Model 1873 Army single-action revolver, 1883
Colt Firearms Company, Hartford, CT. .44-40 caliber. Serial number 99749.
One of the first weapons to use the new center-fire cartridges, this pistol became known as the Peacemaker, a name that Colt began to use in 1874. Other popular nicknames for this pistol include Hog Leg, Equalizer, Frontier Six-Shooter, Thumb Buster and Plow Handle. Colt first made the Model 1873 in .44 caliber and then rechambered it for .45 caliber at the Army's request in 1874.
Buffalo GunsTop: Sharps Model 1874 Sporting or "buffalo" rifle, 1877. Caliber: .45 Serial number: 159506
Middle: Springfield U.S. Model 1866, Second Model, "trapdoor Springfield" rifle. Caliber: .50-70
After the Civil War, the government converted thousands of surplus arms from percussion muzzle-loaders to single-shot breechloaders by adding a hinged cover, or "trapdoor", over a chamber for inserting cartridges. Civilian hunters hired by the Army also used the Model 1866, among them, Buffalo Bill Cody who nicknamed his rifle "Lucretia Borgia". In admiration of the rifle's 600 yard range, American Indians said that the Model 1866 could "shoot today and kill tomorrow".
Bottom: Marlin Ballard Deluxe Pacific Number 5 rifle, 1885-1886. Caliber: .45-70 government. Serial number: 12446.
Remington Model 1875 Army, First Type, Second Issue, single action revolver, about 1878.
Caliber: .44 Remington. Serial number: 79
Also known as the "Improved Army" or "Frontier Army", the Remington Model 1875 never achieved the success of Colt's Model 1873 Army single-action revolver as a cavalry pistol, but it was the preferred weapon of the Indian Police of the Department of the Interior.
Remington New Model Navy revolver, 1866-1878. Caliber: .36 Serial number: 34549
After fire devastated Colt's production line in 1864, only Remington was able to step in and fill government contracts. Although all of the New Model Navys were intended for the military, about 2000 that did not meet federal specifications found their way into private hands.
Remington Model 1871 rolling block pistol, 1871. Caliber: .50-25 center-fire Serial Number: 1044
This powerful single-shot pistol was designed for the military, but soon after the federal government received the first shipment in 1872, it adopted the Colt Model 1873 revolver as the standard side arm. Many surplus Model 1871 pistols were converted for civilian sport and target shooting.