The M1873 Colt .45" Peacemaker has to be the worlds most iconic 'sixgun'.
" The good people of this world are
very far from being satisfied with each other
and my arms are the best peacemakers."
Samuel Colt, 1852
This was the die-cast toy six gun that every wee lad HAD to have in the 1950s - and that my Dad would NOT let me have! - No Toy Guns. - I guess that having fought throughout the Second world war with both the Irish Guards and No.2 Commando, he didn't need guns to be reminded of what he had been through.
1873 Colt SAA Artillery Model.
The Model P , Colt M1873, SAA was a long time coming - as Colt waited for the Rollin White (S&W) patent to expire in 1869 before they began their development of through-bored cylinders for metallic cartridges.
The SAA together with the S&W Model 3 Schofield replaced the Colt 1860 Percussion Revolver and soon beat the Schofield into second place as the preferred military sidearm.
The very first M1873 SAA Serial Number 1 was chambered in .45" Colt - but over the years, Wikipedia says, they were made in thirty different chamberings - so I won't even attempt to detail any particular variations as, to coin a Sgt. Schultz phrase - "I know Nothing"
Anyone choosing to write about early Colts needs to be very careful as there are many enthusiasts who really do know their Colts ! - Indeed, one gun photo that I was looking at using here - proved to have 'Made in Italy' stamped on its barrel - not quiet what I needed eh!
Colt .45" 1873/74. - Colt-Schofield 1875. - .45" Long Colt.
- Just three of the Thirty Different Chamberings !
The 1875 SAA was also known as "The Gun That Won the West" and continued in production as the US Militarys primary side-arm until it was replaced in 1892 by the double action .38" Long Colt Model 1892.
The Colt Frontier Six-Shooter (1877) was a variation introduced in 44-40 WCF Caliber that matched the round used in the Winchester Model 1873 and Model 1892 rifles that were very popular in 'The Old West".
The rather neat Bisley Model was also very popular for fast shooting in the wild west, and the long barrelled Buntline Special has a mythical association with Wyatt Earp and the "Gunfight At The OK Coral".
There are both Second and Third generations of the SAA made by Colt - as well as many replicas.
The one thing that they all have in common is that being single-action they need to have the hammer manually cocked before they can fire - as of-course the trigger has only a single action - to release the hammer. - This feature allows the movie gun-slinger to spin his guns with his finger through the trigger guard - I would think a very pointless activity if the other guy is quietly taking aim!
I was driving down the South Island to an Antique Arms auction in Dunedin in the early 1990s in my Subaru registration number GLOCK 1 and was overtaken near the destination by reg.no. COLT 45 - So I had to have a few smiling words with its owner in the car park about daring to take-on my "semi-auto" in his "antique" !
Oh - just a free advert while I can - If you know of a nice SAA that's being a nuisance gathering dust around the house - I'd be happy to adopt it and take care of it - no charge!
Marty K
After researching & writing 1,036 blogs I've got something NEW to try .. I've signed-up to Patreon. - In over five years I've not made one cent from this .. NOW you can send me a wee support $ - starting from $1. to get all this stuff from New Zealand - over a year that's nearly the price of one Shooting magazine. - Am I worth it?
https://www.patreon.com/user?u=16618870
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