COWBOY WEAPONCRAFT

The period between the Civil War and the turn of the century was critical to the establishment of our country. It was also the age of the revolver. The cylinder-fed handguns and men who wielded them became American icons. Though generally thought of as Western firearms, the single-action revolver was the coast-to-coast equalizer, and amazingly after more than 100 years, they remain very popular.

We could write a book-length research paper on why this is, but what’s more important is that the shooters of today who are mesmerized by these handguns know how to use them correctly. Yes, the design is old—and yes, the design is simple. However, their antiquity and simplicity don’t mean these handguns don’t deserve the necessary respect to ensure that they’re carried, managed and fired properly.

CARRYING CAPACITY

Not all single-action revolvers are created equal. The Colt Single Action Army (SAA) is probably the most iconic of the breed and, unlike modern single