Frontier

The Colt Frontier Six-Shooter is a specific variant of the Colt Single Action Army revolver chambered for the .44-40 Winchester centerfire cartridge rather than the more common .45 Colt, a distinction that was of considerable practical importance in the American West, where the same cartridge could be used in both the revolver and the Winchester Model 1873 lever-action rifle—allowing a cowboy, lawman, or frontiersman to carry a single caliber of ammunition that served both long arm and sidearm. This ammunition compatibility was a significant practical advantage in remote environments where resupply was uncertain.

The designation “Frontier Six-Shooter” was roll-stamped on the barrel of these revolvers by Colt to identify the chambering, distinguishing them from the standard .45 Colt Single Action Army. The .44-40 Winchester—also known as .44 WCF (Winchester Center Fire)—was an enormously popular cartridge in the West from its introduction in 1873, and Colt’s decision to offer the SAA in this chambering beginning in 1878 was a commercially astute response to market demand from shooters who already owned the Model 1873 Winchester.

The Colt Frontier is among the most historically authentic and practically significant variants of the Single Action Army, representing the real-world carry preferences of many frontier-era users rather than the purely military configuration associated with the standard .45 Colt model. Many of the most famous figures of the American West owned and carried revolvers in .44-40, valuing the ammunition commonality with their rifles.

For collectors, a genuine Colt Frontier Six-Shooter in good original condition with matching numbers is a highly desirable piece that connects directly to the working history of the American West. Modern Colt has reintroduced the Frontier chambering periodically to serve the continuing collector and Cowboy Action Shooting market.