Cimarron Firearms Company Overview

It takes guts. It takes real courage to go into business importing and selling Old West replicas. But when you have that kind of passion, and when you are as thorough and rigorous as Cimarron’s founders were when they first set up shop in the early 1980’s – there is no question that there is a place for you in the world of firearms. These guys work with four separate manufacturers to achieve their results, and their 19th-century reproductions are said to be excellent. Personally, I don’t know. See, I wasn’t alive then, so it is hard to judge. Furthermore, I reckon I haven’t seen nor shot my fair share of antiques quite yet, pilgrim.

What I personally love about the Old West is that for a short time, it was real. The railroads, the conflicts, the untamed land. Settlers and explorers. Lawbreakers and gunslingers.

My first authentic Old West experience took place in upstate New York, at the Carson City theme park. I remember gettin’ that Sheriff’s badge pinned on my shirt… My first actual experience of the Old West was when I watched the film The Great Train Robbery, which was shot in 1903.
While it may not precisely match the conventional view of the time period (1865-1895), that film certainly reflects the nature and spirit of the age. And, much like those antique guns which the founders of Cimarron Firearms personally own, that film remains a precious relic, a reminder of a time long gone.

Cimarron Firearms

Cimarron famously caters to production companies, reenactors, collectors, and competitors. Over 70 off their firearms were used in the making of Back to the Future III. They are good at what they do, and their record shows it. The word ‘Cimarron’ has several meanings, and the most applicable one, in this case, is “wild one”.

The company boasts a fairly extensive inventory of 19th-century weapons, and some of them can even be seen at their factory in Texas. The firearms are made primarily by Uberti and Davide Pedersoli in Italy, but – as mentioned – the company works with several manufacturers. The guns, revolvers, and rifles are made to the exact specifications of Cimarron and are then imported and distributed by Cimarron to authorized dealers in the U.S.

Here is a glance at what their catalog has to offer:

Cimarron Handguns

Single Action
Percussion
Conversion
Open Top

Popular models include the Model P series, Dragoons, and the 1862 Police Pocket.

Each category has its own significance and history, and depending on the model, there are also several finishes and/or calibers to choose from. The most visually-unique ones are the limited editions and specialties, but each Cimarron Original finish is also a beautiful creation in its own merit. The various laser engravings, the insignias – it’s all very aesthetically pleasing, and it is no wonder that so many people seek them out.

Competition models

Thunderball
Evil Roy Competition
Thunderstorm

Hollywood Series

The Hollywood series is very aptly named. It includes some of Cimarron’s most notable cameos on the silver screen, including firearms that were used in Unforgiven, Tombstone, and Young Guns II. That last one I distinctly remember for suddenly spotting Jon Bon Jovi in one of the scenes! I knew he’s recorded some of the soundtrack (‘Blaze of Glory’ is still a great song, in my opinion), but I didn’t know he was in the actual film. It was a nice surprise.

Interestingly, when it came to making replicas of the movie firearms, the company chose to remain true to their on-screen portrayals, and manufacture them as they were seen in the cinema, despite possible inconsistencies with the actual time period. Hey, a movie gun is a movie gun. I am happy they made that decision. Art imitates life imitates art.

The company’s “Man with No Name” single-action revolver is legendary, and at a time Cimarron even stocked replicas of the famed poncho which was worn by Clint Eastwood in Sergio Leone’s classic Dollars Trilogy. Nothing says ‘Old West’ like a Spaghetti Western poncho.

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Cimarron Rifles

These rifles come in a wide range of calibers, finishes, and looks. The main advantage a single-shot has over a repeating firearm, is that the mechanism is more minimal due to the rifle’s simpler nature. Without a need to feed the chamber (since a single-shot is loaded manually), things become easier to handle. Less parts means less that can go wrong. And let’s not forget, there is the prestige of living and hunting by that “one shot, one kill” philosophy which the single-action embodies. The fact that some people would still use a single-shot firearm in a world where you have 100-round drums (with some weapons, anyway), speaks to the nature of the system and of those who utilize it.

Cimarron Shotguns

Cimarron currently has 11 shotgun models on its shelves, and they are variations of the following:

1878
1883
1889
Doc Holiday

Custom Shop

The Cimarron custom shop offers custom finishes and laser engraving. Using precision lasers, these guns have a look which screams “19th century”, but they are made of the finest materials. Unlike the original guns and rifles, which may look great but not shoot as well as they used to, these are antique-look-alikes which you can actually shoot, and shoot well. As mentioned earlier, Cimarron invests time and money into delivering highly functional and aesthetically-pleasing firearms.

Custom grips include poly-ivory and walnut. With the finishes, you can find the Original Cimarron mentioned earlier, as well as nickel, charcoal blue, and the old-school U.S. finish. The company’s line is always evolving. If you are interested in a specific grip/finish/engraving combination, make sure that they are still selling it!

Gun Leather

Cimarron has an entire section devoted to gun-related leather, and this is not to be confused with their accessories section. The leather department boasts quality holsters, belts, rigs, scabbards, cartridge holders and boxes, and also a leather addition for the butt of specific rifles, carbines, and shotguns.

These items are expensive, but consider the source! Cimarron’s items are also intended by some users to be collector’s items, and the leather-made paraphernalia is a great fit. It compliments the firearms in a big way, but it is certainly not essential.

Accessories

The company sells bumper stickers, patches, and mugs, but it also sells parts for revolvers and rifles, front and rear sights, and they carry an assortment of Black Hills ammo for their guns in 50-round boxes. And speaking of boxes, Cimarron also sells collector cartridge boxes. The Man with No Name poncho is not available at this time through Cimarron, but you can still find it on different websites. I am not sure if it is the exact same one, but the designs sure come close to the original.

Not a lot to speak of here, I am afraid. Cimarron’s uniqueness is not derived from its accessories or its vintage boxes, but rather from its quality firearms.

Conclusion

If you are a collector or reenactor, cowboy action shooter, or anything in between – Cimarron should certainly pique your interest. The amount of effort these guys have put into building their selection of weapons and accessories is impressive. Their attention to detail is also commendable.

They found manufacturers who are able to stand up to the standards they specified, and that is always a good arrangement. Uberti and Davide Pedersoli, which were mentioned earlier, are known for their high quality firearms, and you can expect that same quality with Cimarron’s items.

The people at Cimarron seem to care about their customers, but since they are only the distributors, this does mean they are a kind of “middleman” as far as service and repairs are concerned. It’s not that I have heard something bad about their customer service, mind you, but I know something about working with a distributor as opposed to the manufacturer. Just something to consider when purchasing.

Overall, Cimarron is a refreshing company providing shooters with a taste of the past. I like these guns because they don’t pretend to be anything other than fun and functional old-style firearms. If you’re looking to add some flair to your collection, then give these guys a try – You won’t regret it.