With his 1871 patent
to convert percussion, front-loading revolvers to breech loading
metallic cartridge arms, Colt employee Charles B. Richards was able to
inexpensively convert the company's arms already in stock to the new
self-contained cartridge system. Colt also produced a number of them,
once the old percussion parts ran out, as newly manufactured breech
loaders. This, the first truly practical method of updating their guns
to handle the then-new metallic cased ammunition, allowed Colt to sell
these sixguns at a competitive price of just a few dollars, compared to
other metallic cartridge revolvers. In total, around 9,000 Richards
Transition Models were manufactured between 1871-1878. Their low cost,
combined with their modernization proved popular with folks, especially
in the Western territories. Wild Bill Hickok was believed to have packed
Richards conversions in his last years.
" In order to get Cimarron's copy of the Type II or Richards 2nd Model
Conversion exactly right, we worked from an original in our antique
collection. Our detail-perfect replica features the early Richards
ejector with the Richards-Mason conversion ring, gate and hammer. It can
be had in the Standard Blue finish with an 8-inch round barrel, or a
cut-down 5 1/2-inch round barrel, as found on many 19th century well
used specimens. Calibers offered include .38 Colt/.38 Special, .44
Colt/.44 Russian, and a.45 Colt/.45 Schofield. Regardless of chambering
or barrel length, these six-shooters look and handle like the originals!"
Reproduced by Uberti for Cimarron, made from originals in the Cimarron
Collection.This arm is as brand new, except for a couple of mars on the grips. The 1860 Army conversion also includes a Slim Jim holster and .45 cartridge belt in waist size 34" to 39"
