Cimarron 1860 Richards-Mason .45 Schofield Revolver, 5.5" Barrel Case Hardened Frame, Cartridge Conversion Style, 1-Piece Walnut Grip, Standard Blue Finish Md: CA933
Patented July 2, 1872, Colt employees Charles B. Richards and William Mason, combined their ideas for converting Colt's percussion revolvers to self-contained metallic cartridge, breech loading arms. Originally working with the percussion arms parts already in stock, guns were converted, however as they began to run out of the cap and ball components, the company began producing new sixguns as metal cartridge arms, rather than conversions. Although the numbers produced only amounted to a few thousand specimens (around 2,100 1860 Army models and about 3,800 1851 Navy models). El Paso's city marshal Dallas Stoudenmire packed a cut down Richards-Mason Army Colt. and John H. "Doc" Holliday packed a '51 new-made Navy model. Today's shooters enjoy the looks and handling capabilities of these conversion revolvers that combine the sleek lines of percussion revolvers with the convenience of self-contained cartridge sixguns.
Due to the high cost and scarcity of originals, Cimarron's Richards-Mason conversions are ideal for Cowboy Action competitors as well as nostalgic gun buffs alike. The Army model, copied from an original in our antique collection, sports a Standard Blue finish, while Cimarron's Navy model wears a Black finish. Both models are offered in a choice of .45 Colt, .44 Colt and Russian, .38 Colt/Special, or .45 Schofield caliber, and in either a 5 1/2-inch barrel or the 8-inch barrel length. In the Original Finish, antique arms enthusiasts will swear you have the "gen-u-wine" article!
Specifications:
- Caliber: .45 Schofield
- Barrel Length: 5.5 inches
- Style: Cartridge Conversion
- Frame: Case Hardened
- Finish: Standard Blu
- Grip: 1 Piece Walnut
- Weight: 2.56 Lbs.
The information below comes from our Gun Caliber Dictionary and is for
general reference only. It does not describe the specifications of this
particular item.
45 Schofield (45 S&W) was introduced in 1875 in the S&W Schofield revolver. It was an alternate issue by the U.S. Army until 1892. Bullet diameter is .4559-inch, but the Schofield revolver has a shorter cylinder than the Colt single-action, so the 45 Schofield has a shorter case. Its original charge of blackpowder was thus much smaller than the 45 Colt. The 45 Schofield is thus not nearly as powerful as the 45 Colt, but the break-open Schofield revolver was much faster to reload...and, with less recoil, it is considerably easier to shoot than the 45 Colt. As with many older cartridges cowboy action shooting has brought it back, with reproductions and modern smokeless loads readily available.
—
Craig Boddington
