Is my experience on 92 quality typical?

[bluesman423]

First, let me say that I only own two 1892s. One is a Rossi pre safety with a 16" round barrel in 357 mag. This rifle is all blued steel. The other is a recently purchased no safety EMF Hartford with a 24" octagon barrel in 45 Colt. This rifle is blue, case hardened (or colored? not sure). The EMF rifle is also marked Rossi so I assume they are made in the same place.

However, the difference in quality between these rifles is considerable. The EMF rifle is much better fitted and finished. Not to mention that it is MUCH smoother and has a noticeably better trigger.

Is this difference in apparent quality typical?

If so, how do the various brands of 92s compare in this regard?

[gak]

I have several in a similar array (importer/era split) as yours--all pre safety. Although I've had nothing but good luck with the earlier (Interarms) guns, the EMFs have been exceptional pieces as you"ve described. The earlier Rossis (late 70s to early 90s), as a general rule, were a bit stiffer out of the box, but with use (shooting and dry levering) they're the approximate equals of the EMFs now with no custom tuning. Nevertheless, I would like to send all of them to Steve Young (aka Nate Kiowa Jones) for the finishing touches!

NKJ has reported that ca 2000 Rossi retooled and the results were finer tolerances and fit and finish. Also, all of my Interarms are earlier models with with half-way decent wood. Later, a sort of black mystery wood/stain appeared that, IMO, was unfortunate. This coincided with a near complete elimination of the saddle rings, supposedly as an ode to cowboy action shooters that felt they were a nuisance in competition shooting --but I like them as a traditional/original Winchester feature...But I also say it was all part of a general cheapening campaign. So, although they were still mechanically "ok," to me, that late Interarms era combination of diminished appearance and features signaled a lesser stage in Rossi production. Not surprisingly--as is often the case--that reduced quality, occurred right along with apparent cranked-up production, presumably for the CAS market.

When LSI "took over" in the 90s from Interarms as the largest importer, wood appearance improved but they brought with them the fookakata safety. Thankfully, EMF (and Navy Arms) came to the rescue not only w/o the safety switch but better sights, saddle ring availability again (yeah!) and, to me, generally better wood appearance (NA uniquely offering genuine walnut, but they ceased importing 92s in 2006). Other than remaining NOS guns and the occasional find on the used market, EMF's (and Legacy/LSI "Puma") involvement with Rossi has ended. LSI began importing the Italian (Chiappa/Armi Sport)1892s in 2009--still called "Pumas"--so the EMFs are still the nicer Rossis to find if you can, even with the safety they also succumbed to in 2006.

I think the current Rossi (Braztech/Taurus) guns are probably about on par with the LSI "Puma" Rossis that preceded them, because they are essentially the same gun....which means pretty decent quality, but nothing special in wood or features (the ones I've seen still have the cheap sights, for instance).

[COSteve]

I agree with gak above. Both my 2008 LSI 'stupid safety' Rossi 24" rifle and 20" carbine are actually pretty well made and fitted. A quick action / trigger job following Steve's DVD and adding his steel mag follower, reduced power ejector spring, and safety plug completed the transformation so now they both are slick as snott with great triggers.

[Lastmohecken]

I bought a couple of those Rossi's several years ago. They were pre-safety models, but had a odd looking dark wood on them. Both were in .357, and frankly I never had a pair of more fustrating guns in my life as far as functioning went. I eventually made the dealer take both of them back. I must have gotten some of a worse then normal factory run, or something.

It pretty much soured me on them ever since.

I finally ended up with a Browing 92 in 44mag, and I have been very happy with it, and I have a Winchester angle eject in .357 that has worked very well, and I eliminated the that stupid crossbolt safety on it.

I believe if I was to get another Rossi, the first thing I would do is send it to Nate Kiowa Jones for a complete overhaul.

[COSteve]

You had Rossis made on their old machines and as Steve told me they were rather crudely machined. The quality difference between them and the newer ones is absolutely huge. Both my 2008 LSI imported Rossis (a 24" rifle and 20" carbine) came straight out of the box tight with heavy triggers just like every other new rifle I've seen in the last 15 years but fed and fired both std length 38spl, long loaded 38spl, and 357mag without a problem.

The fit and finish compared to Marlin 336s and Winchesters is similar, however, their wood is still not up to American Walnut grade (but better than birch). I compared them to NIB Marlins, Winchesters, and a Browning and stock they were as smooth or smoother than the Marlins and Winchesters and almost as smooth as the Browning. Both mine and a neighbor's worked very well and were surprisingly accurate even with the '92 vintage style sights on them out to a couple hundred yards.

Steve's DVD is interesting to watch and he explains everything you could possibly need to do the work yourself. He sells a kit for about $50 which includes the DVD, a steel mag follower, and his replacement ejector spring. I added the safety plug and reworked both of mine and my neighbor's in nothing flat. He 'had to buy' a 24" rifle after he tried mine the first time. All three are now slick as snott with great triggers for a levergun.

[junkwrencher]

I recently purchased a Braztech Rossi 92 clone in .357 stainless with a 24" octogon tube. I had worries that from the get-go I would be 'smithing on the gun. I was terribly wrong, it is smooth and functions unbelievably well. Apples to oranges, I purchased a pre-move 1894C Marlin for $30 dollars more in the spring of the year and although it functions well, the Rossi is head and shoulders above the Marlin in terms of smoothness and a longer barrel and stainless finish to boot.