The Homestead Acts and the discovery of gold sent ambitious pioneers out west. Along with those pioneers came criminals, bent on getting their own fortune. This mixture of personalities created the history we know as the "Wild West".
The Colt S.A.A. has shared the title of "The Gun That Won The West" along with the Winchester model of 1873 rifle. I'm not sure if one is more deserving of the title than the other, but sharing the title seems appropriate as they were introduced the same year and often found to be used by the same people.
I suppose most people do not know that the design of the 1873 Peacemaker was ready long before the 1st ones were produced in 1872. Smith & Wesson held the patent rights to Rollin White's bored through cylinder design and the Colt Company (sadly Samuel died in 1862) did not want to pay royalties to their revolver competitor. Thus Colt waited until the patent expired.
The biggest push to get the revolvers into production came from the U.S. Army trials of 1872. Colt won the contract, and the name of the gun became the "Single Action Army model of 1873", it remained the sidearm of the US Army through 1892.
The first generation of Colt S.A.A.s were made from 1872 until 1940, when Colt needed to focus on orders for weapons (gearing up for the war in Europe) from the US Government.
The second generation of Colt SAAs began production in 1956 and the third generation in 1976.
In 1955 a TV show debuted called The Life and Times of Wyatt Earp, followed four days later by Gunsmoke.
The proliferation of TV shows and movies dedicated to the tales of the Old West along with some new competitors led to Colt re-introducing their Single Action Army revolver in 1956.
In 1953 Ruger introduced their Single Six .22 revolver (not really a clone, but it was a start).
The original Ruger Single Six
One year later Great Western Arms introduced their Single Action Army clone. The guns were very close copies of the Colts, including the finishes and barrel lengths. They were so close that many of the Western movies filmed in the 50's used the Great Western.
The Great Western
After making some 22,000 revolvers, Great Western Arms went out of business in 1964 and their guns have become popular with collectors.
In 1955 Ruger introduced their full-sized single action in .357 Magnum. Named the Blackhawk, it was nearly identical in sized to the Colt SAA, but featured a rear adjustable sight and different internal lock work that used coil springs.
We cannot really call the Blackhawk a clone due to it's squared off frame, adjustable sight & different lock work, but it got Ruger started down the path that would lead to a clone of the Colt.
Sometime in the late 1950s or early 1960s the Hawes Firearms Company began importing a Great Western/Colt clone with model names like "Western Marshal", "Western Six-Shooter" etc. The guns were made in West Germany by JP Sauer & Sohn. The quality varies considerably, and their value reflects that. They also used aluminum parts like the Ruger Blackhawks.
The Western Marshal
Thanks to the interest in the Old West by Italians (who would've guessed?) we had a run of "Spaghetti Westerns" led by Sergio Leone. These westerns helped launched Clint Eastwood's career.
By the mid 1970s there were several Italian gun makers crafting good quality Colt clones
Uberti has dozens of combinations utilizing different finishes, barrel lengths and calibers.
Model names include Cattleman, Chisholm, Desperado, Cody, Frisco and other old west sounding names.
Uberti also brand labels their guns for companies like Taylor's & Co., E.M.F. and Cimarron.
the Uberti Cattleman:
In 1993 United States Fire Arms Mfg Co. (U.S.F.A.) started operations in Hartford by assembling guns using parts imported by Uberti. They eventually made every part of their guns. They are prized as some of the finest single action revolvers ever made. In addition to their authenticity, they were made in the old Colt Hartford factory.
Pietta operates under similar circumstances as Uberti, although on a smaller scale.
the Pietta 1873 SAA
Davide Pedersoli is primarily a maker of black powder replica firearms, but they do make at least one Colt Single Action Army copy, the Doc Holliday Special
These guns became more popular with the introduction of Cowboy Action Shooting.
Sturm Ruger & Co recognized the opportunity and recreated their New Model Blackhawk single action revolver into a closer copy of the Colt. By removing the rear adjustable sights, adding a simple patridge blade front sight and rounding the frame. In 1993 Ruger introduced the original Vaquero.
Ruger original Vaquero, 45 Colt 45/8" barrel
Being built on the New Model Blackhawk frame meant that this gun while being slightly larger than the original Colt could handle 44 Magnum cartridges as well as the hottest 45 Colt loads. Barrel lengths were originally the 4 5/8", 5 1/2" & 7 1/2". Other options included the Bisley grip/hammer/trigger and the birdshead grip. Finishes were the blued with a simulated color case frame (not a true color case hardening) and a high polish stainless steel finish (intended to mimic the Colt's nickel plating).
in 2005 the revolver was reworked and was now built on the original Blackhawk frame (which was smaller and nearly identical to the Colt).
the New Vaquero Montado
Beretta Stampede is an SAA clone made by Uberti for Beretta (Beretta owns Uberti)
The Taurus Gaucho is made in Brazil and imported by Taurus USA.
