Rossi 92

[Barcelona Rick]

I know this subject has about been beaten to death on the board but, I am old and just can't remember like I use to.....sold my Marlin 1894C to another board member last year....a move I have regretted since I did it...but being disabled you gotta do unpleasant things sometimes. So, now that Tauras has taken over should a man hunt a pre-safety EMF/Hartford/Rossi 92 or are the new rifles squared away ?? The darn used .357 92's are as high as the new ones....trying to save my pennies.....sure wish I had that darn Marlin back but....

rick

[Nate Kiowa Jones]

I know this subject has about been beaten to death on the board but, I am old and just can't remember like I use to.....sold my Marlin 1894C to another board member last year....a move I have regretted since I did it...but being disabled you gotta do unpleasant things sometimes. So, now that Tauras has taken over should a man hunt a pre-safety EMF/Hartford/Rossi 92 or are the new rifles squared away ?? The darn used .357 92's are as high as the new ones....trying to save my pennies.....sure wish I had that darn Marlin back but....

rick

The last of the pre-safety EMF went out in 06. If you can find that pre-safety EMF that would be my choice. (but I'm a bit bias-ed as I'm the guy that spec-ed them for EMF). If you have to go with the current Taurus/Braztech you will have to deal with the ugly safety and the cheap sights but other than that the current Rossi 92's are the same as the pre-Taurus Rossi's. They same people are still making them, they just now all work for Taurus.
My main concern is the parts pipeline is broken (Since Taurus took over getting parts has been a real pain) and EMF hasn't been able to work out a deal with Taurus to get the 92's spec-ed like they want them. EMF still has some in stock but for now they aren't ordering any from Taurus.

On a side note, this buy-out has been in the work since at least 06. back in 06 EMF told me the safety add on was a Rossi mandate. I suspect it was to keep the lawyers off Taurus USA once they acquired Rossi.


P.S you are a few days late for a pre-safety EMF 357m. I had one here on consignment but our own Otto bought it.

[Nate Kiowa Jones]

BTW, I'm down here in Port Arthur. Where are you in East Texas?

[Barcelona Rick]

NKJ....I am in Harrison County in the Marshall area....

rick

[Pete44ru]

FWIW, a little over a year ago, I bought a NIB .45 Colt LSI /Rossi Model 92, AND a new .357/.38 Braztech/Rossi Model 92 - and there wasn't a whit's worth of difference between them, excepting chambering.

As Kiowa said - Once the safety's dealt with, and a decent peep mounted, they're good to go.

On one M92, I replaced the bolt-top safety with my handmade plug, then D/T the receiver for a Williams peep.

On the other M92, I also handmade a safety replacement plud - but D/T it's center for a Skinner LoPro peep.

Both peep sights zeroed readily, using the issue front sight blades.

Kiowa makes/sells a simlar bolt-top peep, and the safety replacement plugs, if you're not a DIY'er.

.

[Otto]

P.S you are a few days late for a pre-safety EMF 357m. I had one here on consignment but our own Otter bought it.

Just picked it up today, coincidentally. I have to tell you, Nate, I am not very happy at all. Just a quick visual inspection tells me that it is going to cost me a fortune





...in ammunition.

[Nate Kiowa Jones]

P.S you are a few days late for a pre-safety EMF 357m. I had one here on consignment but our own Otter bought it.

Just picked it up today, coincidentally. I have to tell you, Nate, I am not very happy at all. Just a quick visual inspection tells me that it is going to cost me a fortune





...in ammunition.

Now that's the kinda "not happy's" I like to hear about.

[gak]

http://www.gunsamerica.com/976981484/Gu ... fle_NI.htm
Get it while you can. He has others listed but they seem to be either .45 or .44-40 (doesn't hurt to ask though), but all would have benefitted from NKJ's spec'ing (sights and maybe wood?). I've got a couple I got through Mr. Rezak--all thankfully pre-safety. This one of course is safetie'd--but so it goes for a few years now as NKJ has noted. Phillip (Joel) is a first class gent. Don't know if he still does GB as well, but if so, goes by "Ultona" I believe.
I also have had maybe six or seven of the Interarms era, and must've lucked out. No dark-stain mystery wood, and no rough-as-a-cobb action. Some were smoother than others out of the box, most smoothed much further to satisfaction with shooting or lots of "dry" levering. All could benefit further, as the one poster said, from NKJ's magic touch--of course

[Hankster]

They're telling you straight!! I had to hunt all over till I got one last month! No one can hardly find them right now!! NIB?? Jump on it!

[COSteve]

They're telling you straight!! I had to hunt all over till I got one last month! No one can hardly find them right now!! NIB?? Jump on it!

Actually, Buds has them for sale right now pretty cheap.

20" carbine for $387 delivered.

24" oct bbl blued receiver for $414 delivered.

24" oct bbl case hardened receiver for $414 delivered.

I have both the 357mag carbine and 357mag case hardened rifle and they are sure fun to shoot.

