Opinion on Cimarron Lever Guns

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SwwPlayboy

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For the longest time I have been looking for a Winchester 1892 large loop carbine in a 44-40. I'm really like the 44-40 round and have decided to put the hunt for the Winchester aside for now to try and find something else that shoots a 44-40. Which brings me to Cimarron.

I ran across one at a gun show, only really giving it a glance. Once I saw it was a Cimarron I continued on. To be honest I don't know much about them, but from what I understand they are known for making replicas and are in the same category as Taylor &Co. and Uberti. Again, to be fair, ive never purchased a gun from any of these companies, but I've never been one for replicas. I've read reviews here and there about the qualities and they've never really been great reviews.

I came across a Cimarron gun one day online called the "Texas Brush Popper". Like the one at the gun show, its appearance made me pause. Something else that caught my eye was the price, this was not a cheap gun, which also got me thinking how good is the quality actually. Its got that old time look to it, the shorter barrel, and it comes in a 44-40. But I am having trouble finding any kind of review on it.

Has anyone had any experiences with Cimarron? Are they a pretty sturdy gun? Any information is welcomed.

Thanks
 
Cimarron makes nothing, they are an importer of Italian replicas like Taylors.
Their 92s are Chiappas from Italy.
Denis
 
I have also looked at replicas, but have never purchased one. Is there any brand that is better than the other?
 
DPris- Are you sure about that? The reason I ask is the Gunsmith at Long Hunters in Amarillo said they are not the same as Uberti, Cimmaron, and Taylors. I was asking about a replica Winchester 1876 in .45-75, and the guy said Chiappa's are quite a bit lower on the quality chain with very few parts interchangability.
 
Cimarron is an importer

They aim for a more upscale customer than other old west companies out there. You will find better fit and finish on their products that will come from the same Italian manufacturers as the other guys.
I got a Legacy Sports 1892 Puma that was made by Rossi. A bit rough in fit and finish, but the price was right and I love it. Since then, Legacy Sports dropped Rossi and now sell a nicer quality 1892 that is made by Chiappa.
 
10-96,
Cimarron manufactures nothing, they are an importer.

They contract with various Italian makers for their own versions of standard Italian repros that may run from a higher grade of finish (case-coloring) to a unique Cimarron configuration, like the Brush Popper.

They sell single-actions from Pietta and Uberti, leverguns from Uberti and Chiappa. Unknown how much longer they'll be carrying Chiappa.

The 1876 has been made by more than one Italian firm, and Uberti does the best.
Cimarron carries the Uberti 1876, to the best of my knowledge.

And, Legacy was phasing out the Chiappa 92 line last year because of their inability to get product from that company.
Denis
 
So Chiappa is not considered a low quality manufacturer?

And perhaps, there should be no more discussion as to whether Cimarron is ONLY an importer. I am struggling to determine who said they did.
 
Chiappa I would not consider low-grade, based on the two I've had here.
There have been some reports of the occasional problem, but you get that with ANY Italian maker. And not a few domestic makers, too. :)

Don't understand the rest of your comment.

Cimarron isn't a manufacturer & sells products they import.
Denis
 
Uberti makes quality weapons. I have a pistol that I would stake my life on. Their rifles are very good. Having said that, check out Henry rifles as an alternative.
Oh, Taylor, in conjunctions with Winchester has their rifles made in Japan, last I heard
 
Taylor's contracts from various sources, I don't believe they have anything from Japan.

The only Japanese manufacturer of leverguns is Miroku, and Miroku only produces leverguns for the FN channels.
Denis
 
Howdy

So now you know that Cimarron does not manufacture anything, they are an importer, no different than Taylors, or Dixie Gun Works. They import various products made by Uberti and a few other manufacturers.

http://www.cimarron-firearms.com/

A bunch of years ago there was a lot of hype in the Cowboy Action World about how Cimarron's products were better quality than the other importers. Better fit and finish, better wood, etc. Complete hogwash (in part promoted by Cimarron). Cimarron lines up with all the other importers to take whatever comes off the line at Uberti. They may have slightly different configurations than anybody else, but down inside, where it counts, they all come off the same assembly line, they all get the same amount of hand fitting (almost none).

