Colt Single Action Army
Colt's Manufacturing Company · Revolver · In Production · 1873
Also known as: Colt Peacemaker, Colt .45, Colt M1873, Single Action Army, SAA, Colt Model P
Overview
The Colt Single Action Army is a single-action revolver introduced in 1873 and adopted by the U.S. Army the same year. Chambered originally in .45 Colt and fed from a six-round revolving cylinder loaded one round at a time through a side loading gate, it became known as the Peacemaker and the gun that 'won the West.' Its color-case-hardened frame, fixed sights, and ejector rod made it a rugged and iconic frontier sidearm carried by soldiers, lawmen, and outlaws alike.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 1048 g (37.0 oz) |
| Overall Length | 330 mm (12.99") |
| Barrel Length | 191 mm (7.52") |
| Height | 140 mm (5.51") |
| Width | 40 mm (1.57") |
| Action Type | Revolving |
| Firing Mechanism | Hammer Fired |
| Trigger Type | Single Action |
| Magazine Capacity | 6 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Cylinder |
| Muzzle Velocity | 265 m/s (869 fps) |
| Muzzle Energy | 569 J (420 ft·lbf) |
| Effective Range | 50 m (55 yd) |
| Maximum Range | 100 m (109 yd) |
| Barrel Rifling | Left Hand |
| Rifling Twist | 406 mm (15.98") |
| Number of Grooves | 6 |
| Frame Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Stock Material | Walnut |
| Finish | Blued |
Calibers
- .45 Colt · primary — also known as .45 Long Colt, .45 LC, 11.43x33mmR
Features
- Firing modes: Manual
- Feed systems: Revolving Cylinder
- Safety mechanisms: Half Cock Notch
- Features: Fixed Sights, Loading Gate, Ejector Rod, Color Case Hardened Frame
Variants
- Colt SAA Artillery Model — Short Barrel
- Colt SAA Cavalry Model — Military
- Colt Buntline Special — Long Barrel
Service history
Operators
- United States Army · adopted 1873 · as M1873
Conflicts
- American Indian Wars (1873-1890)
- Spanish-American War (1898)
- Philippine-American War (1899-1902)
Production
Production years: 1873-1941, 1956-present
First and second generation production with a gap during World War II; the SAA remains in limited production by Colt today.
Origin
Country of origin: United States
Designer: William Mason, Charles Brinckerhoff Richards
Notes
Catalogued over the years in numerous barrel lengths (the 4.75-inch 'Civilian/Gunfighter', 5.5-inch 'Artillery', and 7.5-inch 'Cavalry'), with the longer 'Buntline Special' an extended-barrel variant. Chambered in many cartridges beyond .45 Colt including .44-40 WCF, .38-40, .357 Magnum, and .44 Special.
Background
Nicknamed the 'Peacemaker' and 'the gun that won the West', the Colt Single Action Army is among the most iconic American firearms. General George S. Patton famously carried ivory-gripped SAA revolvers throughout his military career, and the design has appeared in countless Western films.