Period barrel lengths

[sandcritter]

Can anyone comment on period barrel lengths re: colt peacemaker's? Poking around for a 45LC single action clone, kinda partial to 5.5 or 7.5" based on aesthetics but wonder about what was popular in the 1870's, say, and who chose what/why?

[Lloyd Smale]

I would say the 7.5 was the most popular followed by the 4 5/8s

[walks with gun]

  From the photos and holsters I've seen seen I would definately say the 7.5 then I think the 5.5.  Just my opinion.

[44 Man]

I believe that the Army was Colt first customer from the get-go.  They bought all 7 1/2" guns.  The civilian market was more towards the shorter barrel length.  Then the Army caught up and shortened the barrels on many Colt's to 5 1/2" to make them handier to carry.  I'm not a historian, but I think the first barrel length's offered to civilians were 5 1/2" barrels, then the 4 3/4" came later.  I'm sure someone on here has a more definative answer for us.  44 Man

[Flint]

According to the Colt Single Action Army Revolver, a Pocket Chronology, the 5-1/2 inch barrel was introduced in 1875, and the 4-3/4inch in 1879.

[timothy]

I'm sure those fortunate enough to own a colt saa had tastes as varied as todays gun owners, so you couldnt narrow it down to one length that was most popular in one region by one group of guys at one time. Remember when looking at the total population, then shotguns, then rifles, then handguns, then colt saa's in particular, they werent that popular so I imagine people bought whatever they personally liked or could find locally. One thing I'll say though is that I think there may have been a common notion that the 7.5'' length shot harder (more powerfull) and was more intimidating. Which is true to a degree.

[flintlock]

The longer barrels were more popular...

Just look at Gunsmoke and Bananza!!!

[44 Man]

I'm 64 now, but as a young man I aways wanted a Colt with a 5 1/2" barrel.  This was not because of any preference or use, but because Colt always advertised it with a picuture of a 5 1/2" barrel.  (Yes, Colt used to advertise!)  It was just a case of familuarity.  When I began to use single actions, my first Ruger was a 4 5/8" barrel, followed by a Super Blackhawk with a 7 1/2".  One seemed to work for me as well as the other.  In years past, I gravitated to the 4 3/4" barrel on Colt's that I owned.  Now, I find my belt guns are all back to 5 1/2" and seem no less handy than the shorter barrel length.  I still have a wish to build a .44 spl round butt on the 'New Vaquero' frame with a 3 1/2" or 4" barrel.  I've had two custom builds with 4" barrels and you would be amazed how nicely they balance.  A little off topic but just my preferences.  44 Man

[DanChamberlain]

In the days of yore, shooters were generally not schooled.  Learning to shoot was a matter of picking up a gun and learning through the expenditure of ammo.  The longer barrels were simply easier to point and therefore easier to master.  As concealment was not necessarily a problem on the frontier, shorter barrels were not immediately seen to have as much benefit.  Why do you suppose the concealment guns of modest calibers were more popular on the east and west coasts?

I've not done any research, but given that immediately preceding the 1873, pistoleros were using the various cap and ball offerings that Colt and Remington had on line and were used to longer barrels.  This would lead me to believe that longer barrels were probably more popular. 

Dan

[walks with gun]

     I think the longer barrels stay in the holster better when on horseback or doing other rough work.

[StrawHat]

According to the Colt Single Action Army Revolver, a Pocket Chronology, the 5-1/2 inch barrel was introduced in 1875, and the 4-3/4inch in 1879.

That's about what I thought.

The Cavalry used the 7 1/2" barrels, and later recalled them and shortened them for the artillery to 5 1/2".

As for civilians, almost all of the product leaving the factory was for the military.  Not much was built for civilians.  The Colt SAAs finding there way into civilian hands were often ex-military revolvers.

[gcrank1]

+1 with Flint's info, and even though the 5 1/2 was unofficially called the artillery model this wasnt arsenal done until 1895(?). In the Spanish-American War they were issued to artillery units and about 100 to the 1st US Volunteer Cavalry ('Rough Riders').Custom order could be about anything, however, they would not constitute a high enough number of guns to really be called 'popular'.
As others have said, the 7 1/2 would have been the most numerous in the time frame you mention and even though a few would have been locally cut down most would have been as is. If you want a representative piece for your period you wont go wrong with 7 1/2, and they hang on out there real nice.

[kid buckskin]

Don't be fooled back in the day some of your fast gunman sawed them bbl to speed the draw !! Doc one 5.5 and a 3.5 thunder about as fast as you can get