Traditions 1873 Single Action 45 Colt – Superb 5.5 in. Revolver

Description

The Traditions 1873 Single Action 45 Colt is a faithful reproduction of the revolver that defined the American West, built with one modern concession that matters a great deal. Polished nickel covers the frame, barrel and cylinder, white PVC grips stand in for the ivory of the period, and a 5.5 inch barrel splits the difference between the 4.75 inch gunfighter and the 7.5 inch cavalry length. Inside, a transfer bar safety replaces the original mechanism.

Traditions 1873 Single Action 45 Colt Finish and Handling

Nickel is the finish that made presentation revolvers of the 1870s look like presentation revolvers, and it was never purely cosmetic. A nickel surface resists the rust that plagued blued guns carried in sweat soaked leather, and it wipes clean rather than needing oil worked into every corner. On this revolver it is applied across the whole gun, so the plating catches light evenly from grip frame to muzzle rather than showing the two tone contrast of a case hardened model.

The white PVC grips are the other half of the look. They are dimensionally identical to the walnut grips Traditions fits to other Frontier models, so the gun handles the same, but they hold up to handling and humidity better than natural ivory ever did and no animal was involved in making them. The 5.5 inch barrel is the length most shooters settle on: long enough to give a useful sight radius and a settled muzzle, short enough to clear a holster without a fight.

Action, Safety and Loading

This is a single action in the strictest sense. The hammer must be thumbed back for every shot, which rotates the cylinder and sets the trigger, and the trigger then does nothing but release the hammer. That is why single action triggers feel the way they do, and why cowboy action shooters keep coming back to the platform.

The meaningful difference from an original Colt is the transfer bar. On an 1873 built the old way, the firing pin rests on the primer of a chambered round, which is why the safe practice was to load five and leave the hammer down on an empty chamber. Traditions fits a transfer bar that only rises into position when the trigger is deliberately pressed, so the hammer cannot reach the primer if the gun is dropped or the hammer slips off a thumb. All six chambers can be carried loaded.

Loading follows the original pattern. The hammer comes to half cock, the loading gate on the right side swings open, the cylinder turns freely, and rounds go in one at a time. Empties come out the same way with the ejector rod under the barrel.

Specifications

• Model: Frontier Series 1873 Single Action
• Manufacturer part number: SAT73-132
• Caliber: 45 Colt
• Capacity: 6 rounds
• Barrel: 5.5 in.
• Action: Single action
• Frame: Steel
• Finish: Nickel
• Grips: White PVC
• Safety: Transfer bar safety system
• Sights: Fixed, traditional 1873 pattern
• UPC: 040589018300

Why Buyers Choose the Traditions 1873 Single Action 45 Colt

Original Colt Single Action Armies now trade as collectibles rather than shooters, and the current production Colt costs several times what this does. That leaves a large gap for a revolver that looks right, feels right and can actually be shot every weekend without anyone wincing. The Traditions Frontier guns fill it, and the transfer bar means an owner is not choosing between period authenticity and carrying a full cylinder.

The nickel and white grip combination is also the configuration people reach for when the revolver is going to be seen. It photographs well, it suits a cowboy action persona, and it is the version that ends up in a display case as often as a holster. Buyers who intend to compete in SASS matches should confirm the current rules for their category, but the 5.5 inch barrel and fixed sights fit the traditional divisions.

Who Should Buy It

The Traditions 1873 Single Action 45 Colt suits the cowboy action competitor who wants a matched pair without a custom budget, the collector who wants the 1873 profile in a gun they can shoot, and the 45 Colt handloader who enjoys working up mild lead loads. It is also a sound choice for anyone who has wanted a single action since childhood and would rather spend the money on ammunition than on a name stamped into the frame.

Learn more from Traditions, or browse the rest of our firearms selection.

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