Pietta Buntline 45 Colt 12in Ivory Revolver – Superb Long-Barrel Great Western II

Description

The Pietta Buntline 45 Colt 12in Ivory is the long-barreled showpiece of the Great Western II line: a six-shot 1873-pattern single action with a 12-inch barrel, a case-hardened frame and bright white grips.

Pietta Buntline 45 Colt 12in Ivory Overview

F.LLI Pietta makes the Great Western II in Italy, and EMF, the company Pietta owns in the United States, imports and supports it. This Buntline model (EMF item HF45CHS12NMUI) pairs a 12-inch blued barrel with a color case-hardened frame and Ultra Ivory grips, a durable white polymer that mimics old ivory without the legal and cost headaches of the real thing. The long barrel recalls the legendary, and probably fictional, Buntline Specials said to have been presented to Wyatt Earp. In practice the extra length gives a long sight radius and softens muzzle rise with heavier .45 Colt loads.

Great Western II Construction

Pietta starts the frame as a forging and finishes it on CNC machinery, and the barrel is hammer forged. The hammer has the classic four clicks of an original Colt Single Action Army, and the firing pin floats in the frame rather than riding on the hammer. Sights are fixed: a blade front and a groove in the top strap. Pietta parts follow Colt dimensions closely, so many aftermarket springs and grips fit with little or no fitting.

Living With a 12-Inch Barrel

A 12-inch single action is a range and display gun first. It points slower than a 4 3/4-inch Californian and needs a long cross-draw or shoulder rig rather than a typical belt holster. Off a rest, though, the long sight radius makes it surprisingly accurate, and handgun hunters sometimes use these long revolvers where it is legal. Expect the gun to be muzzle-heavy, which some shooters like for steady offhand shots.

Ultra Ivory Grips

The Ultra Ivory grips are a synthetic material with the creamy color of aged ivory, so they will not crack or yellow unevenly the way real ivory can. They are lighter than stag and very durable, and they contrast nicely with the case colors. If you prefer wood, EMF also offers this Buntline with walnut grips.

45 Colt Ammunition

Use standard-pressure .45 Colt ammunition, such as cowboy action and traditional 250 to 255 grain lead loads. Heavy loads marked for Ruger, Freedom Arms or large-frame revolvers only are not intended for Colt-pattern single actions and can damage the gun or injure the shooter. Do not fire .45 ACP in this cylinder. Many owners reload with lead bullets to keep cost down.

Care and Finish

Case-hardened colors can fade with sweat and harsh solvents, so wipe the frame with a light oil after handling. Blued steel shows fingerprints and moisture quickly. Clean the bore promptly after shooting lead bullets, and check the cylinder base pin and screws periodically, as with any single action.

State Laws and Ownership

Single-action revolvers are legal in every state, but handgun purchase rules vary widely. Permit-to-purchase or licensing systems apply in states such as New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Illinois, Connecticut, Hawaii and Maryland. California and Massachusetts keep handgun rosters, and some single-action revolvers qualify for exemptions while others do not. Your receiving dealer can confirm whether this model can be transferred where you live.

Specifications

• Maker: F.LLI Pietta, Italy; imported by EMF
• Model: Great Western II Buntline (EMF HF45CHS12NMUI)
• Caliber: .45 Colt (.45 LC)
• Capacity: 6
• Action: single action, 1873 pattern
• Barrel: 12 in., blued
• Frame: color case-hardened
• Grips: Ultra Ivory (white polymer)
• Sights: fixed blade front, top-strap groove rear
• UPC: 641996211539

Before You Buy

Federal law requires that this handgun ship to a licensed FFL dealer, where you complete ATF Form 4473 and a background check before pickup. Buyers must be 21 or older to buy a handgun from a dealer. Traditional practice with any 1873-pattern single action is to load five rounds and rest the hammer on the empty chamber; do so even though the Great Western II uses a floating firing pin.

Who It Is For

The Pietta Buntline 45 Colt 12in Ivory is a great fit for single-action collectors, cowboy-era history buffs, and shooters who want a long-barreled revolver for steady target shooting and display.

Buy the Pietta Buntline 45 Colt 12in Ivory at MAG5 Firearms

MAG5 Firearms is a family-owned FFL in Collegeville, Pennsylvania. Order the Pietta Buntline 45 Colt 12in Ivory online and ship it to your local FFL dealer, or browse our full selection of firearms for more revolvers. For factory details, visit EMF Company (Pietta).