Hobbies And Interests
History
In 1836, Samuel Colt was issued a patent for his pistol design, which featured a revolving cylinder with slots for five or six bullets. During the next several decades, the revolver experienced fluctuating appeal until Colt produced the Single Action Army model in 1872. This model also is known as the Peacemaker and "the gun that won the West." The Single Action Army was the first breech-loading pistol to use self-contained metal cartridges. By 1941, Colt had produced more than 350,000 models of this pistol.
Function
The revolutionary design of Colt's original revolver was incorporated into most of his future models. A primer was placed into a slot located outside the cylinder, which was detonated by the hammer. Pulling the trigger resulted in two important actions--this released the hammer and rotated the cylinder, lining up another cartridge for fire. At first, the cartridges were loaded manually with the usual powder, wadding and bullets. The invention of the self-contained cartridge made the revolver unsurpassed in speed and power.
Significance
During the 1880s and 1890s, the United States Army and U.S. Navy completely rearmed their soldiers with Colt revolvers. While soldiers often complained of the pistol's poor accuracy, its small caliber and ease of use enabled troops to quickly master the sidearm. The Spanish-American War was influenced by the pervasive use of this cutting-edge technology. The Colt revolver continues to enjoy popularity in Western cinema, video gaming and gun collecting circles.
Varieties
The most popular Colt revolver is the Single Action Army. Different models were produced with differing bullet calibers and barrel lengths. Available bullet calibers include .32-20, .357, .38, .38-40, .44-20 and .45. Barrel lengths include 4.75", 5.5" and 7.5". The revolver mechanism also was incorporated into rifles.
Commemorative Model
Samuel Colt's company celebrated its 150th anniversary in 1986. In honor of this milestone, the company released the Single Action Army Sampler Edition, which features the engravings of famous Colt designers. During the event, an engraved original Single Action Army was sold at auction for $150,000. In 1995, Colt released a final Single Action Army model with engraved embellishments and golden inlays.