[gak]

They're telling you straight!! I had to hunt all over till I got one last month! No one can hardly find them right now!! NIB?? Jump on it!

Actually, Buds has them for sale right now pretty cheap.

20" carbine for $387 delivered.

24" oct bbl blued receiver for $414 delivered.

24" oct bbl case hardened receiver for $414 delivered.

I have both the 357mag carbine and 357mag case hardened rifle and they are sure fun to shoot.

----
Steve, those are good prices. I was posting the one GA link 'cause it was an EMF and as NKJ has suggested, they're going by the wayside as we speak. Generally better trim level out of the box--sights (and wood on my examples), and NKJ may know of a few other reasons.

[COSteve]

Mechanically, they are identical. The only differences are the two you mentioned; sights and wood. I added my own choice in Marbles sights (different from those available from EMF) to both of my Rossis, plugged the stupid safety, did Nate's action / trigger job (highly recommend you get his DVD), and still paid less than EMF wanted for theirs. Yes, EMF's wood is a bit nicer, but for my uses I prefer a field grade gun. Yes, guns with high gloss marbled stocks, inlaid actions, and gleaming bluing are beautiful but for me they are just too pretty to use.

I don't do 'safe queens' so if my firearms aren't shooters they are soon gone. Therefore, I don't value fancy wood on mine because they are going to get scratched a bit during honest use and that gives them a special character and helps me remember the good times I've had with each one.

[Hankster]

Ok, then what gives?? That guy (whoever Buds is) has em in spades, and all the local dealers HERE cannot get them!!! He hog em up. and now is letting them out?? LOL!! Why the "shortage"???? I heard it's because a "newer version" (read price jump) is coming....true, or rumor??

[gak]

Mechanically, they are identical. The only differences are the two you mentioned; sights and wood. I added my own choice in Marbles sights (different from those available from EMF) to both of my Rossis, plugged the stupid safety, did Nate's action / trigger job (highly recommend you get his DVD), and still paid less than EMF wanted for theirs. Yes, EMF's wood is a bit nicer, but for my uses I prefer a field grade gun. Yes, guns with high gloss marbled stocks, inlaid actions, and gleaming bluing are beautiful but for me they are just too pretty to use.

I don't do 'safe queens' so if my firearms aren't shooters they are soon gone. Therefore, I don't value fancy wood on mine because they are going to get scratched a bit during honest use and that gives them a special character and helps me remember the good times I've had with each one.

----
Fancy grade wood? Not sure I have any EMFs (or any Rossi) with quite that description; they're just a little nicer/more attention paid to by the distributor (external spec). I have seen the "tiger stripe" wood--not my thing but nice to some. Also don't think any of my 92s are safe queens--hardly--it's just that for my hard-earned dinero, it is nice to have something that's slightly nicer to behold--including with the extra character of field scratches and dings--the 95% of the rest of the time it's not able to be shot...if you want to talk $/value quotient. Not sure five-to-ten years down the road I'm going to lament or appreciate (depending which gun you have) the $ difference. Over my--ahem--years--let's just say 32 or so "Rossi years"--not sure I've ever felt good/vindicated years later for getting the lesser model, at least for that specific aspect. However, I've already got mine (btw the EMFs were only about $50 difference when I paid for vs the comparatively p-o-c LSI, and virtually the same with some retailers),...but also including several Interarms, so I don't really care WRT my needs right now.

However, I realize others don't have/have not had that luxury. Otherwise, if I can't afford that $50-100 now, I'll usually wait just a little longer for whatever it is. I forgoed several "nice but..." 65s and 66s til I came upon a just-so Smith 65LS to punch my quality K/DA ticket. I posted the GA link for the (very likely) "at least one" gent or gal who would like that little bit of extra "whatever" the EMFs bring to the table while you can get 'em. Doesn't mean everyone or even most want or can to do that. But some may.

The option of the EMFs is going away anyway. Yes, they're all identical mechanically and not that much different externally in the bigger scheme of things...nothing(s) that aren't fixable anyway! . (Heck, when I have funds, I'd like to replace at least one of my Rossi's--Interarms and maybe *even* an EMF--wood with the "real thing" (Precision or some such). If I had to replace any of my current 92s, and felt I needed or made better sense going newer vs older used, I wouldn't hesitate a second going "your" route by getting a new (Braztech) or NOS (LSI-Puma) and chip away at the upgrades--includng safety toss--as you've mentioned. AND, it's the only way I know of to get a stainless SS .44 Mag 92 carbine anyway! A friend and I co-purchased I think the only--seriously--pre safety .44 SS a few years back...and he ended up with! Even NKJ said "they're around" whem I inquired back then after several years search "why no SS 44s at all?", but darned if I've ever seen another advertised. I think that may be the only time NKJ was wrong about a 92--he must've been thinking of something else that day Well, he was tecnically right--there is the one!

[Chas.]

I didn't understand any of that. Are you a Navajo code-talker?

