In the SAA world seems nothing stays the same.
Spent some time rebuilding a vintage 1900 Colt yesterday.
What a piece of shxx this one was. It had a badly welded up original Colt hammer and all Uberti internals badly done. The entire internal set were trash.
My take is the current Uberti guns are better than the last 50 years or so of Colt production. Not as good as the USFA USA made production....but damn close to their equal and to Colt 2nd Gen/ 1st Gen guns.
Before any one gets all lathered up...pretty obvious I shoot them. But I also tear them down and rebuild them.
Frankly of the several 1st Gen guns I have here, including this newest 1900 gun, a current Uberti (Cimarron's versions with a proper hammer) is a much, much better gun in every way. Only thing missing are a decent case colors.
The steel used today negated the need for a case hardened frame years ago. But I do like the look.
I've had enough of these guns (good Colts of every generation, current Pietta, current Uberti, USA made USFA) apart to tell you the modern guns are light years ahead of anything Colt is doing for a production gun. Most Pietta or Ubertis come perfectly timed. Externally the cosmetics are damn near perfect most of the time...they have sharp corners, smooth seams and very often shoot POA/POI as many of us are finding out. I will typically do a trigger job on mine but it sure isn't required.
Uberti and Pietta are way, way beyond what Colt production internal parts with dang near perfect timing every time as almost drop in parts.
Just for fun when I was rebuilding this 1900 vintage Colt, after wrestling with proper Colt parts for a couple of hours to get it right, once done, I pulled everything out and started over. Still had a new 1st gen cylinder in the gun, Colt hand, but then I dropped in a USFA hammer with a new cam, that fits better than the original rebuilt Colt (and a choice of firing pin styles with the USFA hammers), a Colt bolt, and finally a USFA trigger.
The 1900 Colt is better for the parts change. I am a little less inclined to believe everything I hear these days after that experience. Plenty of smoke and mirrors else where.
If I have learned anything from rebuilding this 1900 Colt, it would be, Colt for the most part kept trying to make a better SAA from day one till rather recently. I'd venture to say some of the most recent last production guns were the best Colts ever made. Not an opinion I held until the last few weeks. But that aint saying Colt has built the best SAAs...they clearly have not. I do believe Italy (or Italian CNC programs anyway as in USFA) holds that title.
Uberti SAAs being better than Colt? Again not an opinion I've held until recently.
I like nice cosmetics just not enough generally that I want to pay or wait for them to be done right. If I really wanted a "nice" SAA, I'd buy a current Cimarron...make sure it shoots at what ever level I required then I'd sent it off to Turnbull, to have the gun color cased and reblued. Might even have the Italian roll marks removed while it is being done.
Here are some gun economics for you. Recent purchases.
Top one is a 1900 vintage Colt in 45 Colt which cost me $2000. Since then I have added ivory grips, a new set of screws and springs, all new internals including the hammer and a new cylinder. Stripped the bad nickel and had it reblued with no additional buffing. It still needs to be remarked and a "real" finish applied. All this for a gun worth may be $3000 including the ivory (carved ivory worth $1000 now) when I am done.
Middle gun is a USFA USA made Rodeo .45 Colt, paid $935 delivered off GB. 2 piece wood grips, polished cylinder.
Bottom guns is a Dixie Gun Works Uberti, BP frame, 44 Special. I added a Cimarron old style hammer and did a trigger job, Cost was $640 all in.
All three guns are decent shooters as they sit today. The Uberti 44 Special is the best shooting gun in the group.....