COLT@ COWBOYTM SINGLE ACTION REVOLVER Copyright@ 1998 Colt's Manufacturing Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved. This instruction manual should always accompany this firearm. Wtie:'.yo'u le"d, give or sell this firearm, be sure this manual goes with it.
CYLINDER n [I cO \ EJECTOR BASE PIN RETAINING CATCH TRIGGER GUARD---- Figure 1-COLT" SINGLE ACTION REVOLVER SAFETY DEPENDS ON YOU
SECTION 1 PRECAUTIONS READ AND UNDERSTAND ALL THE FOLLOWING PRECAUTIONS BEFORE REMOVING THIS FIREARM FROM ITS PACKAGE. This Colt . A. product is classified by the Alcohol, Tabocco and Fire- arms Division of the Internal Revenue Department, as a firearm or dangerous potentially lethal! Service, weapon; U.S. Treasury it is, therfore, ili'WARNING: IF TflIS FIREARM IS CARE(E'S~Sl,( OR IMPROPER('l1 HANDLED, UNINTENTIONAL DISCHARGE COULD RESULT AND COULD CAUSE INJURY DEATH, OR DAMAGE TO PROPERTY.
NOTICE Colt shall not be responsible for injury, death, or damage to property resulting from either intentional or accidental discharge of this firearm, or from its function when used for purposes or subjected to treatment for which it was not designed.
& CAUTION: USE ONLY ORIGINAL HIGH QUALITY COMMERCIALLY MANUFACTURED AMMUNITION IN GOOD CONDITION WHICH IS APPROPRIATE TO THE CALIBER OF YOUR REVOLVER - SEE TABLE BELOW. Revolver Chamber Suitable Ammunition Size 44 Spec. 44-40 45 Colt 357 Mag. 38 Spec. 38 Spec.+P 38-40 44 Special Yes No No No No No No 44-40 No Yes No No No No No 45 Colt No No Yes No No No No 357 Mag.
LIST OF SECTIONS SECTION 1 2 3 4 0 TITLE PRECAUTIONS Main Features Safety Instructions: Cautions Safety Features: Half-Cock Position (for loading) Function: Loading Carrying Modes Unloading Firing 5 Maintenance: Stripping for Cleaning Assembling after Cleaning When to Clean How to Clean Storage Servicing and Repair 6 7 Parts Illustration and List The Customized Gun SAFETY DEPENDS ON YOU PAGE 1 5 6 6 13 14 18 18 21 21 23 27 27 28 29 29 31 32 35 38
SECTION 2 Revolver Type MAIN FEATURES Barrel Lengths Cowboy Single 4%", 5'h" Action Revolver, 7'h" 45 Colt, 357 Magnum, or 12" 44 Special, 44-40, 38-40 Finishes Sights Colt Blue (color case hardened frame) Fixed rear square notch. Fixed front blade.
SECTION 3 SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS If you accept the risk of danger from loading this revolver then follow these safety instructions to reduce the risk of accidental discharge resulting in injury, death or damage to property. You may be an experienced safe shooter already familiar with the procedures in this instruction manual, or you may never have handled a gun before but if you decide to load live ammunition into this revolver we urge you to read this entire instruction manual carefully.
3. NEVER TAKE ANYONE'S: WORD THAT A GUN IS UNLOADED; check for yourself with fingers off the trigger and gun pointed in a safe direction, so that you never fire the gun accidentally when you think it is unloaded. 4. ALWAYS KEEP AND CARRY YOUR REVOLVER EMPTY, WITH THE HAMMER IN THE SAFETY POSITION, except when you intend to shoot, so that your revolver cannot be fired when you do not mean to fire it. 5.
& RANGE CAUTIONS I 9. ALWAYS BE SURE YOUR BACKSTOP IS ADEQUATE to stop and contain bullets before beginning target practice so that you do not hit anything outside the range shooting area. THINK! What will you HIT if you MISS the target? I 10. ALWAYS PUT A KNOWLEDGEABLE AND RESPONSIBLE PERSON IN CHARGE TO MAINTAIN SAFETY CONTROL WHEN A GROUP IS FIRING ON A RANGE. Obey his commands so that discipline is maintained to reduce the likelihood of accidents. 11.
