| 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 Australia |
| Wars | |
| 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+[1] |
| 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 revolver 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.