The Single Action Army became available in standard barrel lengths of 4¾', 5½' as well as the Cavalry standard, original 7½'. 45 Colt cartridge had entered service and the remaining revolvers were sold in the civil market. 16,000 was reached 12,500 Colt Single Action Army revolvers chambered for the.

38 Long Colt caliber Colt Model 1892, a double action revolver with swing-out cylinder.

The Colt quickly gained favor over the S&W and remained the primary US military sidearm until 1892 when it was replaced by the. The Colt Single Action Army revolver (along with the 18 Smith and Wesson Model 3 ('Schofield') revolvers replaced the Colt 1860 Army Percussion revolver. Relative to period cartridges and most later handgun rounds, it was quite powerful in its full loading. 45 Colt cartridge was of center fire design containing charges of up to 40 grains (2.6 g) of fine grained black powder and a 255-grain (16.5 g) blunt round nosed bullet. The very first production Single Action Army, serial number 1, thought lost for many years after its production was found in a barn in Nashua, New Hampshire in the early 1900s. Its original moniker was the 'New Model Army Metallic Cartridge Revolving Pistol'. The Colt Single Action Army was designed for the United States government service revolver trials of 1873 by Colt's Patent Firearms Manufacturing Company and adopted as the standard military service revolver. Its design has influenced the production of numerous other models from other companies.īound by the Rollin White patent (#12,648, April 3, 1855) and not wanting to pay a royalty fee to Smith & Wesson, Colt could not begin development of bored-through revolver cylinders for metallic cartridge use until April 4, 1869. The revolver was popular with ranchers, lawmen, and outlaws alike, but current models are mostly bought by collectors, shooters participating in Cowboy Action Shooting and re-enactors. Colt has discontinued its production twice, but brought it back due to popular demand. Its overall appearance has remained consistent since 1873. The Colt Single Action Army has been offered in over 30 different calibers and various barrel lengths. It is perhaps the most copied, fraudulently modified to replicate an original Colt SAA, than any other revolver made. government service revolver trials of 1873 by Colt's Patent Firearms Manufacturing Company, today Colt’s Manufacturing Company, and adopted as the standard military service revolver until 1892. The Colt Single Action Army (also known as the Model P, Peacemaker, M1873, Single Action Army, SAA, ) is a single action revolver with a revolving cylinder holding six metallic cartridges.

Colt single action serial numbers