Remington Model 1875 Single Action Army (a.k.a. Improved Army or Frontier Army)
was a revolver by
E. Remington & Sons. It was based upon the successful New Model Army (
Remington Model 1858
The Remington-Beals Model Revolvers along with subsequent models and variations were percussion revolvers manufactured by Eliphalet Remington & Sons in .31 (Pocket) .36 (Navy) or .44 (Army) caliber, used during the American Civil War, and was the ...
) with both revolvers having the same size, appearance, and the removable cylinder. The new 1875 Remington differed mainly from the older 1858 percussion model by having a bored through cylinder chambered for
metallic cartridge
A cartridge or a round is a type of pre-assembled firearm ammunition packaging a projectile (bullet, shot, or slug), a propellant substance (usually either smokeless powder or black powder) and an ignition device (primer) within a metallic, ...
s. Thus, in 1875, Remington entered the cartridge revolver market with this big-frame, army style revolver, intended to compete with the
Colt Peacemaker
The Colt Single Action Army (also known as the SAA, Model P, Peacemaker, or M1873) is a single-action revolver handgun. It was designed in 1872 for the U.S. government service revolver trials of 1872 by Colt's Patent Firearms Manufacturing Co ...
.
Ordinary citizens and Old West lawmen alike recognized the sturdy quality of the new Remington revolvers.
[Uberti Remingtons](_blank)
/ref> This design was followed by the Model 1888 and the Model 1890.
Overview
Introduced to compete with Colt's single-action Army revolvers, this Remington design failed to meet with the commercial success made by Colt's model due to the Hartford firm's two-year head start in production and sales.Remington Info
/ref>
Also known as the "Improved Army" or "Frontier Army" revolver, this single-action was a competitor to Colt's popular Single Action Army line. By the time of its introduction, however, Colt had already secured contracts with the U.S. Army, and Remington was forced to seek other markets. The U.S. government purchased fewer than 650 for use by Indian police, and another 1,000 were sold to the Mexican government circa 1880. The Egyptian government contracted for delivery of 10,000, but few were produced and delivered due to significant unpaid debts owed by the Egyptians for rolling-block rifles.[
Between 25,000 and 30,000 were manufactured during the years 1875–1889 in three different chamberings: .44 Remington Centerfire; .44-40; and .45 caliber. These were not optional; rather, the caliber of production models was determined by their date of manufacture. .45 caliber cylinders were slightly longer to prevent accidental insertion into a .44 frame. Standard features included a fluted cylinder, walnut grip panels, blued or nickel-plated finish with case-hardened hammer and loading gate, and a lanyard ring. Standard barrel length was , although very few revolvers were produced with barrels.][
]
Modern reproduction
The Uberti 1875 Outlaw, Frontier, and Police revolvers are reproductions of the famous old Remington 1875 and 1890 revolver, but chambered for more modern smokeless powder
Finnish smokeless powderSmokeless powder is a type of propellant used in firearms and artillery that produces less smoke and less fouling when fired compared to gunpowder ("black powder"). The combustion products are mainly gaseous, compared to a ...
cartridges as the .357 Magnum
The .357 Smith & Wesson Magnum, .357 S&W Magnum, .357 Magnum, or 9×33mmR as it is known in unofficial metric designation, is a smokeless powder cartridge with a bullet diameter. It was created by Elmer Keith, Phillip B. Sharpe, and Douglas B. ...
. Cimarron Firearms
Cimarron Firearms is an American firearms importer that has been in operation since 1984. The company's field of specialty is reproduction firearms from the American Civil War to the end of the Old West period. Founded by Mike Harvey in Houston, ...
offers a version built to their specifications by Uberti as well. These modern reproductions have the look and feel of old-west "cowboy" guns, but have the metallurgy common to more modern revolvers.
References
External links
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Remington Arms revolvers
.45 Colt firearms
Revolvers of the United States
Early revolvers
Single-action revolvers
Guns of the American West
Black-powder pistols