My current '51 Navy is a Uberti - a great one! Fortunately, I've never experienced the "arbor length problem" on any of my Ubertis like some have.
That said . . don't judge all Ubertis by that example you looked at. The reason I say this is because over the years, I've looked at various C & B revolvers in LGS and even Cabelas I have stood back and watched people handling the C & B revolvers, cocking and pulling the trigger on a bare nipple, going to half-cock and then releasing the hammer by pulling the trigger and lowering it with thumb rather than going to full cock before release and lowering and I once even watched a salesman take a regular hammer from under the counter and drive the wedge out. You don't say if the revolver was new or used - but even if new, you don't know what abuse it's had in the shop. The one you talked about, I too would be a little leery of, especially if the barrel wedge wass in tight and it had that large of a cylinder gap - but then, it could be tuned up to take care of that issue.
Years ago, I got a bug to get a 1849 Pocket. I called Cabelas, talked with the guy in the gun department and he said they had one in the display case that was beautiful. I drove the 60 miles to get it - when I got there - yes, it was new . . . but it had been handled so many times, cocked and the trigger pulled that three nipples were peened not to mention the very evident drag line on the cylinder - and the action felt like it had gravel in it. I backed off real quick - never did get one but will some day.
I love my Uberti Navy and recently got a .357 Uberti Bisley - both great pistols and great shooters. I like my Pietta Remington Navy as well. If you have your heart set on the model you're looking at - have you LGS call Uberti to see if they have one in stock - get a price from them and if you can live with it, have them order it. It took me two weeks to get my Bisley. That way, you can inspect a true "new in box" and check it out before accepting it.