[gak]

I didn't understand any of that. Are you a Navajo code-talker?

Hmm. Assuming you're talking about me. Yes
Rossi = manufacturer of all Brazilian made 92s (called 1892s by some distributors) since the 70s, including:
- Interarms - 70s-90s, all pre-safety, some better wood than others, some smoother than others. Early-to-mid Interarms era sported saddle rings on most carbines. Later ones, especially the "mystery wood/dark stain" period did not, supposedly at the request of the then increasing cowboy action shooting crowd.
- LSI (Legacy Sports International) - "took over" from Interarms demise as largest importer of Rossi 92s in the 90s some time. Brought with them the fugly safety. LSI kept with the "Puma" name it inherited from Interarms. LSI finally got out of the Rossi 92 business in 2008 and started importing a line of Italian (Chiappa/Armi Sport) made 92s, and confusingly keeping the old Puma name for these....a line (but not the "Puma" name) it shares (for the most part, with some caliber/trim/model variance) with Cimarron and Taylors and perhaps a few others.
- EMF, about the same time as LSI, maybe a few years later or close enough, started importing Rossi 92s. From the get-go (or close enough), they were spec'd with slightly better wood and better stock sights. Many also sported saddle rings, for those that care (I do, many don't). EMF was able to stave off the Rossi/LSI lawyer stuff with no add-on safety switch until, sadly, 2006. EMF's Rossi involvement is waning (or perhaps has stopped altogether). Some new-old-stock EMFs are still available (Gunbroker (GB), GunsAmerica (GA), etc.).
- Navy Arms - not mentioned, but roughly same time as LSI, EMF, started doing same. NA held the distinction supposedly of being the only Rossi with "genuine walnut" and I believe they sported the better semi-buckhorn sights, at least on the carbines. Around the time they were going to have to go to the safety as well, NA got out of the 92 business in 2006. NA was the smallest distributor of Rossi 92s; try finding one--especially a carbine--now.
- "Rossi" itself (now owned by Braztech/Taurus) is the only active importer of Rossi 92s into the country.
- "Puma," (Interarms and LSI above) is technically just these two distributors' name for their Rossi 92s--and now LSI's Italian 92s--though many of the buying public as well as retailers have taken it on as meaning "any Rossi 92" (and to some, any import 92). Many new-old-stock "Pumas" on the market are the old pre 08/09 LSIs.

Get it close enough NKJ?

[slamfire]

The rifle pictured in the Gunbroker link does not appear to have the cross-bolt safety. Looks like either the photo or the text is wrong. I jumped too soon on an Interarms, as you know. If I hadn't, I would snag this rifle, assuming it is pre-safety.

I would add that the new Rossi 92 coming from Taurus also will have the Taurus locking system on the hammer.

Just checking the Bud's Guns site, they only have one model Rossi 92 in .357 in stock - 24" stainless for $414. I believe they may some lingering Braztech inventory - it is under the Braztech link on Bud's site. The Taurus versions are/will be priced higher, according to the Taurus website.

Interestingly, Bud has the Taurus Thunderbolt pump in .45 Colt in stock. Read some real horror stories about out-of-spec chambers and worse on those. I had hoped they would improve the quality and make a 20" carbine in .357. The gun will slamfire.

[COSteve]

gak, nice writeup and yes, I agree if I'd bought them 'back when' I too would have sprung lose with the extra cash for the EMF, however, I then still would have had to replace the front sight anyway (I like the smaller 1/16" brass bead).

Truth is that its a mute point now with the EMFs all but gone and the low priced Rossi-Braztech and/or Rossi-LSIs quickly disappearing. My stocks are 'adequate' for my needs and as I said, I don't worry about a scratch or two, and at this point I'd rather use the money for reloading supplies so I can shoot them more.

I've run through about 3/4 of the 5,000 rds of components I had on stock and my Zero bullets have been backordered since last November.

[gak]

.

Truth is that its a mute point now with the EMFs all but gone and the low priced Rossi-Braztech and/or Rossi-LSIs quickly disappearing. .

----
Another poster mentioned this as well and, indeed, a quick but "semi comprehensive" survey of the normal large-store pushers in the Phoenix area--that were carrying vast quantities of the LSI-Rossis, then (since 09) the Braztech-Rossis--yielded exactly zero of the newer Rossis...so I too wonder what's up?

[COSteve]

.

Truth is that its a mute point now with the EMFs all but gone and the low priced Rossi-Braztech and/or Rossi-LSIs quickly disappearing. .

----
Another poster mentioned this as well and, indeed, a quick but "semi comprehensive" survey of the normal large-store pushers in the Phoenix area--that were carrying vast quantities of the LSI-Rossis, then (since 09) the Braztech-Rossis--yielded exactly zero of the newer Rossis...so I too wonder what's up?

It's simply that Rossi no longer manufacturers for EMF, Braztech, LSI, etc. because they have been bought out by Taurus and they're listed on that sight (at a significantly higher price).