The Gun That Won the West?

Lately, I have been spending a significant amount of time thinking about what it means to “have

influence”, or even be considered an “Icon”. Not in the sense of today…Let me be more specific, I’m not talking about those detestable Instagram “influencers” or “iconic” elites from Hollywood telling the world what to think, I mean a REAL fucking icon. Something that earned its title, something that actually (good, bad, or indifferent) influenced the world as we experience it today.

When recently asked by a fellow gun nerd, I tried to wrap my mind around a single, inarguably influential relic of the past, that has measurably changed the trajectory of not just the United States, but the world at large… The Colt Single Action Army or the “Peacemaker” as it was lovingly dubbed, is the only thing I can visualize.

First, lets address the elephant in the room. “The Gun That Won the West” is a phrase that refers to one of two specific “Iconic” firearms. The Winchester Model 1873 and the Colt Single Action Army. Without getting into semantics, I am assuming the understanding of the obvious differences are clear. Winchester 1873… All purpose, hunting, offense, defense, range, various options for cartridges, etc. It was the “Go-To” for settlers, lawmen, outlaws, native Americans, women, children… Anyone who needed to survive, it was able to provide the repeatable, accurate, dependable firepower to keep whatever monsters you’re concerned with, at bay.

There’s a reason it was called “la pistola del diablo” (The devil's pistol… Yes, the rifle) by Mexican

revolutionaries. In fact it brings to mind a quote “The Winchester rifle could fill a room with lead before a man could blink.” — Buffalo Bill Cody, circa 1880’s.

Look it too was a legend, I’m not saying it wasn’t. But when you think “Cowboy”, the “West”, or glance back to the examples we have available to reference, the westerns we grew up watching, The Colt Single Action Army (SAA), The Peacemaker, is THE weapon that I would be willing to bet, most if not all of you would visualize. That doesn’t change the fact that Winchester’s marketing team coined the phrase "The Gun That Won the West" for the Model 1873, cementing its legacy. In fact, It appeared in Buffalo Bill’s Wild West shows and early films, symbolizing frontier conquest that we all know and love. So why does it matter? I guess it doesn’t… however, for any gun nerd, any real enthusiast, if you can get your hands on an old original SAA (of which they made 357,000 for the first generation, up until 1941), that’s the dream. Understanding that you’re holding a piece of history. An actual legend… thinking about the world as it was, and how it was shaped by this game changing, revolutionary single action pistol really “rustles my jimmies”, but in a good way. Lets talk specifics.

The Colt SAA, a single-action revolver was chambered primarily in .45 Colt or .44-40, held six rounds and required manual hammer cocking per shot. Designed by William Mason and Charles Brinckerhoff Richards, it was adopted by the U.S. Army in 1873. Wyatt Earp and his allies used SAA’s in the 30-second shootout at the O.K. Corral, immortalizing its place in law-and-order lore. The SAA’s gunslinger mystique and cinematic fame give it an edge in popular imagination, leading to the “Fast-Draw” competitions of today. Cowboys, miners, and settlers favored the SAA for its portability (holstered at about 2.5 lbs) and reliability in close-quarters defense against bandits or wildlife. Although its $17 price tag was steep, it was manageable for a working cowboy.

Even as I write this, I am racking my simple brain to think of a more influential firearm… Briefly while searching for source material for the SAA, I stumbled across dozens of quotes that really seemed to help convey why it earned the moniker of “Peacekeeper”. Below are a few, however, my favorite “fun fact” is that reportedly some saloon patrons traded their revolvers for whiskey when cash ran dry, leading to barroom signs like “No Colts, No Credit!” A cowboy in the 1880’s reportedly traded his SAA for a bottle of whiskey in a saloon, prompting the barkeep to quip, “This Peacemaker’s gonna start a war tonight!”

“The Colt .45 don’t argue; it just settles the matter.” — Anonymous cowboy saying, circa 1880’s, quoted in Firearms of the American West.

“They call it the Peacemaker, but I’ve seen it start more fights than it’s finished.” — Wyatt Earp,

attributed in a 1900’s interview (unverified, cited in Colt: An American Legend).

“The Colt Single Action Army is as American as apple pie and fistfights.” — John Wayne, actor, in a 1960's interview, reflecting on Western films (Guns & Ammo, 2013).

“The Peacemaker made the west wild, and the movies made it immortal.” — Historian David A. Clary, The Gun That Won the West (1997).

“A man with a Colt .45 don’t need no lawyer.” — Texas Ranger, circa 1870’s, quoted in The Peacemaker and Its Rivals.

“A Colt .45 makes all men equal, but some more equal than others.” - Unknown

"Wyatt-Fuck'n-Earp" - Rocco, The Boondock Saints (Not directly referencing The Peacemaker, but a worthy mention) Lastly, as I urge you to consider the past, give some thought to what other important events or items from history that you can point to that helped mold our country, and have measurable influence. This is the quote that seems to answer my original question of “The gun that won the west?" “The West wasn’t won by one gun—it was the rifle in your hand and the revolver on your hip.” — Historian R.L. Wilson (American Rifleman, 2007)