Iver Johnson Uberti 44 Mag "Cattleman" SAA - some ???

B

bedbugbilly

New member
I have been on the look out for another SAA "copy" in a "new to me" caliber. I currently reload 38 spl and shoot vintage Smiths and a Ruger NV. I have been looking for either a 32/20 or a 33 spl. As historical as the 44/4 and the 45 Colt Long are, I'd rather stick to the 44 spl. for a larger than 38 spl caliber. I have not interest in loading / shooting 44 Mag but I am interested in shooting / loading the 44 Russian and 44 Spl.

In my looking, I have run across a "like new" Iver Johnson Uberti Cattleman - 5 1/2" barrel in 44 Mag - which would allow me to use the 44 Russian / 44 Spl.

If my understanding is correct, Iver Johnson imported these Ubertis in the 1970s and had their name stmped on them. The pistol i'm looking at looks to have been fired very little, if at all.

My question is - is there anything to look for on one of this vintage? Any problems with Ubertis made in the 1970s? Soft internals, short comings, etc? I presently have and shoot a Uberti 1851 Navy and it's one of the nicest '51 Navies I've ever owned. I'm not questioning the quality of Ubertis - I'm just not familiar / aware of any problems that might have existed in them at the time this revolver was made?

The LGS has a tag of $299 on it. I have purchased several used handguns from them in the past year and I know they will not go lower than that. In searching the internet, these appear to be bringing anywhere from $300 to $350 used. The one I'm looking at, although technically "used" is "like new". Given the price of a new Uberti in 44 Mag - the price seems fair. Your thoughts on that?

Any information / suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
 
Soft guts, sight regulation, mainspring breakage.
Most common weaknesses, but QC was variable, some guns were better, some worse.
Denis
 
I had the same gun, almost, a 1975 vintage Iver Johnson/Uberti .44 Magnum.

As was noted, the gun was poorly sighted, front sight way too short. Also soft metal in the frame at the firing pin aperture. Firing left a little crater around the firing pin apertre which allowed the primer to flow back and bind up the cylinder.

I hasten to add I have since bought three other Ubertis of later vintage and have had nary a problem.

Bob Wright
 
Thanks fellas - that's the info I was looking for. I know the newer Ubertis were fine but I've had no experience with the earlier 70s models. It sounds like a "pass" - I'd rather go the extra $ for a new one and know the quality is there. I was concerned on the internals and it sounds like they were soft about like the older ASM models.

Bob - thanks for the info on the firing pin - that "shook the old noodle" loose and I now remember reading something about the problem with the primer flow, etc. on these but it was so long ago that I read it, I'd forgotten about it.

Much appreciated and thank you all for your help! :)

Jim
 
Uberti has taken numerous shortcuts over the years, one was not bothering to use a recoil plate (firing pin bushing) like the Colts did & do.

That bushing is there on Colts for a reason- it's a wear point in the pistol from repeated friction/impact created by the firing pin.
Much cheaper & easier to replace a bushing with an enlarged firing pin hole than to replace a frame with an enlarged firing pin hole.

Back then, Uberti figured the guns were only going to be used intermittently, and treated production standards that way.

It was the CAS movement that caused a change in attitude, when buyers expected their CAS guns to actually hold up to volume shooting.
Denis
 
Dris:
Much cheaper & easier to replace a bushing with an enlarged firing pin hole than to replace a frame with an enlarged firing pin hole.
Click to expand...

Had I kept that Uberti I considered installing a recoil plate from a Colt, also adjustable sights. I would not have had to scrap the frame. In the long run, decided against that.

Bob Wright
 
My first Uberti Cattleman, 45 Colt, says "Iver Johnson" on it.
I have been shooting that revolver hard with 250 gr XTP and H110.
It always shot high, so we welded on a sight extension.

The two fingered spring broke last year, and I could still get parts for it.
 

Attachments

  • 1873TIGWeldBlade.jpg
    1873TIGWeldBlade.jpg
    24.2 KB · Views: 44
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top