Double Action Cowboy Revolvers: What You Need to Know

Many buyers search for a double action cowboy revolver. The honest answer is that the classic cowboy revolver is single action. True double action designs from the same era were a separate gun. This page explains the difference, the history, and what to check before you buy a reproduction. If you want one pull of the trigger to cock and fire the gun, you want a double action design. The classic cowboy style is not that design.

What a cowboy revolver is

A cowboy revolver is a reproduction of the Old West style single action revolver. The best known model is the Colt Single Action Army, introduced in 1873. With a single action revolver you cock the hammer with your thumb before each shot. Reproductions made by Uberti and sold under the Cimarron name follow that design.

Single action vs double action

The two designs work differently. The table below shows the main differences.

Feature	Single action	Double action
What the trigger does	Drops a hammer you already cocked	Cocks and drops the hammer in one pull
Trigger pull	Lighter and shorter	Longer and heavier
Follow-up shots	Slower, because you cock each shot	Faster
Classic cowboy style	Yes	Not the 1873 design

In practice, the single action design asks more of you between shots, because you must cock the hammer again each time. The double action design asks for more trigger control on each shot, because the long pull has to stay smooth from start to finish.

The double action history: Colt Model 1877

Colt's first successful double action cartridge revolver was the Model 1877. William Mason, who also helped design the Colt Single Action Army, is credited with its design. Collectors call it the Thunderer, in .41 Long Colt, and the Lightning, in .38 Long Colt. Both names were nicknames, not Colt factory names. Colt made about 166,849 of these guns from 1877 to 1909. Its mechanism was delicate, and it earned a reputation for breakage. The Model 1877 matters here because it is the real double action design of the period. Many people who search for a double action cowboy revolver are really looking for this kind of gun.

Source: Colt M1877 on Wikipedia

The Cimarron 1873 Thunderer we stock

The Uberti Cimarron 1873 Thunderer on our shelf is chambered in .45 Colt. A retailer listing gives it six rounds, a 3.5 inch barrel, and a case hardened frame. The listing calls it a single action revolver. The name Thunderer comes from the 1877 Colt, but this gun is not a double action copy of that model.

Source: retailer listing for the 3.5 inch .45 LC Thunderer

Cowboy action shooting basics

Cowboy action shooting is a sport built around single action revolvers. Single action revolvers are the core guns of the sport. Check the current SASS rulebook for which guns are allowed and how the matches are run.

What to check on a reproduction

The action type. Read whether the listing says single action or double action.
The caliber marked on the gun and in the listing.
The barrel length and cylinder capacity.
The frame finish and grip material.
The maker or importer markings on the gun.
The exact model name, so you can compare it with the maker's own page.
Whether the listing states that the gun is a reproduction and who imported it.

Shipping to an FFL

Handguns ship to a licensed dealer (FFL). The buyer completes ATF Form 4473 and passes a NICS background check at that dealer before taking the gun. Ask your dealer about any transfer fee before you order, so there are no surprises at pickup.