Cimarron CA514M00 Uberti P US Cavalry 45LC 7.5 Case Hardened Revolver

[TSMGguy]

Just ordered one of these. It is an excellent quality tribute to the 1876 Battle of the Little Bighorn. Looks like Uberti has mastered their color case hardening process. It used to be thin and tinny looking, but now it exhibits the colors you'd expect. The revolver is outfitted with a long base pin which acts as a safety, blocking the hammer when desired. The gun has a "black powder" frame. Two base pin screws are included (shown), one of which is historically accurate. Original markings are faithfully executed. Photos from the Classic Firearms web site.

 

 

 

Edited February 8, 2025 by TSMGguy

[timkel]

It's all about the details, very nice.

[Rekraps]

Really a nice piece!

[TSMGguy]

You'd think that the gun would be barrel heavy, but balance is about perfect. Misters Richards and Mason knew what they were doing when they designed this piece! Some history here:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colt_Single_Action_Army

 

 

[dalbert]

I have a 5 1/2" Cimarron Arms SAA that I bought in January, 1999, and the box indicates was manufactured in September 1997.  Such a silky action, and bright blue color. I love looking at, and shooting this revolver.  I never thought about the case color.  My case color looks good to me, but the photos you posted do look richer.  I have photographed it along with a 3rd generation Colt from my collection.

BTW, it doesn't look like the Cimarron box has changed since 1997.

David Albert
dalbert@sturmgewehr.com

[TSMGguy]

Here's one man's opinion on the current offerings of Italian first model SAA revolvers. I have to say that the Uberti offerings are very nice indeed.

I have been unable to find an attribution for the following:

 

Italian Revolvers

     Considering they all come from two factories, Pietta and Uberti, you should know they are not all the same. The two factories have different machining capabilities. Each importer, (Cimarron, Taylor’s, Cabela’s, EMF, Dixie Gun Works, etc.) also has different specifications for each model. The quality of the product depends how the firearm was “Spec’d” and on who is checking to make sure those specifications are being upheld. I am talking about engineering specifications. From the type of steel used to the hardness of the trigger to the precise dimensions of the hand. Quality control personnel overseas and in the US are the key. I am not fond of Italian models that have internal safety mechanisms in the hammer, retractable firing pins, transfer bars or finishes that look like black spray paint. Call me and I’ll explain. “Four clickers” take some getting used to if you are new to single action revolvers. All Uberti made revolvers now have a retractable firing pin in the hammer and only three clicks unless you buy the Old Model black powder frame. All Pietta made revolvers are still four click Colt Replicas. Price and quality go hand in hand with Italian revolvers

.    The production of Italian revolvers has never been very consistent. I have seen the machining and parts fitting vary a lot over the years. There just seems to be an ebb and flow in quality with Pietta and Uberti revolvers. Some years Pietta has better quality, some years Uberti has better quality. 

     Cimarron F.A. The Model P – Made by Uberti. “Pre-War” & “Old Model”.  The “Pre-War” model has the retractable firing pin in the hammer and a three click action. These have a wide notch rear sight and squared front sight. The retractable firing pin does create reliability issues in the competitive setting. Many shooters have had problems with these. Fitting a standard hammer and trigger work converts these to a regular 4-click action. The “Old Model” has the black powder frame with the single screw that holds the base pin in the frame. The Old Model, black powder frame, does not have the retractable firing pin safety in the hammer and has the four click authentic action. However it does have a V-groove rear sight and a “pinched” front blade just like an original early 1st Gen Colt. On both of these the bluing is deep and the case coloring is attractive on most of them. If you are going to dry fire hundreds of times a week and shoot every week-end, expect to replace some parts from time to time. Have a set of SAA screw drivers. Clean, oil lightly and snug the screws regularly.

Model P, 45LC, 4 3/4 weighs 2.15 lbs.

NOTE: The new (2017-Present) Cimarron Model P “Pre-War” with the cross pin frame has the floating firing pin in the hammer. This is a three click action because there is not a “safety” notch anymore. No longer an authentic replica. Some will love it, some will hate it, some won’t care.

