Editing Colt Single Action Army (section)

==First generation (1873–1941)==
[[File:Colt Storekeeper.jpg|thumb|Colt Sheriff's Model, {{convert|3|in|cm|adj=on}} barrel]]
[[File:Colt SAA SAPD No 71.jpg|thumb|Colt SAA SAPD, Badge]]
The Single Action Army became available in standard barrel lengths of {{frac|4|3|4}} inch, {{frac|5|1|2}} inch, as well as the Cavalry standard, original {{frac|7|1|2}} inch. The shorter barrelled revolvers are sometimes called the "Civilian" or "Gunfighter" model ({{frac|4|3|4}} inch) and the Artillery Model ({{frac|5|1|2}} inch). There was also a variant with a sub-4-inch barrel, without an ejector rod, unofficially called the "Sheriff's Model", "Banker's Special", or "Storekeeper".<ref name="Adler" />

From 1875 until 1880 Colt marketed a single-action revolver chambered in [[.44 Henry]] in a separate number range from no. 1 to 1,863.<ref>Cochran, Keith. ''Colt Peacemaker Encyclopedia''.</ref>

A "Flattop Target Model" was listed in Colt's catalogs from 1890 to 1898. Colt manufactured 914 of these revolvers with a frame that was flat on top and fitted with an adjustable leaf rear sight. The front sight consisted of a base with an interchangeable blade.<ref name="sapp">Sapp (2007) pp. 28–29</ref>

In 1896, at serial number 164,100, a spring-loaded base pin latch replaced the cylinder pin retaining screw and by 1900, at serial number 192,000, the Colt Single Action was certified for use with smokeless powder.{{sfn|Wilson|1985|pages=148–151}} In 1920, larger, highly visible sights replaced the original thin blade and notch. The revolvers remained essentially unchanged from that point until cessation of manufacture at the beginning of World War II.<ref name="Adler" />

From 1873 through 1940 (with small numbers assembled during and after World War II, the so-called "Pre-War, Post-War" model), production of the Colt Single Action Army reached 357,859. This is identified as the "Pre War" or "First Generation" of the model. Calibers, at least thirty in all, ranged from .22 rimfire through .476 Eley, with approximately half, or 158,884 (including Bisley and Flat Top Target variations), chambered for .45 Colt. The next most prevalent were the .44-40 Winchester Center fire (WCF) at 71,392; 38-40 (38 WCF) at 50,520; .32-20 Winchester (32 WCF) at 43,284 and, the 41 Colt at 19,676.{{sfn|Wilson|1985|pages=148–151}}

===Military use===
All original, good condition, U.S. Cavalry and Artillery Single Action Armies (those produced between 1873 and 1891) are among the most valuable to collectors. Especially valuable, often going for well over $10,000, are the OWA (Orville Wood Ainsworth) and the rare Henry Nettleton inspected Single Action Army Colts.<ref name="Tarr2013">{{cite book|last=Tarr|first=James|title=Standard Catalog of Colt Firearms|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CaxuAAAAQBAJ&pg=PA71|year=2013|publisher=Krause Publications|location=Iola, WI|isbn=978-1-4402-3747-8|pages=71–72|url-status=dead|access-date=October 14, 2016|archive-date=February 26, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170226214958/https://books.google.com/books?id=CaxuAAAAQBAJ&pg=PA71}}</ref>

The OWA Colt refers to the earliest issued Single Action Army guns, which were inspected by Orville W. Ainsworth. Ainsworth was the ordnance sub-inspector at the Colt factory for the first 13 months (October 1873 to November 1874) of the Single Action Army's production. It was Ainsworth who inspected the Colts used by [[George Armstrong Custer|Col. G. A. Custer]]'s [[7th Cavalry Regiment (United States)|7th Cavalry]] at the [[Battle of the Little Bighorn]]. The number range of possible Little Bighorn Colts is 4500–7527.{{sfn|Wilson|1985|pages=148–151}}

Henry Nettleton was the U.S. Principal Sub-inspector in 1878 at the [[Springfield Armory]]. Second only to the OWA Colts, Nettleton Colts are prized by serious collectors. Both the Nettleton and OWA Colts have the [[cartouche]] (OWA or HN) on the left side of the wood grip.

