Arizona has an official state gun, and it is the revolver that won the West: the Colt Single Action Army. Governor Jan Brewer signed it into law on April 28, 2011, making Arizona the second state, after Utah, to name an official firearm. The Peacemaker rode with the Army at Fort Lowell, with the cowboys of Tombstone and with the Arizona Rangers, and it still rings steel at Tucson cowboy action matches every weekend.
Arizona’s state firearm at a glance
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Official firearm | Colt Single Action Army revolver |
| Law | A.R.S. 41-860.02 |
| Bill | SB 1610 (2011) |
| Sponsor | Sen. Ron Gould, Lake Havasu City |
| Signed | April 28, 2011, Gov. Jan Brewer |
| First produced | 1873 |
| Nickname | The Peacemaker |
| Classic caliber | .45 Colt |
The statute is one sentence long: “The Colt single action army revolver is the official state firearm.”
How the bill passed
| Date | Vote | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Feb 23, 2011 | Senate Appropriations | 9 to 4 |
| Mar 8, 2011 | Senate floor | 18 to 12 |
| Mar 24, 2011 | House Judiciary | 5 to 4 |
| Apr 20, 2011 | House floor, first vote | Failed 29 to 30 |
| Apr 20, 2011 | House floor, reconsidered | Passed 32 to 25 |
| Apr 28, 2011 | Governor | Signed |
Supporters testified that the Single Action Army protected mines, ranches and settlements across the territory in the late 1800s. The bill came only weeks after Utah named the Browning M1911 its state firearm.
The Peacemaker
Colt designed the Single Action Army in 1872 for the U.S. Army revolver trials, and production began in 1873. It served as the Army’s standard sidearm until 1892. Its simple six-shot, fixed-frame design loads one round at a time through a gate on the right side, and the hammer must be cocked by hand for every shot. The original caliber was .45 Colt, but the revolver was made in about 30 chamberings, including .44-40 for cowboys who wanted one cartridge for both their revolver and their Winchester 1873.
| Generation | Years |
|---|---|
| First generation | 1873 to about 1940 |
| Second generation | 1956 to 1974 |
| Third generation | 1976 to today |
The Single Action Army in Arizona Territory
- The Army in Tucson: Camp Lowell moved east of town in 1873 and served as Fort Lowell until 1891, the same years the Single Action Army was standard Army issue
- Tombstone, 1881: at the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral, records show Frank McLaury and Billy Clanton carried Colt revolvers; Wyatt Earp most likely carried a Smith and Wesson
- Arizona Rangers, 1901 to 1909: Rangers carried Winchester Model 1895 rifles and Army-size Colt revolvers, mostly .45 Colt Single Action Armies
More dates are on the Timeline, and the anniversary of the law is on Gun Calendars.com at Colt Single Action Army Adopted as State Gun of AZ.
Other official state firearms
| State | Firearm | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Utah | Browning M1911 | 2011 |
| Arizona | Colt Single Action Army | 2011 |
| Indiana | Grouseland Rifle | 2012 |
| Kentucky | Kentucky long rifle | 2013 |
| West Virginia | Hall Model 1819 rifle | 2013 |
| Alaska | Pre-1964 Winchester Model 70 | 2014 |
| Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania long rifle | 2014 |
| Tennessee | Barrett M82 | 2016 |
| Arkansas | Shotgun | 2019 |
| Texas | 1847 Colt Walker | 2021 |
| Missouri | Hawken rifle | 2023 |
Every state’s firearm, with history, is covered at Minuteman University.com: State Firearms.
Shoot one in Tucson
The best place to see Single Action Armies in action is a cowboy action match. Tucson has a match almost every weekend at Tucson Rifle Club, Pima Pistol Club and Three Points; see AZ Shooting Clubs for the schedule. Single action revolvers new and old are covered on Revolver Buyers Guide.com, and .45 Colt and .44-40 loads on Ammo Buyers Guide.com.