Timeline:
1872: Colt produces the prototypes for what becomes the Single Action Army, Colt wins contract from U.S. Army to supply the Single Action Army in .45 Colt
1873: Colt introduces the model to the public
1892: The Single Action Army is retired from U.S. Army service
1940: Colt discontinues production of the SAA
1950: Winchester '73 debuts in movie theaters
1953: Ruger introduces their Single Six revolver, Shane
debuts in movie theaters
1954: Great Western Arms introduces their SAA Clone(s)
1955: The Life and Times of Wyatt Earp & Gunsmoke both debut on TV.
1955: Ruger introduces a full size single action revolver named the "Blackhawk"
1956: Colt re-introduces the Single Action Army, known as the "2nd generation"
1958ish: Hawes Western Arms begins importing German made SAA copies
1959: Italian Aldo Uberti begins making reproductions of old west firearms
1960: The Magnificent 7 debuts in movie theaters
1964: Clint Eastwood gets his first starring role in a Western movie when A Fist Full of Dollars is released
1969: The Wild Bunch & True Grit debut in movie theaters
1976: The Colt SAA 3rd Generation revolver is introduced.
1992: Unforgiven debuts in movie theaters
1993: Ruger introduces the Vaquero, built on the .44 Blackhawk frame; Tombstone debuts in movie theaters.
1995: Ruger introduces a Vaquerito, a Single Six styled like the Vaquero, only smaller, in .32 H&R magnum
1996: United States Fire Arms Mfg Co. begins operations by importing Italian made parts and assembling them in Hartford. They would eventually make every part in Hartford including the screws
1997: Pietta adds a Single Action Army copy to their catalogue
2003: Open Range debuts in movie theaters
2005: Ruger redesigns the Vaquero using the smaller .357 Blackhawk frame
The Colt S.A.A. has shared the title of "The Gun That Won The West" along with the Winchester model of 1873 rifle. I'm not sure if one is more deserving of the title than the other, but sharing the title seems appropriate as they were introduced the same year and often found to be used by the same people.
I suppose most people do not know that the design of the 1873 Peacemaker was ready long before the 1st ones were produced in 1872. Smith & Wesson held the patent rights to Rollin White's bored through cylinder design and the Colt Company (sadly Samuel died in 1862) did not want to pay royalties to their revolver competitor. Thus Colt waited until the patent expired.
The biggest push to get the revolvers into production came from the U.S. Army trials of 1872. Colt won the contract, and the name of the gun became the "Single Action Army model of 1873", it remained the sidearm of the US Army through 1892.
The first generation of Colt S.A.A.s were made from 1872 until 1940, when Colt needed to focus on orders for weapons (gearing up for the war in Europe) from the US Government.
The second generation of Colt SAAs began production in 1956 and the third generation in 1976.
In 1955 a TV show debuted called The Life and Times of Wyatt Earp, followed four days later by Gunsmoke.
The proliferation of TV shows and movies dedicated to the tales of the Old West along with some new competitors led to Colt re-introducing their Single Action Army revolver in 1956.
In 1953 Ruger introduced their Single Six .22 revolver (not really a clone, but it was a start).
The original Ruger Single Six
One year later Great Western Arms introduced their Single Action Army clone. The guns were very close copies of the Colts, including the finishes and barrel lengths. They were so close that many of the Western movies filmed in the 50's used the Great Western.
The Great Western
In 1955 Ruger introduced their full-sized single action in .357 Magnum. Named the Blackhawk, it was nearly identical in sized to the Colt SAA, but featured a rear adjustable sight and different internal lock work that used coil springs.
We cannot really call the Blackhawk a clone due to it's squared off frame, adjustable sight & different lock work, but it got Ruger started down the path that would lead to a clone of the Colt.
Sometime in the late 1950s or early 1960s the Hawes Firearms Company began importing a Great Western/Colt clone with model names like "Western Marshal", "Western Six-Shooter" etc. The guns were made in West Germany by JP Sauer & Sohn. The quality varies considerably, and their value reflects that. They also used aluminum parts like the Ruger Blackhawks.
