Colt's · Revolver

Colt M1873 Artillery Model

Name: Colt M1873 Artillery Model
Brand: Colt's

Single action · .45 Colt · introduced 1873

Also known as Colt SAA Artillery Model, Colt Altered Model

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About the Colt M1873 Artillery Model

The Colt M1873 Artillery Model is the 5.5-inch-barrel variant of the Colt Single Action Army, created when the U.S. Army shortened and refurbished its 7.5-inch Cavalry Model revolvers around 1895-1903. Chambered in .45 Colt with a six-shot cylinder and single-action lockwork, the Artillery Model was issued during the Spanish-American War and the Philippine Insurrection.

Theodore Roosevelt's Rough Riders carried 5.5-inch Artillery Models into Cuba in 1898; the conversion was driven by complaints that the longer Cavalry revolvers were cumbersome and that the .38-caliber Colt M1892 lacked stopping power.

Colt M1873 Artillery Model specifications

General

Type: Revolver
Action: Single action
Firing mechanism: Single action
Trigger: Single action
Calibres: .45 Colt
Magazine capacity: 6 rounds
Magazine: Revolving cylinder

Dimensions

Barrel length: 139.7 mm (5.5 in)
Overall length: 280 mm (11.0 in)
Weight (empty): 1.05 kg (2.31 lb)

Barrel

Rifling: Left hand
Grooves: 6

Materials

Barrel: Steel
Receiver / frame: Steel
Stock: Wood
Finish: blued_case_hardened

Performance

Muzzle velocity (typical): 293 m/s (961 fps)
Muzzle energy (typical): 696 J (513 ft·lb)
Effective range: 50 m

History

Introduced: 1873
Production status: Out of production
Country of origin: US
Designer: William Mason

Features

Solid frame
Fixed sights
Gate loading
Ejector rod
Shortened barrel

Safety

Loading gate half cock

Officially termed the 'Altered Model' by the War Department; nicknamed 'Artillery Model' because early reworked guns went to light artillery units. The only mechanical difference from the Cavalry Model is the 5.5-inch barrel (versus 7.5-inch). Refurbished guns characteristically have non-matching serial numbers across frame, barrel, and cylinder.

This is a variant of the Colt Single Action Army.