Traditions 1873 Frontier .45 Colt Revolver 5.5in Case Hardened Walnut

Description

There is something about a color case hardened frame sitting over walnut grips that never goes out of style, and the Traditions 1873 Frontier nails that look. This is a faithful reproduction of the classic 1873 single action, chambered in .45 Colt with a 5.5 inch barrel that hits the sweet spot between the snappy 4.75 inch and the long 7.5 inch versions. Traditions has these built by Pietta in Italy, a name that has been turning out quality single action reproductions for decades, and the fit and finish shows it.

Why the 1873 Frontier Earns Its Keep

The steel frame gives this revolver the heft and balance you want in a period-correct sixgun, and the swirled case colors on the frame pair up nicely with the blued barrel and cylinder. The fixed blade front sight and hammer-cocked-per-shot operation keep the experience true to the original design. Where this one steps ahead of the old guns is the transfer bar safety system. On a traditional single action, the safe practice was loading five and resting the hammer on an empty chamber. The transfer bar on the Frontier means the hammer cannot reach the firing pin unless the trigger is pulled, so you can load all six chambers with confidence.

Traditions 1873 at the Range and Beyond

With six rounds of .45 Colt on tap and an 11 inch overall length, this revolver is right at home in cowboy action matches, historical shooting events, or just a relaxed afternoon of plinking. The .45 Colt cartridge is soft shooting in a steel frame gun of this weight, which makes long range sessions easy on the hands and a lot of fun for newer single action fans. Plenty of folks also pick these up as display pieces, and it is hard to blame them, but this one is built to be shot. Whether you are chasing that Old West feel or adding a working sixgun to the safe, the 1873 Frontier delivers the classic look without the collector-grade price of an original.