Originally Posted by
Outpost75
I have one of that same era, but in .44-40. Rear sight dovetail is 10mm instead of US 3/8"
They are sturdy guns which shoot well. If you don't want to drill and tap receiver for a Lyman peep, there are Euro replacement sights which fit the 10mm dovetail which you can find on EvilBay.
Firearms International of Washington DC first imported Rossi firearms into the US in the 1960’s. At first the Rossi Model 65 SRC was imported only in those calibers being produced for the South American market , .38 Special and .44-40. From 1968-74 FI’s successor, Garcia Corporation took over importation and that was when the first .357 and .44 Magnums appeared.
In 1975 Interarms of Alexandria, VA took over the US import rights to the Rossi product line. Rossi-made 92s produced for Interarms were the first ones to be marked with the Puma trademark, a homage to the Spanish El Tigre. Rossi also made Winchester 92 clones for Navy Arms, EMF, and LSI. The rifles imported by Navy Arms were as well fitted and finished as original Winchesters and featured American walnut stocks. Guns imported by EMF, LSI and Interarms were more utilitarian, but were rugged and serviceable.
Early Garcia Corp. and FI guns had some rough machining and feeding problems, while later 1980s imports made for Navy Arms, EMF, and Interarms, were better executed, and functioned reliably, if remaining “a bit rough until they had been run in a bit.”
During the mid to late 90’s, EMF imported Armi San Marco Italian made 92's. From about 2000 to 2006 the EMF imported Rossi 92's without the top bolt safety, but rifles from 2006-2009 have it, which seems to establish when that feature became standard on the US imports.
In 2009 Taurus acquired Rossi and took over the distribution under the Braztech name. EMF and LSI lost distribution rights after the Taurus buyout. LSI markets the Italian Armi-Sport/Chiappa 92 and still calls it the Puma Model.
Prior to January 1, 2009 Amadeo Rossi made the Puma under contract with LSI after Interarms closed in the mid 1990's. About this same time Navy Arms had also started again importing Rossi 92's. Not long after, several former Interarms employees formed Legacy Sports International (LSI) and began importing the Rossi 92 as the Puma.
BrazTech is the partnership of Rossi and Taurus International Manufacturing, Inc. Headquartered in Miami, Florida, BrazTech became exclusive importer for Rossi firearms in 2009, at which time the LSI contract to supply the Puma was terminated.
Since January, 2009, all "Puma" –marked 92s made for LSI (which now owns the former Interarms trademark) have been manufactured by Armi-Sport / Chiappa, of Italy. Armi-Sport rifles and carbines made for LSI are marked "manufactured by Chiappa Firearms for LSI". They often (but not always) have a prefix of "T" for their serial numbers. If a "Puma" 1892 does not have these features, it was probably a model manufactured by Rossi prior to January 1, 2009.
The Armi-Sport/Chiappa Puma are more expensive than the Rossi, but are well turned out.
Rossi still makes its 92 clone, either Braztech marked, and/or marked "Made in Brazil". The Taurus/Braztech you buy today is made in the same factory as prior '92's imported from Brazil by LSI and Interarms, except pre-2006 models didn’t have the pigtail safety on the bolt. Around 2000, Rossi re-tooled with CNC machinery to ease manufacture, improve fit and finish and they are said to be well turned out.
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