By the mid-1870s, the Army had purchased a significant number of Smith & Wesson Schofield revolvers chambering a shorter .45 round.<ref name="EPR" /> Logistical problems arose because the ammunition was not interchangeable. The Colt revolvers would accept the shorter round, but not vice versa.<ref name="EPR" /> For a time, the Government stopped orders for the longer Colt cartridge and used the Smith & Wesson round exclusively. The Schofield was soon retired and sold to the civilian market.<ref name="EPR" />

The largest group of U.S. Colt Cavalry revolvers was inspected by David F. Clark, his D.F.C. cartouche being encountered on revolvers inspected from 1880 to 1887.{{sfn|Wilson|1985|pages=148–151}} During 1893, the .45 U.S. Colt Single Action Army revolver was retired by the Cavalry and replaced by the .38 caliber Colt Model 1892 Double Action Army revolver.<ref name="Shideler2011">{{cite book|last=Shideler|first=Dan|title=Gun Digest Book of Classic Combat Handguns|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sKZ2X6kBRuUC&pg=PA46|year=2011|publisher=Gun Digest Books|location=Iola, WI|isbn=978-1-4402-2385-3|pages=46–47}}</ref> The .45 Single Action Army revolver was still standard issue to the Infantry, Artillery and other branches of the U.S. Army.

In 1895–1896, the U.S. federal government returned 2,000 SAA revolvers to Colt to be refurbished; 800 were issued to the [[New York Militia]] with the {{convert|7+1/2|in|cm}} barrel and 1,200 were altered to a barrel length of {{convert|5+1/2|in|cm}}. In 1898, 14,900 of the SAA revolvers were altered the same way by Springfield Armory. The original records of the War Department do refer to these revolvers with the shortened barrel as the "Altered Revolver". The name "Artillery" is actually a misnomer, which Sapp speculates may have originated because the Light Artillery happened to have the first units armed with the altered revolver.<ref name=sapp74>Sapp. (2007) p. 74</ref>

The Artillery Single Actions were issued to the Infantry, the Light Artillery, the Volunteer Cavalry and other troops because the standard-issue .38 caliber Colt M 1892 double-action revolver was lacking in stopping power. For that reason, the .45 Artillery SAA Revolvers were used successfully by front troops in the [[Spanish–American War]] and the [[Philippine–American War]]. Theodore Roosevelt's [[Rough Riders]] charged up [[Battle of San Juan Hill|San Juan Hill]] wielding the .45 caliber Artillery Model.<ref>Sapp. (2007) p. 243</ref>

The Artillery Model usually had mixed numbers. It can be identified by the U.S. on the frame, the inspector's stamps on different parts (such as a tiny A for Orville W. Ainsworth, DFC, HN, RAC for later inspectors and K for replacement parts) and the cartouche of Rinaldo A. Carr (RAC), the inspector who inspected the refurbished guns, on the grip.<ref>Sapp. (2007) pp. 94–97</ref>

<gallery mode="packed">
File:US Colt SAA 1873.jpg|US Colt Single Action 1873 Cavalry Model
File:Custer Staghounds.jpg|[[George Armstrong Custer]] with [[Arikara]] Scouts during [[Black Hills Expedition]] of 1874; Colt pistols are visible
File:SAA 5773 oN.JPG|.45 Colt Single Action Army, serial No 5773 7th Cavalry issued 1877
File:SAA Battle of Britain.jpg|.38 Colt Single Action [[Battle of Britain]] 1940
File:Colt SAA US Artillery RAC.jpg|Colt Model 1873, U.S. Artillery Model
</gallery>

===The Colt Frontier Six-Shooter===
[[File:Colt Frontier Six Shooter.JPG|thumb|Colt "Frontier Six Shooter", shipped 1884, etched panel]]

The '''Colt Frontier''' or '''Frontier Six-Shooter''' was a Colt's 1873 "Model P" type revolver manufactured in .44-40 Winchester caliber instead of .45 Colt (in which configuration it was called the ''Single Action Army'') so that it was compatible with Winchester [[Winchester rifle|Model 1873]] ammunition. Production began in 1877. ''Colt Frontier Six-Shooter'' was the actual name of the Colt pistol model, and this was acid-etched on the left side of the barrel. After 1889, the legend was roll-stamped until 1919, when the caliber designation ".44-40" was added. Later [[Colt M1878]] Double Action Army Models also wore this designation on the barrel when chambered in .44 WCF/.44-40 Winchester. The Bisley 1895 Model was the final Colt to wear the Frontier Six Shooter designation.<ref name=taffin4041>Taffin (2005) pp. 40–41</ref>

The 44-40 was also promoted as the standard chambering for the new, hugely successful, Winchester Model 1873 rifle. Users of the .44-40 Winchester cartridge in the Far West appreciated the convenience of being able to carry a single caliber of ammunition, which they could fire in both revolver and rifle. The ''Colt Frontier Six Shooter'' Revolver and the Winchester Model 1873 or the [[Winchester Model 1892]] in .44-40 WCF caliber was one of the most common combinations seen in "the Old West".<ref name="taffin4041" /> For example, the two mounted "Cowboys" at the [[Gunfight at the O.K. Corral]] were armed with this rifle and pistol combination. [[.38-40 Winchester|.38-40]] and [[.32-20 Winchester|.32-20 (.32 WCF)]] also qualify as "Frontier Calibers" because 1873 and 1892 Winchesters were made in these calibers, offering the same convenience as the 44-40 (44WCF) caliber, namely using the same cartridge in both revolver and rifle.

