Summer 2020, and with it, the COVID-19 outbreak had taken a firm grasp on the nation. In its wake, from all corners of America, came waves of firearm purchases. This tremendous increase in household firearms, fueled by a collapse-of-society fear factor and NRA messaging, amounted to an overall significant increase.
One of the guns in demand during this time was the legendary .45 Colt cartridge, a revolver round that has been one of the cornerstones of American gun culture since its introduction in 1872. This cartridge was created for the legendary Colt Single Action Army revolver and has remained among the top choices of gun enthusiasts and collectors for more than one and a half centuries.
Known as the “Peacemaker,” the Colt Single Action Army was the standard-issue sidearm of the U.S. Army from 1873 to 1892. Used in the winning of the American West, coupled with its adoption by legendary men such as General George S. Patton, the Colt Single Action Army cements its place in history. Colt continues to produce the Single Action Army to this day, offering it in various barrel lengths with an MSRP of $1,799.
Another truly memorable revolver chambered for .45 Colt is the Colt New Service, a double-action firearm built from 1898 through 1941. It’s a gun that has been called “built like a tank” by some shooters and has been variously praised for its uses in military, defensive, and hunting applications. The New Service holds a special place in the hearts of Colt aficionados.
More recently, the .45 Colt has found a home in the Colt Anaconda, which is a double-action revolver that was first produced in 1990. John Taffin of American Handgunner Magazine offered the following about it: “the largest, and probably the best, .45 Colt DA ever produced by Colt.”
Other notables among manufacturers have also adopted the .45 Colt; Smith & Wesson’s N-frame revolvers and Ruger’s Redhawk scored high in evaluations for performance and reliability with this old cartridge by experts like Taffin.
The .45 Colt’s continued popularity speaks for the enduring appeal of classic American firearms. As such fears boiled over into societal unrest in 2020, it was this very cartridge the public reached for to find protection and a connection back to a grittier time in the developing history and heritage of the American West. The .45 Colt offers a sense of reassurance and continuity when the future seems uncertain, reminding us of that hardiness and spirit that forged our nation.