Schofield reproductions

[Whitey James]

I've never fired or even held a Schofield but I have this burning desire to own one because they are so different and have the "cool" factor. What gives me pause is the price tag. Maybe I am missing something but I can't, for the life of me, figure out why they are so much more expensive than the Colt clones. 

Who shoots them and what are your opinions on the design, function, and shootablity of them?

[Larsen E. Pettifogger, SASS #32933]

All sorts of considerations to your question(s).  The design is older and more complicated than a Colt.  It functions differently than a Colt.  The biggest difference?  The S&W bolt is retracted by the trigger so you cannot touch the trigger while cocking it.  The Colt bolt is retracted by a cam on the hammer.  So you can even slip hammer it.  Shootability?  Most people find them ackward to hold and the hammer is harder to reach than a Colt which can be a big difference for duelist shooters.  So you have a design that is more complex and, therefore, more expensive to produce.  And you have a design that sells only a tiny fraction as many guns as the Colt clones.  So more expensive to make and selling far fewer copies = higher price.  If you want to play you have to pay.

[Red Gauntlet , SASS 60619]

I love my Uberti .44 Russian but it is a bit harder to handle and shoot than a Colt.

[ORNERY OAF]

Is it true, they don't handle heavy loads, like palerider loads? Cause I like em too but dont know alot about them

[Larsen E. Pettifogger, SASS #32933]

26 minutes ago, ORNERY OAF said:

Is it true, they don't handle heavy loads, like palerider loads? Cause I like em too but dont know alot about them

You need to explain what YOU mean by this.  What do YOU consider to be a heavy load and what do YOU consider to be a Palerider load?  The Schofield is a top break revolver.  Keep that in mind when thinking if it is appropriate for heavy loads.

[Cowtown Scout, SASS #53540 L]

2 hours ago, Deplorable Dan said:

I've never fired or even held a Schofield but I have this burning desire to own one because they are so different and have the "cool" factor. What gives me pause is the price tag. Maybe I am missing something but I can't, for the life of me, figure out why they are so much more expensive than the Colt clones. 

Who shoots them and what are your opinions on the design, function, and shootablity of them?

Make sure you shoot some to try before you buy them. I did not many years ago and purchased a pair but found they did not fit my small hands well for shooting duelist style. So they were sold off not too long after attempting to make them work for me.

[Cold Lake Kid, SASS # 51474]

I thought I wanted a couple for CAS, until I tried one. 

I didn't care for the "feel" of it in my hand.

Try before you buy.

YMMV

[Injun Ryder, SASS #36201L]

Been shooting S&W Schofields for over 20 years. It is just so much fun doing so.

 

Heavy loads will beat them up. The cylinder will be scarred by the rear sight. The frame can get tweaked. The two I have been using for 20 years do not show any sign of these issues but I bought another one that had a few hot loads through it and it really shows these problems.

 

BTW - I have Colts, USFA's, Ruger's and AWA's but still prefer my S&W Schofields.

[Rye Miles #13621]

7 hours ago, Cold Lake Kid, SASS # 51474 said:

I thought I wanted a couple for CAS, until I tried one. 

I didn't care for the "feel" of it in my hand.

Try before you buy.

YMMV

Same here, they’re great guns but just not a good fit for SASS for me! I had a pair years ago when they weren’t that expensive but sold them.

[Forty Rod SASS 3935]

I have a first model American in .45 Colt.  (Cimarron /Uberti) Elegant gun but it won't ever be used for CAS.  Very heavy (8" barrel), not as good a fit as a SAA......which I've been shooting for 65 years and am used to the fit and feel of...... and the sights are ridiculously small and difficult to use, but I love this big nickel plated beastie.  

 

If nothing else it's a $2,000 dollar, what with custom leather and rare (only twenty imported) factory included checkered walnut grips and no longer imported nickel finish, barbeque gun.  "Look at what I have that you don't. Nannar nanner nanner!!!    

[Sgt. C.J. Sabre, SASS #46770]

10 hours ago, Cold Lake Kid, SASS # 51474 said:

I thought I wanted a couple for CAS, until I tried one. 

I didn't care for the "feel" of it in my hand.

Try before you buy.

YMMV

It took me all of about 10 seconds handling one to say no. 

[ORNERY OAF]

13 hours ago, Larsen E. Pettifogger, SASS #32933 said:

You need to explain what YOU mean by this.  What do YOU consider to be a heavy load and what do YOU consider to be a Palerider load?  The Schofield is a top break revolver.  Keep that in mind when thinking if it is appropriate for heavy loads.

Palerider in sass is pretty universal in my area but im nott a big traveler like a lot of you pards.., darn near full case of the holy and a big bullet smashed on it(filled usually upnto base of bullet for a Lil compression, not Uber smashed as it is a waste but I think we understand this) as far as other heavy loads, I don't do smokeless so I will bow to the other bangers using smokeless. I worried about the top break when using heavies because I've heard, and we know how that goes, that the guns can pop open at the top latch. I have zero experience with them but I like the way they look. There is my best synopsis of my question, sorry if I was vague before.

