taylor’s and company 1873 appears to be a conversion, the model 1872 Open Top was Colt’sfirst revolver specifically manufactured to fire a cartridge. Since Colt did not use percussion revolver parts, the revolver was manufactured as an entirely new model, first with Navy-sized grips, later with Army-sized grips. All come standard with case-hardened frame and blue barrel finish. Nickel finish frame and barrel are available; add N00 to model number. Features: Army grip-backstrap and trigger guard are steel. Shown with case-hardened frame. Manufactured with forged frame.

Features: Army grip-backstrap and trigger guard are steel. Shown with case-hardened frame. Manufactured with forged frame.

A pair of Colt 1851 Navy Model cap-and-ball revolvers were supposedly “Wild” Bill Hickok’s most prized guns. And when he was gunned down by Jack McCall in a Deadwood, SD saloon he was wearing a Smith & Wesson Model No. 2 Army revolver. So how exactly Taylor & Company ended up naming its new Colt Model 1871-72 Open Top after the “deadliest pistoleer” in the west isn’t exactly clear. But the abbreviated rendition certainly appears as dashing as its namesake.

taylor’s and company 1873

The Colt Open Top is a unique design and has a certain appeal to aficionados of Old West guns. In particular, it’s desirable given it’s considered the parent of the famed Colt Single-Action Army revolver, the acme of the handguns of the era. In essence, it’s a bridge between the SAA and the cap-and-ball conversions that preceded it, maintaining many of the Colt Navy’s design points, but specifically designed for metallic cartridges.

taylor’s and company 1873

Don’t expect a dead ringer to the original with the Taylor & Company Hickock. While it maintains a similar frame and open-top design of the original, the gun company has tweaked it in several ways to make it more appealing to modern shooters. At least the ones that aren’t wed to historical accuracy in replicas.