Classic Handguns of the 20th Century. David Arnold
back on both occasions. It is probably safe to say that more SAAs have been sold during the last century than during the one prior. In addition, along with the Colt 1911 45 auto, the SAA is among the most cloned and copied handguns of all time.
HISTORY AND DEVELOPMENT
In 1855 a patent was granted to Rollin White, a Colt employee, for a revolver design with cylinder chambers bored all the way through. White offered his idea to Colt, who inexplicably failed to appreciate its significance and rejected it. Smith & Wesson later purchased the rights to White’s patent and developed the first cartridge revolver. Colt and other handgun manufacturers were thus prohibited from making cartridge revolvers of their own until the patent expired around 1869. Several novel conversions of cap-and-ball Colts were devised, which allowed for faster, more efficient ways of loading. When Colt was able to make cartridge revolvers, the company lost no time in coming out with a line of small house and pocket models.
The Single-Action Army began life in 1873 as a cartridge revolver that was really a development of previous percussion single actions like the Colt New Navy of 1862. It used the same trigger mechanism. The most significant difference was a solid frame that incorporated a topstrap, a loading gate and an ejector rod unloading system positioned on the left side of the barrel.
The first large cartridge revolver was the 44 rimfire. This revolver, the ancestor of the Single-Action Army, had an open top frame and a round, unfluted cylinder, giving it an appearance that closely resembled the earlier percussion conversion models.
The SAA was a considerable improvement with a topstrap added to the frame, a fluted cylinder and an ejector rod attached to left side of the barrel. The overall result was a very strong, impressive looking revolver. The company submitted samples to the Army for testing.
The revolver was awarded a U.S. military contract and the first models appeared with 7 1.2-inch barrels chambered for the 45 Colt cartridge. In the years leading up to the turn of the century, the revolver was made in other calibers that included Winchester 44/40, 38/40, 32/20 and 22 rimfire. By 1891, calibers ranged in size from 22 RF to 476 Eley.
The official designation of Colt’s new revolver was the Model P Single-Action Army. Over the years, however, it has been given other unofficial names. Some of the best-known names are “Peacemaker”, “Frontier Model” and “Colt Frontier Six-shooter” to name just a few.
DESIGN CHARACTERISTICS AND FEATURES
The Peacemaker was a solid-frame centerfire revolver with a single-action lock that closely resembled the single-action lock of the earlier Colt percussion revolvers.
For the purposes of loading and unloading, there was a gate in the rear left side of the frame and an ejector rod assembly on the left side of the barrel. As with the earlier percussion models, the hammer had a generous spur to facilitate fast thumb cocking.
The revolver was of iron and steel construction and consisted of seven major components: barrel, frame, cylinder, backstrap, trigger guard, ejector housing and ejector rod and spring; all of which were secured with machine screws. These could create some minor problems by being shaken loose by recoil during firing.
The Single-Action Army is a solid-frame large caliber revolver that differs from the earlier Colts by the addition of a topstrap to the frame. Even though this revolver is a third-generation model of 1980 vintage, it has changed little from the original made in the 19th century.
MODIFICATIONS AND UPGRADES
The revolver underwent remarkably few changes before 1900, the most significant being the replacement of the single screw center pin lock with a transverse bolt in 1894. This change is often used as a quick-and-easy method of identifying single actions made to handle smokeless powder ammunition when the fact is it was only in 1900 that Colt warranted the single action for modern cartridges. A more accurate method is to look at the serial number. If it is 192,000 or above, it is safe for smokeless powder ammunition provided it is in otherwise good mechanical condition.
TARGET MODELS
A special Flattop Target model was introduced in 1888 followed in 1894 by another target model called the “Bisley”.
Some of the long-barreled revolvers had an adjustable tangent sight that flipped down into a recess in a flattop frame. In addition, such revolvers usually came with a detachable shoulder stock.
BARREL LENGTHS, GRIPS AND FINISHES
Single-Action Armys were made in three main barrel lengths of 4-3.4, 5-1.2 and 7-1.2 inches. Shorter and longer barrel versions were available on special order.
Of particular note were the 3-inch Storekeepers model and the 12-inch Buntline Special. Both the Storekeeper and Buntline were revived as second-generation models. While the Buntline Special was the most famous of the long-barreled models, even longer barreled revolvers were made, 16 inches being the most common.
Grips were generally of the one-piece type used on the percussion revolvers. After the turn of the century, two-piece grips of black hard rubber became standard. Special grips of ivory, mother-of-pearl, ebony and stag horn were available on special order. The standard finish was blued metal parts except for the frame, which was color case-hardened. Flattop Target models including Flattop Bisleys had an all-blue finish. Nickel-plating for all variations was offered as an option. The SAA has been a favorite canvas for engravers and Colt-grade A, B or C factory engraving could be had as a special order. Today the art of engraving continues through Colt’s Custom Shop.
The Peacemaker has been a popular revolver for commemorative and special-issue models, as has the Single-Action Scout. The models usually had the reason for their issue roll stamped on the left side or were appropriately engraved.
CALIBERS
As previously mentioned, the Single-Action Army has been chambered for most popular revolver cartridges. The revolver began life chambered for the 45 Colt cartridge, which remains a popular chambering.
Other early popular calibers were the 44/40 and 38/40 because they were dual-purpose cartridges that could also be fired in the Winchester lever-action rifles of the day. This simplified the quandary of what ammunition to carry.
Other popular calibers of the 20th century included the 44 Special, 38 Special and 357 Magnum. A limited number of SAAs were chambered for the 45 ACP cartridge. The Single-Action Armys and Cowboys of today are available in 45 Colt.
FIRST-GENERATION SINGLE ACTIONS
This classification encompasses all black and smokeless powder revolvers made from 1873 to 1940. During the period of 1900 to 1940, the Single Action underwent relatively few changes apart from the cessation of the Bisley and Flattop Target models. Barrel lengths and most caliber options remained the same. The one-piece grips were changed to two pieces of hard rubber.
SECOND-GENERATION SINGLE ACTIONS
After World War II, Colt announced that a number of models in their revolver line were to be discontinued. The Single-Action Army was among these. The announcement created an immediate demand for the SAA, which was ironical in view of the fact that a lack of sales appeared to be the reason why the gun was dropped from production. Colt did make a few more post-war Single Actions, assembled from components in the spare parts inventory.
The Single-Action Army was a logical development of Colt’s percussion revolvers such as the 3rd Model Dragoon 44 of 1851 (top), 36 Navy Model of 1851 (middle) and 36 New Model Navy of 1861 (bottom).
The Peacemaker has a single-action lock where