[Cold Lake Kid, SASS # 51474]

43 minutes ago, ORNERY OAF said:

Palerider in sass is pretty universal in my area but im nott a big traveler like a lot of you pards.., darn near full case of the holy and a big bullet smashed on it(filled usually upnto base of bullet for a Lil compression, not Uber smashed as it is a waste but I think we understand this) as far as other heavy loads, I don't do smokeless so I will bow to the other bangers using smokeless. I worried about the top break when using heavies because I've heard, and we know how that goes, that the guns can pop open at the top latch. I have zero experience with them but I like the way they look. There is my best synopsis of my question, sorry if I was vague before.

 

Maybe try the shorter Starline .45 Cowboy Specials?

Still get smoke and flame, but a little less strain on the frame.*

 

*Hey! Poetry! 

[ORNERY OAF]

Just now, Cold Lake Kid, SASS # 51474 said:

 

Maybe try the shorter Starline .45 Cowboy Specials?

Still get smoke and flame, but a little less strain on the frame.*

 

*Hey! Poetry! 

I don't have one, I shoot rugers or 72 open tops, the take a good beating

[Cold Lake Kid, SASS # 51474]

If you're shooting Holy Black, might the shorter Cowboy Special cases allow a small charge for the Open Tops and still give smoke and flame?

 

(I started using the Cowboy Specials in my Ruger NMVs [with Titegroup] to save what TB and CLAYS I had left for the .45 Colt cases used in my 1873. I like the bulkier powders in the .45 Colt cases)

[Alpo]

I'm puzzled about this "palerider" thing.

 

If we are referencing the Clint Eastwood movie, he carried an 1858 Remington Army with spare cylinders. What does that got to do with a Schofield?

 

And if we are not referencing the Clint Eastwood movie, what the hell are y'all talking about?

[Forty Rod SASS 3935]

3 hours ago, ORNERY OAF said:

Palerider in sass is pretty universal in my area but im nott a big traveler like a lot of you pards.., darn near full case of the holy and a big bullet smashed on it(filled usually upnto base of bullet for a Lil compression, not Uber smashed as it is a waste but I think we understand this) as far as other heavy loads, I don't do smokeless so I will bow to the other bangers using smokeless. I worried about the top break when using heavies because I've heard, and we know how that goes, that the guns can pop open at the top latch. I have zero experience with them but I like the way they look. There is my best synopsis of my question, sorry if I was vague before.

I don't shoot smokeless any more, especially in nickel plated guns.  I'm too old to take that much time cleaning them.  I could die before I fini..................................

[ORNERY OAF]

Alpo, it's a shooting category.  It a class that shoot full power black powder loads in minimum. 40 cal. I didn't name it, been around before I started, no idea why it's called that, I just shoot it. I have no intentions of watering down my loads with cowboy special brass, I like the big cases of 45 colt, I like the fire and big clings on steel. If I was forced to use them for self defense purposes I would never feel under gunned.  All I did was asked if the Schofield could handle hot loads because I've never owned one.

[Sgt. C.J. Sabre, SASS #46770]

2 hours ago, Alpo said:

I'm puzzled about this "palerider" thing.

 

If we are referencing the Clint Eastwood movie, he carried an 1858 Remington Army with spare cylinders. What does that got to do with a Schofield?

 

And if we are not referencing the Clint Eastwood movie, what the hell are y'all talking about?

In "Unforgiven" here was a character called The Schofield Kid. Called himself that because he carried two Schofields.

[Rye Miles #13621]

2 hours ago, Alpo said:

I'm puzzled about this "palerider" thing.

 

If we are referencing the Clint Eastwood movie, he carried an 1858 Remington Army with spare cylinders. What does that got to do with a Schofield?

 

And if we are not referencing the Clint Eastwood movie, what the hell are y'all talking about?

As was said it’s a category that requires a full BP load 40grs or more, I agree it’s misnamed but it is what it is and has been for quite a few years. 

[PaleWolf Brunelle, #2495L]

6 minutes ago, Sgt. C.J. Sabre, SASS #46770 said:

In "Unforgiven" here was a character called The Schofield Kid. Called himself that because he carried two Schofields.

 

According to https://www.imfdb.org/wiki/Unforgiven_(1992) he only carried one that he gave "...to Will, claiming he doesn't want to kill anyone else."

[Sgt. C.J. Sabre, SASS #46770]

1 hour ago, PaleWolf Brunelle, #2495L said:

 

According to https://www.imfdb.org/wiki/Unforgiven_(1992) he only carried one that he gave "...to Will, claiming he doesn't want to kill anyone else."

You are correct. I only saw the movie once not long after it was released, so my rememberer was faulty.

[Larsen E. Pettifogger, SASS #32933]

Palerider is not a category.  It is another made up thing some clubs shoot and the rules are whatever that club says they are.  That is why I asked Onery Oaf what he considered a Palerider load.

[WOLFY]

I’m trying to sell my Schofield.

 

I’m more of a fan of the Russian / American top latch.  Here are my Navy Arms Russians.  Their grips are a far better fit for me.

[Forty Rod SASS 3935]

I'd like to get my hands on a Beretta (Uberti) Laramie, 5" .45 Colt.  I've handled a couple and they fit me better, but I've bought some pretty nice cars for what they'r going for now...IF you can find a good one.