Western Firearms History

Guns of the Old West
— Complete History

The firearms that defined the American frontier — from the Colt Single Action Army to the Winchester 1873. The guns that won the West and what they’re worth today.

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1865–1895

The Firearms That Defined an Era

The post-Civil War American West was shaped by a handful of firearms that became cultural symbols. The Colt Single Action Army — “The Peacemaker” — became the defining revolver of the frontier. The Winchester Model 1873 — “The Gun That Won the West” — was carried by both lawmen and outlaws. Together they defined an era.

FIREARM	YEARS	WHO CARRIED IT	WHY IT MATTERS	2026 COLLECTOR VALUE
Colt Single Action Army	1873–present	US Cavalry, cowboys, outlaws	The definitive frontier revolver — 1st Gen is the holy grail	$2,000–$20,000+ (1st Gen)
Winchester Model 1873	.44-40 WCF	Frontiersmen, outlaws, lawmen	Matched Colt SAA caliber — one cartridge for both guns	$1,500–$8,000+ (original)
Winchester Model 1876	Various	Theodore Roosevelt, Canadian Mounties	Express model for big game — scaled-up 1873	$2,000–$10,000+
Remington Model 1875	.44 Remington	Jesse James carried one	Competitor to Colt SAA — solid but outsold	$1,500–$6,000
Springfield Trapdoor 1873	.45-70	US Army (standard)	Army’s single-shot cartridge rifle	$600–$2,500
Sharps 1874	.45-70 and others	Buffalo hunters, long-range shooters	The buffalo gun — accurate to 1,000 yards	$2,000–$8,000+
Colt Peacemaker .45 Colt	.45 Colt	Wyatt Earp, Doc Holliday	Tombstone gunfights — the most iconic frontier revolver	$2,000–$15,000+ (original)
Smith & Wesson No. 3	.44 Russian	Jesse James, outlaws	Faster loading than Colt SAA with top-break action	$1,500–$6,000

Famous Guns

The Most Famous Guns of the Old West

Wyatt Earp’s Colt PeacemakerEarp carried a Colt SAA with a 7.5″ barrel (the ‘Cavalry’ model) during the famous Tombstone period. His documented Colt Frontier Six-Shooter sold for $225,000 at Bonhams (2014). A standard 1st Gen Colt SAA in good condition: $2,000–$5,000.

Jesse James’ RevolversJesse James carried both Remington Model 1875s and Colt SAAs documented by historical records. His specific pistols have sold for $375,000+ at auction. James famously modified revolvers to remove the front sight for faster draw.

Billy the Kid’s ColtPat Garrett (who killed Billy the Kid) claimed specific firearms. A .44 caliber double-action revolver attributed to Billy the Kid sold for $6 million at auction in 2011.

Own a Western-Era Firearm?

Pre-1898 antique firearms are Federally unregulated — no FFL required for transfer. But they require specialist appraisal. gunprice.com/ covers modern production Colt SAA and Winchester reproductions. For originals, consult Rock Island Auction or Heritage Auctions. Document everything in GunVault.co.

FAQs

Old West Firearms FAQs

Can I buy a Colt Single Action Army today?

Yes — Colt still manufactures the Single Action Army in the original 1873 configuration. New models: $1,499–$1,799. The Colt SAA (2nd and 3rd Generation) are desirable collector pieces. 1st Generation (pre-WWII) originals command $2,000–$20,000+.

What caliber did cowboys actually carry?

The most common frontier revolver caliber was .45 Colt (Colt SAA) and .44-40 WCF (Winchester Center Fire). The .44-40 was popular because it chambered in both the Colt SAA and Winchester 1873 — one cartridge for both guns.

The Complete System