Cowgirl Corner: Not made in U.S. Colt clone

[North Country Gal]

Here's an example of my response to JEBar's excellent thread, American Made, in which I explain that I sometimes buy foreign on my single actions and lever guns because I can't get what I want in an American made gun. The gun, here, is a Cimarron (American company, by the way) Frontier in 357 magnum, a gun made in Italy by Pietta and imported by Cimarron. I recently picked it up, unfired with case and all paperwork, on consignment at a local shop for a very reasonable price of $300.


I bought the Frontier, specifically, because I wanted a 357 with a Colt action and proportions true to a Colt. This Cimarron allows me to enjoy that wonderful handling and feel and four click Colt action with cheap to shoot 38s. Yes, I could try to hunt down an actual Colt single action in 357 - not easy to do - but then I'd have to mortgage the house to pay for it. Just not in the cards for us.


Note that I also have a Ruger Vaquero 357 that I love, but the Ruger is a different gun in its action and is slightly different in its proportions and feel. The Ruger, at the bottom in this pic, is close to the Frontier, but not quite the same. To be sure, the Ruger is the more durable gun and my workhorse and I have no concerns over shooting it with the heaviest 357 loads. The Frontier, on the other hand, will be fed diet of mostly 38s and be used on those occasions when I want to have more of that Colt single action experience.


The Frontier's fit and finish is good, but not going to claim it compares with my USFA Rodeo, of course. Action is very good, though and the trigger, excellent. Sights are right on the button for standard 158 grain 357s, too. Here's a typical target, this one at 16 yards, standing, of course. The dot is one inch.


Yup, someday I just may get lucky and find a single action 357 with the Colt name on it that I can afford, but, in the meantime, I can live with the not made in America status of this Cimarron Frontier. I suspect it it shoots just as well as a Colt, anyway.

[Deadwood Dutch]

You have some beautiful revolvers there.

[tx gunrunner]

The Cimarron Frontier Made by Pietta are Cimarron cheaper models and are not the same quality gun as the Cimarron made by Uberti which is the best in my opinion of all the SA Colt clones . Uberti made most of Colts parts when they were in business . If your going to shoot 1000's of 357 mag in a SA Colt or Clone you got the wrong gun . L frame S&W or a Super Blackhawk would be a better choice for mag loads . Cimarron / Uberti and Cowboy Action shooter made a lot of improvement to the SA Colt to make them where they don't break anymore .

[North Country Gal]

Not to worry, I got the Cimarron to mostly shoot just 38s. Won't be shooting a lot of 357s in it. Also, as mentioned, for the heavy work, I have the Ruger Vaquero in the pic, as well as another Ruger in a Blackhawk.

Can't compare it to a Uberti, but from what I've read, Pietta has upped their game in recent years and now make a lot of the guns that Cimarron is marketing. Nice tight gun, though. No complaints, so far.

[ditto1958]

I've always wondered about that Pietta vs. Uberti stuff. Either way NCG, your new acquisition is a beauty.

[tx gunrunner]

I've always wondered about that Pietta vs. Uberti stuff. Either way NCG, your new acquisition is a beauty.

There is a small town in Italy you will find Pietta and Uberti in eye sight of each other and down the road is Beretta and Benelli . This rifle was made in Uberti custom shop by Beretta using Uberti parts . The town of Gardone been making guns in that valley since gun were made in the 1500 . I don't know who own who . The same thing with Ferrari and Fiat .