In honor of the 125th anniversary of American Rifleman, the following is an excerpt from the April, 1929 issue: The Last Word.

Whether a rusty relic or pristine safe queen, the Single Action Army carries with it an elegance and panache few manmade objects could command.

Jason’s Single Action Army .22 According to Colt records, this old Single Action Army started life as a .45 shipped to A. Baldwin & Company in New Orleans, Louisiana, in October, 1900.

Before the Colt Single Action Army, pistols used percussion caps to ignite a powder charge that had to be hand-loaded into each chamber of the revolver's cylinder.

One of the most famous handguns of all time is the Colt Single Action Army revolver. Also known as the Peacemaker, Frontier Six-Shooter and the M1873, the Single Action Army is also a staple of ...

One of the most famous handguns of all time is the Colt Single Action Army revolver. Also known as the Peacemaker, Frontier Six-Shooter and the M1873, the Single Action Army is also a staple of ...

Among the most iconic American firearms, the Colt 1911 Government model designed by John Browning is at the top of the list. Others include Colt’s Single-Action Army, the Winchester Model 1873, and ...