Editing Colt Single Action Army (section)

==Legacy==
[[File:"Lt. Gen. George S. Patton, U.S. Third Army commander, pins the Silver Star on Private Ernest A. Jenkins of New York Cit - NARA - 535724.tif|thumb|right|upright|Lt. [[George S. Patton|Gen. George S. Patton Jr.]] with his ivory-handled Peacemaker]]

The power, accuracy and handling qualities of the Single Action Army (SAA) made it a popular sidearm from its inception, well into the 20th century. The association with the history of the American West remains to the present century, and these revolvers remain popular with shooters and collectors. [[George S. Patton]], who began his career in the horse-cavalry, carried a custom-made SAA with ivory grips engraved with his initials and an eagle, which became his trademark. He used it during the [[Pancho Villa Expedition|Mexican Punitive Expedition of 1916]] in a gunfight with two of [[Pancho Villa]]'s lieutenants and carried it until his death in 1945 shortly after the end of World War II.<ref name="Wilson4" /> It remains on display, along with the SAA carried by actor [[George C. Scott]] portraying Patton in the 1970 film by the same name at the [[General George Patton Museum of Leadership]] at Fort Knox, KY {{As of|2022|df=US|lc=y|post=.}} Villa himself used a 5-inch barrelled Colt Bisley in .44-40 caliber for the full length of his military career.<ref>{{Cite web |last=JimC |date=2015-05-14 |title=The Guns of Pancho Villa |url=https://frontierpartisans.com/3623/firearms-of-the-frontier-partisans-the-guns-of-pancho-villa/ |access-date=2024-09-05 |website=Frontier Partisans |language=en-US}}</ref>

In the early and mid-20th century, original Peacemakers lacking historical provenance and not in pristine condition were not particularly valuable. They served as raw material for early enthusiasts such as [[Elmer Keith]], Harold Croft and R. F. Sedgley who modified the revolvers to enhance performance and experimented with more effective ammunition.<ref name="Keith">[[Elmer Keith|Keith, Elmer]] (1955). ''Sixguns by Keith''. New York: Bonanza Books.{{ISBN?}}{{page needed|date=May 2022}}</ref><ref>Bowen, Hamilton (2001). ''The Custom Revolver''. Louisville, TN.{{ISBN?}}{{page needed|date=May 2022}}</ref> At the beginning of the 21st century, first- and second-generation SAAs are highly regarded as collectors' items and often considered too valuable to shoot.

After World War II, new interest in the SAA started and firearms enthusiast William R. Wilson recognized the need and the opportunity. In 1953 Wilson founded the [[Great Western Arms Company]] to produce an almost-exact clone of the old Colt SAA for television and movie westerns. The Great Western revolvers were manufactured in Los Angeles.

Later Colt editions are more common, and various copies and near-copies of the revolver are made by [[A. Uberti, Srl.|Uberti]] of Italy.  Uberti is now owned by [[Beretta]], producer of the [[Beretta Stampede]]. American manufacturers include Colt Manufacturing Company, which still retains the model in its catalog. Until its dissolution in 2017, [[U.S. Fire Arms Mfg. Co.]] built several variations true to the original first- and second-generation specifications. STI International has introduced a very precisely made Single Action Army with a modified hand/spring assembly designed to last longer than the originals.

The Single Action Army is the precursor and inspiration for modern sporting revolvers from [[John Linebaugh]], [[Freedom Arms]], [[Sturm, Ruger & Co.|Ruger]], [[Cimarron Firearms|Cimarron]], and others.<ref name="Wilson4">Wilson (1992) p. 192</ref>

In 2010, Arizona State Rifle and Pistol Association President Noble C. Hathaway and Cast Bullet Director Dan Walliser surveyed state residents to determine what "Old West" firearm should be named the official state firearm. The Colt Patent Firearms Single Action Army won by a 38% margin. Afterwards, Hathaway submitted a bill to the Arizona legislature, and on the last day of the 2010–2011 regular legislative session, Arizona Senate Bill 1610 was passed. [[Governor Jan Brewer]] signed the bill into law. [[Arizona]] is the second state to have an official firearm, following [[Utah]]'s adoption of the [[Colt's Manufacturing Company|Colt]] [[M1911 pistol]].<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://newsfeed.time.com/2011/04/30/arizona-gets-an-official-state-gun-%E2%80%94and-its-manufactured-in-connecticut/ |title=Arizona Gets an Official State Gun – And It's Manufactured in Connecticut |access-date=January 2, 2018 |magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] |date=April 30, 2011}}</ref>