Colt 1873 Single Action Army The Colt 1873 Single Action Army ' , also known as Colt SAA , Frontier , or Peacemaker , is a revolver made by the United States in 1873 and used until the World War II . Description . The Colt model 1873 revolver , universally known as the Colt Single Action , Peacemaker , or Frontier , is one of the most popular and legendary small arms in USA . It is also one of the longest living production small arms , being produced for some 130 years and still popular . The Colt 1873 was actually developed by the 1872 , based on the patents granted to Charles B . Richards ( cartridge conversion of the open - top percussion Colt revolvers ) and W . Mason ( improved ejector ) . In 1873 , US Army adopted this revolver along with its black powder centerfire cartridge of . 45 caliber , and issued it to troops in 2 models . The Army / Cavalry model had a 7½ inch barrel , and the artillery model had 5½ barrel . Both were chambered in . 45 Colt ( also known as . 45Long Colt or . 45LC ) . For the civilian market , Colt also initially produced same gun in . 44 - 40 WCF and . 32 - 20WCF , later adding more modern chamberings like . 38 S & W Special ( . 38Spl ) , . 44 S & W Special ( . 44Spl ) , . 357 Magnum , . 22LR . Civilian guns also were available in various barrel lengths , varying from 4¾ and up to 12 inches . There also was a Bisley model , which appeared near the turn of the centuries . Colt Bisleys were intended as a target guns , and had hammers with wider and lower spurs , and a different grip frame . US Army bought about 37 000 Colts of both Artillery and Cavalry flavors during period from 1873 and until 1893 . Commercial production was ceased in 1941 , with the outbreak of the World War II , with about 370 000 guns made total . In 1956 , following the popular demand for " Wild West " era guns , raised by the TV and movie " Western " films , Colt brought the Single Action back to production and still makes it . Other than Colt , several US and foreign companies also made more or less exact copies and clones of the legendary " Peacemaker " , for Cowboy action shooting , hunting , general plinking and collecting . So called " " First generation " " Colts were made from 1873 and until 1941 . These guns can be recognized by the serial numbers below 357860 and with no letters . With the re - introduction of this gun by Colt in the 1956 , the " " Second generation " " of the SAA came into existence . The second generation guns have serial numbers in the range from 0001SA to 73319SA . Production of the second generation SAA revolvers was ceased in 1974 , but , in the 1976 , with the introduction of newer machinery and production techniques , Colt brought the SAA back in the " " Third generation " " . Third Generation Colt Single Action Armies have been originally offered in . 45 Colt , . 44 Special , . 44 - 40 and . 357 Magnum . By the 1981 , Colt dropped the SAA out of production again , and for some time the legendary " Peacemakers " were available only as an expensive custom shop offerings . At the present time , Colt again offers these guns as regular products , in the . 45LC , . 357Mag and . 44 - 40 , and in all standard barrel lengths . Technical description . the Colt M1873 is a single action , six shot , solid frame revolver ( as opposed to the earlier " open top " Colts or " hinged frame " S & W ' s ) . The frame actually is made from 2 parts , the cylinder frame , and the grip frame with the triggerguard , which are assembled by set of screws . The cylinder is loaded by single rounds , via side - swinging loading gate , located at the right side of the frame . Empty cases are ejected one by one , through the opened loading gate , by pulling back on the ejector rod , located under the barrel and to the right . The gun can be loaded and unloaded only when the hammer is set to half - cock position . Cylinder can be removed for cleaning and inspection by unscrewing the base pin screw , and then by pulling out the base pin ( cylinder axis ) forward and out of the frame . Since this handgun has no special drop - proof safeties , it is strongly recommended that it should be carried with the empty chamber under the hammer ( with only 5 rounds loaded ) . To achieve that , use the following loading procedure : Starting with the empty cylinder , load one chamber ; skip one ; load remaining four chambers . Now you got loaded gun that can be carried reasonably safely ( when not cocked , of cause ) . Most versions of SAA had fixed sights . Grip panels could be wooden , rubber or ivory