In July of 1873, the U.S. Army adopted the Colt Single Action Army to replace its older Model 1860 percussion-cap revolvers. The Single Action Army was immediately popular among the soldiers that used them, who valued their formidable stopping power, high accuracy, and easy to maintain construction. These revolvers quickly found their way into the hands of civilians, lawmen, and outlaws alike who recognized the Single Action Army’s superior design. Even as the Wild West was tamed, the Single Action Army’s legacy continued. Theodore Roosevelt and his Rough Riders carried them during their charge up San Juan Hill. General George S. Patton carried one during the Second World War despite the popularity of semiautomatic handguns.
Today, the spirit of the Colt Single Action Army is kept alive by Uberti's Model 1873 Hunter Revolvers. These handguns capture the visual authenticity of the originals down to the last detail, but offer 2 major upgrades. The first and most notable is the installation of a picatinny rail, allowing the user to utilize modern optics like red dots and magnified scopes, making this handgun ideal for target shooting and hunting. The second major improvement is a retractable firing pin. When original Single Action Army’s are fully loaded, the firing pin rests on a cartridge’s primer, making them unsafe to carry with all six rounds. The only way to carry an original single-action safely is to keep the hammer un-cocked with the firing pin resting on an empty chamber.
Features of the 1873 Hunter Revolver
- Available in .45 Long Colt and .44 Magnum
- Picatinny optics rail
- Retractable firing pin