It may be too much to claim that the Colt Single Action Army was the gun that won the West but it played its part. Alongside the Stetson, horse, and reddish brown leather saddle, the SAA or Peacemaker, as it is most commonly called, is iconic of the Old West.
Making its debut in 1873, the Peacemaker has been manufacturered in more than 30 different calibers but may most be associated with .45. It was the official sidearm of the U.S. Army until 1892 and was long popular among cowboys and law enforcement personnel. It has seen become most popular among collectors and actors.
Those untutored in handguns may miss the fact that single action refers to the fact that the Peacemaker's hammer must be cocked before firing. A double action may be fired in succession without stopping although it too may optionally be cocked and fired. A sort of pseudo-double action may be affected by holding down the trigger and "fanning" the hammer with the other hand but this has come to be considered unsafe and can damage the weapon.
Anyone who has fired more than one revolver realizes very quickly broad variation in quality. Some are unbalanced weight shifing forward and backward making firing uncomfortable, inaccurate and dangerous. Some cylinders rotate only with great effort making trigger squeeze trigger jerk. The Peacemaker is balanced and comfortable to operate when well maintained. It is a work of art, a deadly work of art.
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