Back in 1961, when Colt allowed announcements to leak out about a new target-sighted single action it would soon release, I was hoping for a return of the early “Flat -Top” target model of their famous Single Action Army.
Then, the New Frontier model was introduced, and while that is an exceptionally fine revolver, it really didn’t appeal to me and my traditional tastes. Now, just 55 years later, Dixie Gun Works has added the Uberti Cattleman Flat -Top to their catalog and I think it was worth the wait.
My reason for thinking so, is because this is a six-gun built for accurate, fine shooting in addition to being historically correct. The details begin with the cartridges for which this gun is chambered. At this time the Flat- Top Cattleman is offered for the .45 Colt and .44/40 only. Of those two cartridges, the .45 is certainly the most common today, just as it was years ago. If all of my wishes had come true, this new gun would be offered in .44 S&W and Russian/Special too. With the .45 Colt and the .44/40 to choose from, one of the .44/40s was my personal choice.
The most obvious difference between this target model and the standard frame guns, in addition to the Flat -Top frame, is the sights.
At the back, the rear sight sits in a dovetail and is easily adjusted for windage, with a small setscrew to lock it in place. The front sight is a blade pinned into a lug that is soldered to the top of the barrel. Originally, the front sight could be changed and that should be possible on this gun as well; simply drive out the pin and install a higher or lower blade.
One of the very nice features of this gun is the wide trigger. Instead of the standard narrow trigger found on most Colt Single Actions and their clones, this gun has a trigger that is the same width as the trigger guard, giving the trigger finger a much better “grip” while aiming.
This story is from the Winter 2017 edition of The Black Powder Cartridge News.
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This story is from the Winter 2017 edition of The Black Powder Cartridge News.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
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