     Cimarron F.A. The Frontier. Made by Pietta. These are a nice Colt SAA replica with an authentic four click action. It has the 1st Gen Colt beveled cylinder detail. This model has the cross pin latch that holds the base pin in. It uses a coil spring and plunger on the hand for reliability. This gun has a natural balance that just feels great in the hand. It shares being the lightest with Great Western II. These have a wide notch rear sight and a squared front blade. The bluing is deep and the case coloring is attractive on most of them. If you are going to dry fire hundreds of times a week and shoot every week-end, expect to replace some parts from time to time. Have a set of SAA screw drivers. Clean, oil lightly and snug the screws regularly.

Frontier, 45LC, 4 3/4 weighs 2.15 lbs.

Edited February 7, 2025 by TSMGguy
correct spelling

[TSMGguy]

IMHO, about the best finished, best fitted SAA clone available today comes from Standard Manufacturing Company, their model SAR7C1. It is perfection in every detail, right down to the single piece burled walnut grips. This doesn't look like something purchased off the shelf at Bud's, but it is. About three times the cost of the Italian entries, and entirely US made.

 

[dalbert]

On 2/7/2025 at 11:43 AM, TSMGguy said:

IMHO, about the best finished, best fitted SAA clone available today comes from Standard Manufacturing Company, their model SAR7C1. It is perfection in every detail, right down to the single piece burled walnut grips. This doesn't look like something purchased off the shelf at Bud's, but it is. About three times the cost of the Italian entries, and entirely US made.

 

That is a beautiful pistol.  Now I need one, lol.

David Albert

[DougStump]

TSMGuy,

I picked mine up yesterday.  I got "Company C", commanded by Capt. Thomas Custer. 

How is your trigger pull?  Mine is a bit heavier than I like, 5 pounds.  After it's broken in, if it doesn't smooth out I may have to do some polishing.  The correct safety screw wasn't included, I've emailed Cimarron, so hopefully they'll send me one.  The grip is smaller that I expected, maybe that's why they keep missing in the old westerns.?

Doug Stump

[DARIVS]

Beautiful pistols, gentlemen!  I love the look of case hardening, even if it is simulated by flame oxidation.   Here is my 1873 Winchester Sporting custom in .44-40 WCF, imported by Navy Arms about some time between 1992 and 2009.  It looks wonderful.  It would be interesting to know when it was made, but I have not been able to find production records from Uberti.

Edited February 15, 2025 by DARIVS

[DougStump]

Darius,

Beautiful!  I picked up this rescue pet from an estate.  Not abused, but neglected and unwanted.   Winchester 1892 in 25-20,  24" octagonal barrel,  born in 1905.  I was concerned about the ammo, but the guy said $500, so she came home with me.  I've since necked a bunch of 32-20 cases down, so feeding is no longer a problem, and she's got an appetite.  I little pitting in the barrel,  but she's ring steel at 120 yards all day.  She's a real sweetheart!

Doug

 

[TSMGguy]

16 hours ago, DARIVS said:

Beautiful pistols, gentlemen!  I love the look of case hardening, even if it is simulated by flame oxidation.   Here is my 1873 Winchester Sporting custom in .44-40 WCF, imported by Navy Arms about some time between 1992 and 2009.  It looks wonderful.  It would be interesting to know when it was made, but I have not been able to find production records from Uberti.

 

Give me the two-letter proof code and I'll look up the manufacture year for you. 

My own Cimarron Model P US Cavalry, delivered this week, simply has the year, 24, in a circle, instead of earlier year codes. Its action is just as smooth and tight as my Standard Manufacturing SAA SAR7C1, also just purchased. The literature furnished with the Uberti says that the receiver is forged. The Standard's is billet milled from 4140 steel. Great care obviously went into the fitting of both guns.  

