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How the Colt Single Action Army Revolver Won the West
popularmechanics.com ^ | Nov. 3, 2016 | Matthew Moss

Posted on 11/05/2016 11:19:05 AM PDT by PROCON


On October 26, 1881, shots rang out at the O.K. Corral. Within the first 30 seconds of the shootout, three members of the Clanton gang were killed. Men on both sides, including Wyatt Earp, Doc Holliday and Billy Clanton, would become legends in part because of what happened in Tombstone, Arizona. They were firing a legendary weapon, too.

The Colt Single Action Army held many names over the years. First came its clunky official title, the New Model Army Metallic Cartridge Revolving Pistol. But soon it became known as the Frontier, the Equalizer, the Model P, and most famously, the Peacemaker.

There was no peace that October day in Tombstone. But the shootout was one of many that cemented the reputation of this six-chamber gun that saw more than 20 years service with the United States Army and became the iconic revolver of the West.

THE PREDECESSORS

To trace the story of the Colt 45, you've got to go back 45 years before the O.K. Corral to when Samuel Colt patented his first percussion revolver design in February 1836. Colt plugged away on wooden models and technical drawings until Baltimore gunsmith John Pearson forged a working prototype. Colt soon set up the Patent Arms Company in Paterson, New Jersey, a town named after Colt's first production revolver, "The Paterson."

~~~~~~

Samuel Colt

(Excerpt) Read more at popularmechanics.com ...


TOPICS: Chit/Chat
KEYWORDS: banglist; colt; revolver; sixshooter
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The original Peacemaker.

Good article on it's history.

1 posted on 11/05/2016 11:19:05 AM PDT by PROCON
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To: PROCON; mylife; Joe Brower; MaxMax; Randy Larsen; waterhill; Envisioning; AZ .44 MAG; umgud; ...

RKBA Ping List

This list is for all things pertaining to the 2nd Amendment.

Please FReepmail me to be added to or deleted from this ping list.

2 posted on 11/05/2016 11:19:43 AM PDT by PROCON ("LOCK HER UP, LOCK HER UP!")
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To: PROCON

Fanstic article thanks for the ping


3 posted on 11/05/2016 11:22:14 AM PDT by StoneWall Brigade
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To: PROCON

Actually, Smith and Wesson was there, too, although you would never know it from the movies.


4 posted on 11/05/2016 11:23:31 AM PDT by Jack Hammer
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To: PROCON

Round doesn’t look right.

Shouldn’t it be a rimmed round?


5 posted on 11/05/2016 11:29:19 AM PDT by Fido969
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To: Fido969
A rim fire round?

I don't know enough of it's history.

I'm sure someone here will know.

6 posted on 11/05/2016 11:32:18 AM PDT by PROCON ("LOCK HER UP, LOCK HER UP!")
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To: Fido969

When I was a kid (60 years ago), a man who was old then would bring an old Colt revolver to the Clearwater Rifle Range. It was certified by NRA as having been carried by one of the Earps, Morgan I think, during the OK Corral fight.

He had some reduced loads for it, and would each of us fire 6 shots.

I treasure the memory to this day.


7 posted on 11/05/2016 11:32:58 AM PDT by Strac6 (Everything Depends On Defeating Hillary in November. Everything else is minor compared to that!)
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To: PROCON

Great article. I’ve always wanted one of these and have been researching the uberti and cimmaron reproductions. Everyone needs a classic single action in their arsenal!


8 posted on 11/05/2016 11:33:46 AM PDT by Nicojones
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To: PROCON

Rimmed, like a 22, 38 or 45 Long Colt, not straight like a 380, 9mm or 45 ACP.


9 posted on 11/05/2016 11:34:38 AM PDT by Strac6 (Everything Depends On Defeating Hillary in November. Everything else is minor compared to that!)
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To: PROCON

Interesting. The first revolver prototype was made in Baltimore. Good luck trying to carry one there now.


10 posted on 11/05/2016 11:34:51 AM PDT by cyclotic
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To: PROCON; StoneWall Brigade; Jack Hammer
"Even a young George S. Patton shot Julio Cárdenas, Pancho Villa's second-in-command, with his Colt on a patrol during the Pancho Villa Expedition."

Patton wouldn't have to go to Mexico these days to find America's enemies.

11 posted on 11/05/2016 11:35:53 AM PDT by Enterprise ("Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities." Voltaire)
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To: PROCON

Wyatt used a smith and Wesson break top. It’s well documented.


12 posted on 11/05/2016 11:36:06 AM PDT by DesertRhino (November 8, America's Brexit!!!)
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To: PROCON
Here is a bunch of old gun porn:
http://vintageinternetpatents.com/firearms.html

I like the Mershon & Hollingsworht out of family pride.

13 posted on 11/05/2016 11:36:08 AM PDT by mountainlion (Live well for those that did not make it back.)
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To: PROCON
The SAA also had a "half-cock" notch on the sear that allowed the hammer to be pulled off the chamber. However, that notch was not particularly deep and a hard blow on the hammer could fire the round anyway, giving rise to the expression "going off half-cocked."

There are actually four "clicks" on the full-cock pull of a SAA hammer, supposedly matching the four letters of the inventor's name: C - O - L - T.

I find the SAA one of the most beautiful, elegant weapons ever made. That and the 1911A1 are THE classic models of pistols.

14 posted on 11/05/2016 11:36:21 AM PDT by IronJack
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To: cyclotic

Baltimore? Everyone does, just not legally.


15 posted on 11/05/2016 11:37:04 AM PDT by Strac6 (Everything Depends On Defeating Hillary in November. Everything else is minor compared to that!)
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To: DesertRhino

What about the Buntline Special?


16 posted on 11/05/2016 11:40:50 AM PDT by Renegade
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To: DesertRhino

He favored a Schofield as well


17 posted on 11/05/2016 11:48:31 AM PDT by atc23 (The Confederacy was the single greatest conservative resistance to federal authority ever)
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To: StoneWall Brigade

Ping “Colt”


18 posted on 11/05/2016 11:51:14 AM PDT by TNoldman (AN AMERICAN FOR A MUSLIM/BHO FREE AMERICA. (Owner of Stars and Bars Flags))
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To: PROCON
The early models required the barrel to be removed before the pistol's cylinder could be reloaded.

Whoa! Never knew that. I could see that as an impediment to wide-spread adoption. In school in the fifties, we always learned Colt was the innovator of interchangeable parts, but we never learned about this design shortcoming. How did he get his company off the ground with this design?

19 posted on 11/05/2016 11:58:43 AM PDT by ProtectOurFreedom
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To: Renegade
What about the Buntline Special?

Wyatt Earp was given the 10'" barrel Colt by Ned Buntline, a newspaperman as a publicity stunt. Earp had a local gunsmith cut the barrel down to a normal 5 ½" to use it. Earp was also known for buying old Colts and giving them to friends and acquaintances, telling them these were the gun he used at the OK Corral when they were not. Earp owned both Smith's and Colts throughout his career.

20 posted on 11/05/2016 11:59:00 AM PDT by Swordmaker (This tag line is a Microsoft insult free zone... but if the insults to Mac users continue...)
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