The Colt .45 is much more than just a type of firearm; it’s an iconic stamp across our popular culture. From its leading role in the forging of the American West to its continued presence in today’s media, without question, this legendary caliber has etched its mark across history. From what began with its very roots, this article traces the progress of the Colt .45 even further into the most important Firearms chambered for this iconic cartridge.
The Colt .45 came to life in 1872 when Colt’s Patent Fire Arms Manufacturing Company introduced the .45 Colt cartridge. This is an ultra-powerful cartridge for revolvers at the time. It then became the U.S. Army standard sidearm that proved its worth in many engagements of the Indian Wars and the American Frontier era. As one historian famously declared, “It was the gun that won the West.”
One of the most iconic firearms chambered for the .45 Colt is the Colt Single Action Army, famously known as the “Peacemaker.” This iconic revolver served as the official sidearm of the U.S. Army from 1873 to 1892, solidifying its place in history. John “Black Jack” Pershing’s Pancho Villa Expedition of 1916, where General George S. Patton famously carried ivory-handled Peacemakers, further cemented its legendary status. As John Taffin of American Handgunner Magazine stated, “The Peacemaker gained even more immortality when it was selected by General George S. Patton as one of his two ivory-handled revolvers.”
One of the more famous .45 Colts is, in fact, the Colt New Service. It was a double-action revolver produced from 1898 until 1941. Firearms guru Winston Wolfe called this gun “built like a tank” The Colt New Service has served with distinction in military, defensive, and hunting circles, with reports written on its accuracy and very tolerable recoil. As Taffin further noted, “It was also the model that Fitzgerald himself preferred.”
One of the most significant developments came in 1990 with the introduction of the Colt Anaconda—the first double-action Colt revolver for the mighty .44 Magnum. Inevitably, although it is best known for its .44 Magnum chambering, the Anaconda is also offered in .45 Colt, with Taffin terms it “the largest, and probably the best, .45 Colt DA ever produced by Colt.”
While Colt offered some truly fine variations, probably the most readily recognized is the Smith & Wesson Model 25, a member of the classic N-frame series, Taffin called it “as fine a shooting DA .45 Colt as can be found,” which, from such a professional, is an extremely high compliment, this caliber has been popular among firearms enthusiasts and manufacturers alike.
The influence of the Colt .45 on American History and pop culture cannot be estimated. From its role in the taming of the Wild West to its roles across films and songs, this legendary caliber has become such a beacon of rugged individualism and pioneering spirit as to mold the very aspects of the nation. As firearms continue rummaging their way through evolution, the legacy of the Colt .45 is etched across the annals of history, an enshrined testament to the ingenuity and craftsmanship that defined an era.