Abilene/Seville Revolvers
I own both an Abilene 44, Riverhead model and a Seville Stainless 357 Maximum Stretch Frame. This might get long, but here goes.
As I understand it, US Arms started with 3 partners who, after only building a few prototypes, couldn't get along, and possibly had some legal entanglements with not only Bill Ruger, but with Colt. Rumour also has it they could not agree on what quality/price point they were aiming for.
The Abilene was a result of one partner, while the other two moved to Haupennaugua (Or however the hell you spell it), NY and spawned the Seville. They eventually split as well, and one stayed in NY, later to N.C., making the El Dorado Arms revolvers. The other went to AZ and moved the plant a couple of times, between Tombstone, Bisbee and Tucson. There was a time when the Sevilles were made by another owner of the company in Idaho, but those are considered junk, mostly.
In the end, the original owners of United sporting arms in AZ bought the company back from the morons in Idaho, only to sell all the parts, molds and equipment back to one of the original US arms founders in N.C. This is how El Dorado was finally able to make stretch frame revolvers in 357 Max, 375 Supermag, etc. Even Prototypes in 445 super mag and 414 supermag before Dan Wesson even though of them.
Anyway, to make a long story short, which is FAR too late, the Abilene revolver was designed and built specifically to compete with the Ruger Blackhawk both in quality and price, whereas the Seville, was designed to be a far superior product, and was, to be honest.
Both share similarities with the Blackhawk and the original Colt SAA, and the Abilene I have outshoots all my Rugers, including my 357 Max SRM. The Seville is another story. It is nothing a thing of beauty and mechanical marvel. It was made from 17-4Ph Stainless, pre-dating Freedom Arms by some 6 years, and has a fit, finish and function that can only be duplicated by a custom shop and a large wallet. I have had many Freedon Arms owners in absolute awe when they shoot the thing.
I have not found yet, but will, an El Dorado revolver, and will likely buy it when I see it, but the United Sporting Arms Mantra was, "We're building what Ruger could, maybe, if he had a custom shop", and the El Dorado is considered by many as a Custom Seville.
The Abilene, Seville, and El Dorado Revolvers are all, indeed, rare. And all special and far better than a Ruger. The Abilenes were made in 357, 44, and rumour says 45 Colt, but I've never seen one. Sevilles and El Dorado's (Laredo's) were made in 357, 44, 45, 357 Max, 375 Max, 454 Mag(Casull), and 22. Abilene's were never made in Stainless though, and the use of 17-4pH stainless in the Seville/El Dorado is incomprehensible at the time they did just that.
hope this helps you guys out
Ray