Colt Single Action Army

Colt Single Action Army
Colt Single Action Army
	A model with a 7+1⁄2 in. barrel
Type	Service revolver
Place of origin	United States
Service history
In service	1873–1945
Used by	United States; Canada; Native Americans; Mexico; Ireland; United Kingdom; South Africa
Wars	American Indian Wars; Range wars; North-West Rebellion; Spanish–American War; Philippine–American War; Mexican Revolution; Second Boer War; Irish War of Independence; World War I; World War II; Indonesian National Revolution;
Production history
Designer	William Mason and Charles Brinckerhoff Richards
Designed	1872
Manufacturer	Colt's Patent Firearms Manufacturing Company
Produced	1873–1941; 1956–1974; 1976–1982; 1994–present
No. built	457,000+
Specifications
Mass	2.31 lbs (1.048 kg; with 7+1⁄2 in. barrel)
Length	10.25 in. (260 mm, with 4+3⁄4 in. barrel); 11 in. (279 mm, with 5+1⁄2 in. barrel); 13 in. (330 mm, with 7+1⁄2 in. barrel)
Cartridge	.45 Colt; .44-40 WCF; .38-40 WCF; .32-20 WCF; .38 Long Colt; .22 Long Rifle; .38 Special; .45 ACP; .357 Magnum; .44 Special; Numerous other calibers
Action	Single-action revolver
Feed system	6-round cylinder

The Colt Single Action Army (also known as the SAA, Model P, Peacemaker, or M1873) is a single-action revolver handgun. It was designed for the U.S. government service revolver trials of 1872 by Colt's Patent Firearms Manufacturing Company (today known as Colt's Manufacturing Company) and was adopted as the standard-issued pistol of the U.S. Army from 1873 to 1892.

The Colt SAA has been offered in over 30 different calibers and various barrel lengths. Its overall appearance has remained consistent since 1873. Colt has cancelled its production twice, but renewed it due to popular demand. The revolver was dubbed the "Peacemaker", and is a famous piece of Americana and the American Wild West era, due to its popularity with ranchers, lawmen, and outlaws alike. Today, it is mainly bought as memorabilia by collectors and re-enactors. Its design has influenced the production of numerous other models from other companies.

The original length of the barrel, issued to the U.S. Cavalry, was 7+1⁄2 inches (19 cm), with an overall length of 13 inches (33 cm).^[2]^[3]^[4]

^ "Serial Number Data". Proofhouse.com.
^ "The Gun that Won the West". Colt. Archived from the original on February 24, 2021. Retrieved May 26, 2017.
^ Sapp, Rick (2007). Standard Catalog of Colt Firearms. Iola, WI: Gun Digest Books. p. 79. ISBN 978-0896895348.
^ Venturino, Mike (January 2014). "Colt .45 Peacemaker". Guns. Archived from the original on May 26, 2017. Retrieved May 26, 2017.

[1] "Serial Number Data". Proofhouse.com.

[2] "The Gun that Won the West". Colt. Archived from the original on February 24, 2021. Retrieved May 26, 2017.

[Standard_Catalog_of_Colt_Firearms-3] Sapp, Rick (2007). Standard Catalog of Colt Firearms. Iola, WI: Gun Digest Books. p. 79. ISBN 978-0896895348.

[4] Venturino, Mike (January 2014). "Colt .45 Peacemaker". Guns. Archived from the original on May 26, 2017. Retrieved May 26, 2017.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]