Case in point. About ten years ago I bought a slightly used Uberti/Cimarron Cattleman revolver. This revolver was finished in Cimarron's 'charcoal blue' finish. It was a beautiful pistol to behold. It also had the absolute worst trigger pull of any SA revolver I have ever owned, and the barrel was not screwed in properly, so that the front sight leaned noticeably to one side. So much for superior fit and finish. I eventually traded it towards a Ruger Vaquero.

Uberti - The lever rifles Uberti makes are the replicas of the three 'pistol caliber' toggle link rifles, the 1860 Henry, the 1866 Winchester, and the 1873 Winchester. These are the toggle link rifles that all the importers carry. Uberti does not make a replica of the Model 1892 Winchester, so nobody is going to be importing one. I own an Uberti replica 1860 Henry and 1873, both chambered for 44-40. They are good serviceable firearms, but out of the box they can use a little bit of smoothing up. By the way, the Uberti short rifle chambered for 357 Mag is the most popular rifle in CAS, the one you see most often in the winner's circle.

http://www.uberti.com/

1892 replicas are made by Rossi and they are imported by some of the importers. I briefly owned a Rossi 1892 chambered for 45 Colt that I won in a raffle. It was a bit rough out of the box, needed action work as most of them do. I had no intention of keeping it, I sold it to help finance my Henry. However I will tell you that any 1892 is going to be a stronger rifle than any of the toggle link guns (Henry, '66, '73). The Browning designed 1892 is simply a stronger design. When it first appeared in 1892 it was produced in conjunction with the older 1873. Both were chambered for the same 'pistol cartridges'. However the 1892 was both lighter and stronger than the 1873. And it cost Winchester less to produce too.

Chiapppa: They got a pretty bad rap in Cowboy circles a few years ago. They were trying to break into Uberti's exclusive toggle link rifle market. The general consensus was that their quality was inferior to Uberti's. I have never heard of one in the winner's circle at CAS.

By the way, whenever I am in the market for a new lever gun, I always check out Dixie Gunworks. They sell the exact same firearms as everybody else, but they have periodic sales on selected models. I bought both my Iron Frame Henry and my Pedersoli Sharps from Dixie, saved about $200 on each one.
 
Dang it- Chaparral is who I was thinking of as well. That's what CDNN had for sale for the longest time. I don't know who's plant Chaparral gets squirted out of- that's just what a real live kicking screaming individual told me.

And lets not forget- Cimarron makes nothing! What say we say it again just for good measure? Cimarron manufactures nothing, they are an importer.

...as if "I" ever said they did...
 
I owned an Uberti '73 Short rifle, beautiful shooter. I tried 4 different cast bullets and one swaged, 4 or 5 different powders including Pyrodex. Two different rear sights a Smith Interprise ladder and a Marbe tang as well as a fiber optic front. Benched, no matter what, it was a consistant 6" 50 yard 45 Colt shooter.

Replaced it with a Chiappa '92 carbine, cheesy sights, had back to their warranty station 3 times for months. Screwed on the tang sight and with the first load it benched into 2" @ 50 yds. Currently working up loads using a NOE hp gc. Sure wished the Uberti shot as nice as it looked.
 
I do not own any rifles that Cimarron imports so I can't help with any information on that, but I do have two of their revolvers that's made by Uberti.

Both revolvers have exceptional fit and finish with trigger pulls out of the box at 2-1/2 pounds for the model P and 2-3/4 pounds for the Bisley model.

I sure would be happier with my four SA Ruger revolvers if their fit, finish and trigger pulls was as nice as my Cimarron revolvers.
 
Chaparral IS what I'd consider low-end in quality, and well below Chiappa.

10-96,
The comments about Cimarron being only an importer are in response to the first post in this thread, in which the original poster said the company was known for MAKING replicas.

Nobody said YOU made that statement.
You did address it yourself in post #7.

It's a common mis-understanding about the various importers who bring in Italian guns that they actually make their own, when they don't.
Denis
 
I can add that I have a couple of Cimarron's. They are nice. Finish is good or better than others I have seen and mine have had no issues. I would buy a 73 if I saw the right one some day from them.

Are they better than any other ones out there? I don't really no. I think they tend to be prettier but as an owner I might be biased.
 
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