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Smith and Wesson Schofield VS Italian Clones


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There is some difference in build quality.  However, neither will play well with Black Powder.  Both manufactures really screwed up the Schofield when they extended the cylinder to accept 45 Colt.

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54 minutes ago, Warden Callaway said:

I have a Cimarron S&W American 44WCF I've shot nothing but black powder loads with no problem.  It lasted a 6 stage match with no attention. 

 

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Hi Warden, real BP or sub?  And if real BP, with big lube bullets?

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2 hours ago, Abilene, SASS # 27489 said:

Hi Warden, real BP or sub?  And if real BP, with big lube bullets?

Real black.  Don't use those goopy bullets.  Just Lee cast and lubed with Javilina bullet lube.

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The Smith& Wesson revolvers have better quality springs than the Uberti models. Have seen a couple latch springs fail on the Italian Schofield.

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The main difference between the S&W Heritage Series and the Italian clones is, the Heritage Series had a modern hammer block action with a frame mounted firing pin instead of the traditional hammer mounted firing pin like the original 1875 and the Italian clones.

The Heritage Series were beautiful. Sold a special edition that came in a fitted case with a Bowie knife.  Still kicking myself in the butt for not buying it myself.  

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Smith and Wesson introduced the "Model of 2000" in , wait for it, 2000. They were chambered for the 45 Schofield cartridge and would not accept the longer 45 Colt cartridge. I got to handle one a few months ago, and my impression is it was a little bit bigger than an actual 19th Century Schofield.

 

This is a First Model Schofield that shipped in 1875. I do not own an Italian replica, but I suspect they are pretty much the same size as the originals.

 

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Close examination of the Model of 2000 showed that similar to the Italian models, S&W had scrimped on the length of the cylinder bushing. The originals will shoot all day long with Black Powder, the Model 0f 2000 would probably be problematic when shooting ammunition loaded with Black Powder. This was brought up when the Model of 2000 first appeared. Smith and Wesson's answer was it was meant to shoot modern ammunition, not Black Powder.

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9 hours ago, Lone Spur Jake SASS #7728 said:

Long Gun, are you talking about the S&W Schofield's made in the early 2000's that were chambered in 45LC? 

 

S&W 2000 in 45 Colt?  I thought they were all 45 S&W Schofield caliber.

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When S&W made the 2000, they shortened the frame so that it would handle the .45 Schofield (aka .45 Revolver Ball orginally), but couldn't accept a cylinder long enough for the 45 Colt.  The Italian (Uberti ?) versions have the frame the same length as the originals, but shortened the barrel extension so that a longer cylinder could be fitted to accept the .45 (Long) Colt. Though I have not been able to find any documentation, I believe that S&W originally wanted to make the Schofield so it would accept the same ammo as the Colt's SAA, but may have found the gun wouldn't stand the hotter ammo, so they shortened the cylinder and extended the barrel back to meet the cylinder face.  I believe that S&W was afraid that people would try to have a longer cylinder fitted to the 2000, so they shortened the frame from the original length to prevent doing that.

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