Summer of 2020, a throttling rise in firearm purchases was sweeping across America as the COVID-19 pandemic took its grip on the nation. A great deal of that surge in household firearms can be attributed to fears of societal collapse, aided by the NRA’s messaging.
One of those famous firearms at that time was the .45 Colt cartridge, a revolver round that has been one of the cornerstones of American gun culture since 1872. Designed originally for the legendary Colt Single Action Army revolver, this cartridge has retained its place as one of the favorites among gun enthusiasts and gun collectors to this very day, for more than a century and a half.
The Colt Single Action Army, better known as the “Peacemaker,” was the standard-issue sidearm of the U.S. Army from 1873 to 1892. Its association with the winning of the American West and its adoption by legendary figures like General George S. Patton have cemented its place in history. Colt continues to produce the Single Action Army to this day, offering it in various barrel lengths at an MSRP of $1,799.
Another famous revolver caliber for the .45 Colt is the Colt New Service: a double-action firearm in production from 1898 to 1941. This revolver has been called by its fans “built like a tank” and is universally praised for its use in military, personal defense, and hunting applications. There’s something about the New Service that speaks to Colt collectors.
More recently, the .45 Colt has found a home in the Colt Anaconda, a double-action revolver that was first offered in 1990. John Taffin of American Handgunner Magazine celebrated it: “the largest, and probably the best, .45 Colt DA ever produced by Colt.”
Other fine manufacturers, too, have adopted the .45 Colt, which was adopted by Smith & Wesson in their N-frame revolvers and by Ruger in their Redhawk, according to experts such as Taffin, for their performance and reliability with this old cartridge.
The fact that the .45 Colt is still among today’s most popular cartridges says much about enduring interest in classic American firearms. When, in 2020, social upheaval had every American on guard, the vast majority turned to this classic cartridge for protection and a feeling of ties with the harsh history and heritage of the American West. The .45 Colt lent an aura of security and familiarity in these times of uncertainty, reminding one of the resilience and spirit that forged our nation.