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."
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Samuel Colt
(Excerpt) Read more at popularmechanics.com ...
The Dragoon pistols have my interest,
Perhaps the Apache Wars are the reason.
Black powder, .44 caliber powerhouse!
You want a beautiful holster for your SA Army try Hastings Leather. I have one for my SA Army Colt that is a beauty. SA Colts have escalated in price the last five years.
That was a limitation of the Patterson model and some of the other early models. By the time of the revisions of the Walkers and 47 and 49 pocket pistols, they could be loaded from the front of the cylinder. . . Still a slow process. Some smaller ones lacked "loading levers" used to press the bullet into the cylinder and still essentially required the gun's barrel to be removed to do it easily.
The “horse pistols” were powerful indeed. But they were slow and notoriously prone to either flashovers or misfires. Get the powder wet and you had to dump the whole cylinder. Remarkable for their time, but obsoleted by the self-contained cartridge revolver.
You are correct, the bottom of the cartridge should have a rim so that it fits in the cylinder correctly.
Rimfire is different than centerfire, but does have a rim on the base.
I’d like to shoot the original Fosbury Flop, the Webley-Fosbery Automatic pistol.
It’s just a poor drawing. The rim is not pronounced enough. The SAA was chambered for a number of cartridges, all of them rimmed. BTW, Colt still makes them, but they cost more than the $13 they originally sold for.
Samuel Colt was dead by the time the SAA appeared. He did invent the first popular workable revolver, for which he is justly famed.
Shouldn’t it be a rimmed round?
The rim on the original .45 Colt was minimal. It was not needed for the Peacemaker ejection system, just for headspace. It was later increased a bit to allow other extraction systems, such as on side swing revolver systems, or rifles, to work better.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.45_Colt
A Colt dragoon,3rd Generation, SWEET!
Hey Frog ,
Where can a guy get a holster like the above?
Connecticut State Library has the Colt collection
The Colt’s Patent Firearms Manufacturing Company Factory Collection was given to the Museum of Connecticut History in 1957. The collection constitutes one of the finest assemblages of early Colt prototypes, factory models and experimental firearms in the world. The collection also includes Colt-made Gattling guns, shotguns and automatic weapons. In 1995 the original “Rampant Colt” statue that had adorned the Hartford Colt factory was acquired by the museum. The Colt Firearms Collection, coupled with historic photographs and other related materials, is a “must-see” for both firearms enthusiasts and students of American history.
Also; not on display; from time-to time, they drag out the amazing collection: The Elizabeth Hart Jarvis Colt Collection came to the Wadsworth Atheneum upon the death of Mrs. Colt in 1905
Wadsworth images: https://thewadsworth.org/collection/colt-firearms/
Deja vu all over again...
I Just looked up; this weapon a few minute ago poking around on another forum. Someone mentioned it, someone else said it was also called Widowmaker, which I had never heard, so I looked it up. Still have the page open in another tab...
http://gunsmagazine.com/colt-45-peacemaker/
Picture of the rounds about halfway down, definitely a rim but not much of one. Never had a chance to shoot one myself, don’t think I’ve even seen one in person unless someone had it and I didn’t know about it.
Probably my favorite revolver is the Ruger Security Six, .357. I probably made a big mistake when I didn’t grab one at a local pawn shop years ago, they cost twice as much now. I was looking at a Ruger Blackhawk, also .357, and saw the Security Six. Smoother and quieter action, plus double action, which isn’t a major selling point to me, and it was in good condition. Still wish I Had gotten it...Main difference was the Blackhawk had a 6” barrel, Security Six was a 4” model. Also seemed to be better made.
http://world.guns.ru/handguns/double-action-revolvers/usa/ruger-security-six-e.html
http://chuckhawks.com/ruger_security_six.htm
I agree on both points.
I have a 85% Second Generation (1962) SAA Colt and a 1911 Colt.
Both are beautifully made...smooth as silk.
The SAA does bite a bit when fired, but that's because the grips have never been "fitted", so there are some irritant points, but it shoots straighter than many "modern" revolvers I've had.
It's never been worked, except to replace the hand which was worn enough to cause a small timing problem (probably from trying to count those four clicks you mentioned) and one trigger screw...otherwise, it's almost perfect.
I've been offered $2000.00 for it, much more than the book value, but it also has original stag grips, but I wouldn't take twice that.
It's become an old friend and my oldest son has been eyeballing it...so if it will get him as deeply into guns as I am, I'll put it in my will for him.
My dad had a pre-64 SAA chambered in — of all things — .38 Special. I’ve never shot a pistol with so smooth an action. And for one with fixed sights, it was remarkably accurate. The case hardening on the frame was beautiful.
Very cool .....My only historical firearm was a old 30-40 Krag Carbine who’s ownership was “shared” by my grandfather and the boxer Jack Dempsey when they were teens and worked on a ranch together in Colorado. Jack sold his share in the rifle to my grandfather for 8 dollars. I still have the rifle ....
Sadly these days its rumored all new colt SAA’s are built on italian parts, forgings and marked with Colts patents etc ...,
And Remington.
The percussion Remington was superior to the Colt counterpart in my opinion: top strap.
There were also British and European makes to be found. The Wild West was, after all, open to all, and there were plenty of expatriate cowboys.
The film, Silverado, was made by a true aficionado of Westerns, Lawrence Kasdan, and, like a Tom Selleck vehicle, was remarkable for its authenticity.
As I recall, the British character played by John Cleese, had a Webley (or some such): nice touch. Then, of course, there were the two beautiful .44 Rimfire Henrys.
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