.45 S&W

MIKE’S SHOOTIN’ SHACK

- Mike Venturino

A revolver cartridge that seems to cause more confusion than any other is Smith & Wesson’s (S&W) .45. Perhaps the cause has been the numerous names also given it along the way, such as .45 S&W “Schofield,” .45 S&W Government, and simply .45 Government. All those names describe the same cartridge with a nominal 1.10-inch case length and rim diameter of approximately .520 to .523 inches. (Measurements were taken from vintage military and civilian factory loads.)

Here’s a related bit of confusion: Starting in 1875, Smith & Wesson chambered a variation of its No. 3, top-break, single-action revolver especially for the .45 S&W. Because it used some patents given to Major George Schofield of the U.S. Army, this revolver came to be known as the S&W Schofield. It was adopted to a limited extent by the U.S. Army that same year. All Smith & Wesson No. 3 “Schofields” were chambered for the .45 S&W. However, not all Smith & Wesson No. 3 revolvers were “Schofields.” Only that single variation deserves the name.