From the top - 5.5" Uberti (Cimarron "P") "aged" for me this side of the pond; 5.5" Colt SAA .44 Sp ca 2008; 4.75" USFA Rodeo .44 Sp. also antiqued after the fact(ory).
Close up of the Cimarron:
Colt SAA top and early Ruger New Vaquero bottom (with faux case coloring they discontinued a few years ago).
The bright Ruger hammer was unintentional and just a sun reflection, but is interesting in accentuating the exaggerated high/long swept New Vaquero hammer. The Colt is perfect/hard to be improved upon so it is beyond me (many of us) why Ruger felt they had to reinvent the wheel there. Many owners elect to change the hammer out to lower profile ones already in Ruger's bin...I just haven't
yet.
A few thoughts. It's hard to miss with any of these IMO...depends on the budget (Colt and the premium USFAs vs everyone else), whether absolute SAA "authenticity" and feel (USFA or Uberti/Cimarron/Taylors or Pietta/EMF GWII) is paramount over anvil-like reliability and "full six up" loading (Ruger), etc. The base USFA matte finished model Rodeo is no longer available but used/NOS is still a viable and great base for antiquing as mine IMO, as are the base/matte-finish Ubertis. That's how I see that entry level IMO; otherwise their factory dull finish holds no interest for me, but have the same fine internals as their premium-finish stablemates.
Speaking of stables, if you're looking in the upper $ range of the "cowboy gun" genre,...I love my Colt--"had" to have at least one in the pen. Otherwise, I'd agree with many (threads, posts etc) that have opined that USFA makes the same or better gun--in their most apples-to-apples Single Action model--for less. Problem right now is they seem to be way behind (or have been) in production/orders, so you may be stuck for awhile with trying to find a model you want on the used or NOS (new-old stock) market. I've seen some of that scarcity (real or "manfuactured") show up in some higher prices this year. USFA's premium "Pre War" is a step above the Colts (all of which are
basically one standard model with two finishes, few options) in "special finish and features for about the same street price as the Colt. I am not one of the Colt bashers here, however, being very happy with mine. It represents what a lot have felt is a real resurgence in Colt quality from some iffy or hit-or-miss production in the early 3rd Gen (mid 70s-90s) period. However, if the prancing pony is not paramount (it was for me--at least once...finding one in a rare, noncataloged caliber pushing me over the edge), save yourself some $ and get a USFA.
EDIT: USFA does (or has) permit the buyer a wider range of finish and features options--if ordering--than does Colt (or in a manner similar to the way Colt perhaps used to be before WWII)...such as color case hardened hammers per the 1st Gen Colts...as an option on most models (standard on some of the pricier ones). However, sometimes you find "base" (SA) models already orderd with the option. Also a variety of grip materials to order from, though most are shipped with a a 1st Gen Colt-like checkered "hard rubber" grip.
In addition,
all USFAs and Italian Colt clones come with the Colt 1st Gen "black powder" cylinder chamfer (rounded flute corners and front cylinder edge)...such as that found on most 1st En Colts...not really available now AFAIK even from Colt even on their catalogued "black powder" models (which are otherwise mostly distinguished just by the use of a "1st Gen" front cylinder release screw vs cross pin on those BP modfels). USFA and most clones also offer this latter feature as an "old" versus "new model" (as one manufacturer/distributor puts it) distinction, but sgain include the chamfer regardless of cylinder-release mechanism chosen.
