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Manufactured from the late 19th century up through World War II, the Colt New Service was a large-frame double-action revolver chambered in 11 different cartridges. The Colt New Service Revolver was intended to replace the Colt 38, as shooters, lawmen, and, especially the Army, wanted something heavier. Colt added a bar of steel between the hammer and the frame in the new revolver—known as the “Colt Positive Lock”—in order to prevent unwanted discharges. In 1909, the Army and Navy adopted the revolver in its original form, and after a small change in the grip profile, the Marine Corps adopted it as well. In total, 356,000 New Service revolvers were made between 1898 and 1943, with the majority having gone to the U.S. military. For more on Colt's New Service Revolver, watch this "I Have This Old Gun" segment from a recent episode of American Rifleman TV.
Roni Corporation—designer and manufacturer of the Micro Roni, PDW-style pistol-to-carbine conversion kits and other firearm accessories—has established U.S.-based operations and manufacturing in Houston, Texas.
The U.S. military's first official breechloading service rifle was the Trapdoor Springfield, and of the line of guns that saw use throughout the late 19th century, one of the most refined was the Model 1884 Trapdoor.
As the company did with the original Colt Single Action Army, Pietta sought to reproduce the Colt Python as closely to the original as possible with its new Blacktooth revolver.
I am a huge fan of anything .45-caliber, especially single-action revolvers. I have five Ruger Blackhawk revolvers in different barrel lengths, all chambered in .45 Colt, two of which have extra cylinders chambered in .45 ACP.
As the new editor in chief of American Rifleman—and former editor in chief of Shooting Illustrated—Ed Friedman has the critical and challenging task of bringing this storied title into the digital age.