Uberti 1873 Cattleman BirdHead NM .45 Colt 4" Bbl Revolver 344881

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 and their line of Model 1873 Single Action Army Revolvers. These handguns capture the visual authenticity of the originals down to the last detail with the exception of one important change: 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.

Uberti fixes this age-old problem with a unique new system:

• At rest, the firing pin floats freely in its guide and exerts no pressure on the chamber.
• When the hammer is fully cocked, the sear shifts into position to engage the pin.
• When the trigger is pulled the sear engages the pin and locks it forward until the trigger is released.

With the firing pin remaining unlocked while the hammer is down, the risk of accidental discharge is reduced.