===The Bisley Model===
[[File:Colt Bisley 38-40.JPG|thumb|Colt Bisley Model .38-40 WCF, shipped 1904 to [[Copper Queen Mine|Copper Queen Cons. Mining Co]] in [[Bisbee, Arizona]]]]
The Colt Bisley (1894–1912) was introduced in 1894 as an accurate target pistol. The name Bisley came from the [[National Shooting Centre|famous firing range]] in [[Bisley, Surrey|Bisley]], England.<ref name="Flayderman2001" /> The Colt Bisley can be distinguished by the longer grip, the wider hammer spur, and the wider trigger.<ref name="Flayderman2001" /> The distinguishing feature of the Bisley Target Model is the topstrap, which is flat and fitted with a sliding rear sight, adjustable for windage only.<ref name="Flayderman2001" /> The front sight is a removable blade, which fits into the slotted base attached to the barrel. The revolvers were supplied with different blades for elevation.<ref name="Flayderman2001" />

The Bisley mainspring is longer than the SAA mainspring, and the two are not interchangeable; it is attached to the hammer with a stirrup via a forked upper end. The serial numbers are stamped on the frame, the backstrap and the trigger-guard at the end of production, with tiny dies.<ref name="Wilson1">Wilson (1979) p. 100</ref>

Bisleys were serial-numbered in the range of 156300–331916, in the same sequence as the Single Action Army.<ref name="Flayderman2001" /> All Bisleys after No. 161,376 had "BISLEY MODEL" with the caliber stamped on the left side of the barrel, which is rare for older Colt revolvers.<ref name="Flayderman2001" /> The most common were in the American calibers of .32-20, .38-40, .45 Colt, .44-40, .41 Long Colt, and also in the British calibers of .450 Eley and .455 Eley.<ref name="Flayderman2001" /> A total number of 44,350 were manufactured. Production of the Bisley was terminated in 1912, but serial No. 331916 was shipped after the First World War.<ref name="Flayderman2001">Flayderman (2001) p. 101</ref> Most Bisley Standard Model Revolvers shipped to a United States address were not used for target shooting, but for self-defense, because the grip and hammer were ideal for fast shooting.<ref name="Adler">Adler (2008) pp. 218–219</ref><ref name="Flayderman2001" />

Surveys of existing Bisley show that a much larger number of {{cvt|4+3/4|in|cm}} Bisleys, perhaps as high as 62%, have survived as compared to the {{frac|5|1|2}}" and {{frac|7|1|2}}" barreled guns. Considering the majority of Bisleys were made in .32/20 and .38/40, some 60%, it appears that the market for SAAs was changing. In the late 1890s, with increasing urbanization in the [[Western United States]], suggests the possibility that many of these pistols were used as companion pieces to lever-action rifles of the same period. The unique features of the Bisley with their low-slung hammer, less humped backstrap, and shorter barrel may have suited the city-dwelling suit-coat-wearing clientele who still found themselves outdoors, not only on horses but in buggies and automobiles. The need for man-stopping bullets was decreasing in urbanized environments, although in semi-urban areas, a pistol like the Bisley would be suitable for discouraging both four-legged and two-legged "varmints" while also suitable for collecting supper along the road. The Bisley may mark a movement to a more civilized West.{{citation needed|date=September 2018}}

===Buntline Special===
{{Main|Colt Buntline}}
[[File:Buntline.jpg|thumb|upright=1.2|Colt Buntline]]
[[Wyatt Earp]] biographer [[Stuart N. Lake]]<ref name="Adler" /> popularized the myth of the Buntline Special. In his highly fictionalized biography, ''Wyatt Earp: Frontier Marshal'', published in 1931, he wrote that Earp and four other lawmen—[[Bat Masterson]], Bill Tilghman, Charlie Bassett and Neal Brown—were each presented with a customized revolver with a {{convert|12|in|cm|adj=mid|-long}} barrel. However, according to some other accounts, on October 26, 1881, the day of the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral, Earp carried an 1869 .44 caliber Smith & Wesson American Model with an {{convert|8|in|cm|adj=on}} barrel.<ref name=shillingberg>{{cite journal|title=Wyatt Earp and the Buntline Special Myth |url=http://www.kshs.org/p/kansas-historical-quarterly-wyatt-earp-and-the-buntline-special-myth/13255 |first=William B. |last=Shillingberg |date=Summer 1976 |volume=42 |number=2 |pages=113–154 |journal=Kansas Historical Quarterly |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120201191828/http://www.kshs.org/p/kansas-historical-quarterly-wyatt-earp-and-the-buntline-special-myth/13255 |archive-date=February 1, 2012 }}</ref>