Edited February 15, 2025 by TSMGguy

[DARIVS]

53 minutes ago, TSMGguy said:

 

Give me the two-letter proof code and I'll look up the manufacture year for you. 

My own Cimarron Model P US Cavalry, delivered this week, simply has the year, 24, in a circle, instead of earlier year codes. Its action is just as smooth and tight as my Standard Manufacturing SAA SAR7C1, also just purchased. The literature furnished with the Uberti says that the receiver is forged. The Standard's is billet milled from 4140 steel. Great care obviously went into the fitting of both guns.  

68522 is the serial number stamped on the lower receriver tang. The Catalog number on the bottom is 1573, and one of the proof marks is sqaure with a "BI" in it.  Hopefully that will tell us something.  It was imported by Navy Arms.  

[TSMGguy]

1 hour ago, DARIVS said:

68522 is the serial number stamped on the lower receriver tang. The Catalog number on the bottom is 1573, and one of the proof marks is sqaure with a "BI" in it.  Hopefully that will tell us something.  It was imported by Navy Arms.  

BI, 1997.

The whole table: .

ABBREVIATIONS RELATING TO THE WEAPON TEST YEAR
Note: Before 1954, the test year was indicated with Arabic numerals
 

Theme song	Year	Theme song	Year	Theme song	Year
X	1954	AE	1979	BU	2004
XI	1955	AF	1980	BZ	2005
XII	1956	AH	1981	CA	2006
XIII	1957	AI	1982	CB	2007
XIV	1958	TO THE	1983	CC	2008
XV	1959	AM	1984	CD	2009
XVI	1960	AN	1985	CF	2010
XVII	1961	AP	1986	CH	2011
XVIII	1962	AS	1987	CI	2012
XIX	1963	AT	1988	CL	2013
XX	1964	AU	1989	CM	2014
XXI	1965	AZ	1990	CN	2015
XXII	1966	BA	1991	CP	2016
XXIII	1967	BB	1992	CS	2017
XXIV	1968	BC	1993	CT	2018
XXV	1969	BD	1994	CU	2019
XXVI	1970	BF	1995	CZ	Until 31/05/2020
XX7	1971	BH	1996	20	From 01/06/2020
XX8	1972	BI	1997	21	2021
XX9	1973	BL	1998
XXX	1974	BM	1999
AA	1975	BN	2000
AB	1976	BP	2001
B.C	1977	BS	2002
TO	1978	BT	2003

 

 

Edited February 15, 2025 by TSMGguy

[DARIVS]

So that puts my gun at year 1997.  Thanks TSMGguy!!!

[BPinFL]

Greetings Gentlemen:  And I thought I was one of the few interested in Colt SAA'a and reproductions!  TSMMguy I have a cousin of your new pistol.  Mine is serial no. P03377 made in 2000. Marked E CO. 7CAV. on the butt. Inherited from my uncle who carried in his truck.  Has been shot quite a bit, and has a great trigger.

Regarding other reproductions, I have a Hawes Firearms Co. "Western Marshal" in .44 Mag made by J.P.Sauer and Sohn in W Germany. It's a beautiful gun, but quite a handful to shoot with full power ammo.

Thanks for the Boards and you guys posting all this great information and Pics! BP

[Chris Baker]

On 2/2/2025 at 10:49 PM, TSMGguy said:

Just ordered one of these. It is an excellent quality tribute to the 1876 Battle of the Little Bighorn. Looks like Uberti has mastered their color case hardening process. It used to be thin and tinny looking, but now it exhibits the colors you'd expect. The revolver is outfitted with a long base pin which acts as a safety, blocking the hammer when desired. The gun has a "black powder" frame. Two base pin screws are included (shown), one of which is historically accurate. Original markings are faithfully executed. Photos from the Classic Firearms web site.

 

 

 

Uberti’s recent case hardening really has improved, and that Little Bighorn tribute is a cool piece of history. The long base pin “safety” is a smart touch for handling. Enjoy shooting it with black powder loads; it’ll give you that authentic feel.