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Bryant Ridge's Analysis: The Colt Single Action Army (SAA), also known as the Colt .45 or Colt Peacemaker, is an iconic revolver that has become a symbol of the American West since its introduction in 1873 by Samuel Colt. Developed to meet the U.S. Army's demand for a reliable sidearm, its single-action mechanism required the hammer to be manually cocked before firing, providing faster, more reliable shots suitable for both military and civilian use. The SAA was adopted by the Army and became a …

Bryant Ridge Analysis: Smith & Wesson’s dominance in the .357 Mag. market changed forever in 1955 when Colt introduced its first revolver chambered in .357 Magnum: The Python. By all accounts, Colt executives also considered this to be the finest revolver the company produced at the time. No expense was spared in the manufacturing process, from the revolver’s timing and lock-up to its Royal Blue finish, this would be the pinnacle of Colt’s manufacturing prowess and remains& …

Bryant Ridge's Analysis: In 1966, Colt introduced the Colt Diamondback revolver. The Diamondback was intended to be a premium quality adjustable sighted small framed revolver resembling the popular Python. The new Diamondback was built on the Colt "D" frame used for the Detective Special, Police Positive Special, etc. It had a wide, long, grooved Target hammer, Target-type walnut grips, Colt Accro adjustable sight, and a barrel that looked like a Python barrel and was built on Python machinery. …

Bryant Ridge's Analysis: The Lawman revolver featured a fixed sight design and was initially equipped with a narrow, grooved Service-type hammer and trigger. Later models adopted the wider Target hammer used on the Trooper Mark III. The grips originally were narrow Service grips, but later versions often came with Target grips. Nickel and Coltguard-finished models were paired with Pachmayr "Signature" rubber grips, which featured Colt medallions. It was available with 4-inch and 2-inch heav …

Bryant Ridge's Analysis: The Colt Single Action Army Frontier Scout represents a significant chapter in the legacy of Colt revolvers, re-emerging in 1956 after a 15-year hiatus. This second generation of the renowned Single Action Army was introduced during a time when Western films and stories were captivating the American public, rekindling a fascination with the cowboy era. The Frontier Scout appealed to fathers who wished to share a piece of that mythic legacy with their sons, providing a ta …