[polishshooter]

That seems just a little high for CVA. Granted it's been a year or two since I went to Friendship but even then they were only about $140-$160 NIB if I remember right. Maybe that is what they bring now though, new.

As for the softness, My son and I put together a brass frame CVA 1851 from a kit about 15 years ago for him and I had trouble getting the timing right, and had to send off for another hammer because I got a little aggressive with the file fitting it, (My fault, not theirs)but it worked fine once we got it right, and shows no discernable wear, although we probably didn't shoot more than 100 rounds of .375 roundballs with 15 grains FFFg through it and haven't shot it in years. But for some reason it does not "feel" like as much "quality" as other makes do, like my Traditions which I THINK is a Pietta.

I have a steel frame Traditions 1860 that I (we) shoot much more often. With heavier loads and all kinds of roundballs, conicals, and even .45 ACP lead wadcutters. THAT one feels like "quality."

But then that could be just my bias against brass frames also.

But I too think given the choice I would buy a different make if you plan to shoot it a lot.