are marked with brackets. 

[RRio]

It's good to see Gary and the rest are on top of this at USFA. 

might include relieving the frame or thinning the sides of the hammer to keep them from touching, but USFA believes that either method leaves too big a gap on either side of the hammer which looks even tackier than the rub marks.

I definitly agree. I would be totally against that method.
When I saw the rub marks on the hammer, I immediately though of going into the hammer channel in the frame, and smooth it down with a 400 grit "flapper" in a DuMore.
As a machinist, it really shouldn't take that much.

[wileycoyote]

UPDATE:

The more I fondled my little Storekeeper the happier it made me. My only real concern was the fact that it shot to the left quite a bit.

The same day I posted my original thread above, I was contacted by Gary at USFA. He asked me to contact him to discuss fixing this problem. So I called the next day and we spent a fun hour discussing everything USFA and SAA.

He was more than happy to correct the problem.

A few days later I received a pre-paid FedEx return label so I shipped the Storekeeper off on March 11th.

On March 24 it was delivered back.

I immediately grabbed a handful of 45 Colt fodder and stepped out the backdoor to test it.

DEAD-ON! Cylinder after cylinder as hitting exactly to point of aim. Shooting pretty rapidly, unsupported from a standing position, I was getting groups the size of my fist at 50'. What more could I ask for?

This beautiful Storekeeper has become my favorite pistol, which I carry 24/7.

Kudos for making a great single-action and for standing 100% behind it. Thank you Gary (and Peter who sighted it in for me).

[RRio]

YEAH!   

That's what I'm talkin' about. Service, second to none!

I'm glad they got straightened it out for you.