The Western Marshal
Thanks to the interest in the Old West by Italians (who would've guessed?) we had a run of "Spaghetti Westerns" led by Sergio Leone. These westerns helped launched Clint Eastwood's career.
The love Italians had for the Old West no doubt induced Italian gun makers like Uberti, Pedersoli and Pietta to create their own Colt Single Action Army Clones.
By the mid 1970s there were several Italian gun makers crafting good quality Colt clones
Uberti has dozens of combinations utilizing different finishes, barrel lengths and calibers.
Model names include Cattleman, Chisholm, Desperado, Cody, Frisco and other old west sounding names.
Uberti also brand labels their guns for companies like Taylor's & Co., E.M.F. and Cimarron.
the Uberti Cattleman:
Pietta operates under similar circumstances as Uberti, although on a smaller scale.
the Pietta 1873 SAA
Davide Pedersoli is primarily a maker of black powder replica firearms, but they do make at least one Colt Single Action Army copy, the Doc Holliday Special
These guns became more popular with the introduction of Cowboy Action Shooting.
Sturm Ruger & Co recognized the opportunity and recreated their New Model Blackhawk single action revolver into a closer copy of the Colt. By removing the rear adjustable sights, adding a simple patridge blade front sight and rounding the frame. In 1993 Ruger introduced the original Vaquero.
Ruger original Vaquero, 45 Colt 45/8" barrel
Being built on the New Model Blackhawk frame meant that this gun while being slightly larger than the original Colt could handle 44 Magnum cartridges as well as the hottest 45 Colt loads. Barrel lengths were originally the 4 5/8", 5 1/2" & 7 1/2". Other options included the Bisley grip/hammer/trigger and the birdshead grip. Finishes were the blued with a simulated color case frame (not a true color case hardening) and a high polish stainless steel finish (intended to mimic the Colt's nickel plating).
in 2005 the revolver was reworked and was now built on the original Blackhawk frame (which was smaller and nearly identical to the Colt).
the New Vaquero Montado
Beretta Stampede is an SAA clone made by Uberti for Beretta (Beretta owns Uberti)
The Taurus Gaucho is made in Brazil and imported by Taurus USA.
Timeline:
1872: Colt produces the prototypes for what becomes the Single Action Army, Colt wins contract from U.S. Army to supply the Single Action Army in .45 Colt
1873: Colt introduces the model to the public
1892: The Single Action Army is retired from U.S. Army service
1940: Colt discontinues production of the SAA
1950: Winchester '73 debuts in movie theaters
1953: Ruger introduces their Single Six revolver, Shane
debuts in movie theaters
1954: Great Western Arms introduces their SAA Clone(s)
1955: The Life and Times of Wyatt Earp & Gunsmoke both debut on TV.
1955: Ruger introduces a full size single action revolver named the "Blackhawk"
1956: Colt re-introduces the Single Action Army, known as the "2nd generation"
1958ish: Hawes Western Arms begins importing German made SAA copies
1959: Italian Aldo Uberti begins making reproductions of old west firearms
1960: The Magnificent 7 debuts in movie theaters
1964: Clint Eastwood gets his first starring role in a Western movie when A Fist Full of Dollars is released
1969: The Wild Bunch & True Grit debut in movie theaters
1976: The Colt SAA 3rd Generation revolver is introduced.
1992: Unforgiven debuts in movie theaters
1993: Ruger introduces the Vaquero, built on the .44 Blackhawk frame; Tombstone debuts in movie theaters.
1995: Ruger introduces a Vaquerito, a Single Six styled like the Vaquero, only smaller, in .32 H&R magnum
1996: United States Fire Arms Mfg Co. begins operations by importing Italian made parts and assembling them in Hartford. They would eventually make every part in Hartford including the screws
1997: Pietta adds a Single Action Army copy to their catalogue
2003: Open Range debuts in movie theaters
2005: Ruger redesigns the Vaquero using the smaller .357 Blackhawk frame
2007: Ruger introduces the short-barreled Vaquero Montado.
2011: U.S.F.A. closes their doors
2011: U.S.F.A. closes their doors
2016: The remake of the Magnificent Seven is released in theaters.
References
National Firearms Museum
Gun Digest
Wikipedia
Gun Auction
Uberti
Cimarron Fire Arms Co.
Taylor's and Co. Inc.
F.A.P. di Pietta
Davide Pedersoli
References
National Firearms Museum
Gun Digest
Wikipedia
Gun Auction
Uberti
Cimarron Fire Arms Co.
Taylor's and Co. Inc.
F.A.P. di Pietta
Davide Pedersoli
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