Handloads are sometimes outside those limits and can be so unsafe as to blow up the cylinder and frame and cause injury, death, or damage to property. & 14. ALWAYS EXERCISE EXTREME CARE TO KEEP MUZZLE POINTING IN A SAFE DIRECTION, WELL CLEAR OF YOUR BODY, PARTICULARLY WHEN UNLOADING REVOLVERS THAT DO NOT HAVE EJECTOR RODS. SHOOTING CAUTIONS I 15. NEVER DRINK ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES OR TAKE DRUGS BEFORE OR DURING SHOOTING, as your vision and judgment could be seriously impaired making your gun handling unsafe.
19. ALWAYS KEEP AN EMPTY CHAMBER IN FRONT OF HAMMER WITH HAMMER IN SAFETY POSITION WHEN REVOLVER IS LOADED UNTIL YOU ARE READY TO FIRE. This will minimize risk of an accidental discharge. 20. ALWAYS HOLD REVOLVER BY THE GRIP AND KEEP BOTH HANDS WELL CLEAR OF, AND BEHIND THE CYLINDER. Never hold it near the cylinder as very hot gas and lead particles may be sprayed out around the cylinder...these would injure your hands. 21.
25. NEVER FIRE YOUR REVOLVER NEAR AN ANIMAL unless it is trained to accept the noise; an animal's startled reaction could injure it or cause an accident. 26. NEVER INDULGE IN "HORSEPLAY" WHILE HOLDING YOUR REVOLVER as it may be accidentally discharged. 27. NEVER WALK, CLIMB OR FOLLOW A COMPANION WITH YOUR REVOLVER COCKED READY TO FIRE, out of its holster, or with the hammer in any position other than in "safety" with an empty chamber in front of the hammer to minimize risk of an accidental discharge.
NOTE: Dispose of misfired rounds in accordance with ammunition manufacturer's instructions. 30. NEVER USE YOUR REVOLVER IF IT FAILS TO FUNCTION PROPERLY,AND NEVER FORCE AJAMMED ACTION, as a round may explode causing serious injury, possible death, or severe damage to your revolver. & I CLEANING AND STORAGE CAUTIONS I 31.
34. NEVER ABUSE YOUR REVOLVER by using it for any purpose other than shooting. IMPORTANT: Do not dry fire your Colt Single Action Revolver as repeated dry firing could damage the firing pin. (Dry firing is snapping the hammer on an empty chamber). NOTE: Please note that we have chosen to use the word "SQUEEZE" in this instruction manual instead of "PULL" or "PRESS" when trigger movement is described; this is simply to remind you of the need for a gentle squeezing action to achieve accuracy.
it Hammer down (or rest) position-with the hammer down and the trigger forward, the tranfer bar is not interposed betwwen the hammer and firing pin. CAUTION: DO NOT ATTEMPT TO LOWER THE HAMMER DIRECTLYFROM HALF-COCK OR COCKED POSITIONS unless you release the trigger completely before the hammer reaches position, as soon as the Half-Cock position is cleared.
inspection and further maintenance. See figure 3. Once in this position the trigger cannot be moved unless enough force is applied to break it or the notch. . & CAUTION: NEVER CARRY YOUR REVOLVER IN THE HALF-COCK POSITION AS ACCIDENTAL DISCHARGE MAY BE POSSIBLE IF REVOLVER IS SUBSEQUENTLY DROPPED, MISHANDLED OR MISTREATED. .:::::::'; '-J . - --"" .--.
IMPORTANT: If you draw the hammer too far back another "click" will be heard. This "click" is caused by the bolt engaging the cylinder which will not be free to rotate when hammer is lowered into HalfCock position. If you find the cylinder locked DO NOT FORCE IT. Simply return the hammer to the fully forward position and draw it back again into the Half-Cock position as described in this manual.
&!WARNiNG: IF REVOLVERIS mWP-PEcON HAMMER, IFI REVOLVER IS FANNED, OR IF EXCESSIVE FORCE IS APPLIED !TO THE TRIGGER-"HALF-COCK" NOTCH COULD BREAK'I ICAUSING ACCIDENTAL DISCHARGE WHICH COULD RESULT INI INJURY, DEATH, OR DAMAGE TO PROPERTY. (Note: Normall trigger pull is 5 Ibs. maximum:-excissive force is 35 Ib~. ~r _more).1 ..,~::_~ /' I". ; '. - FIGURE 4-RISK IMPORTANT: OF MECHANISM DAMAGE If you suspect excessive force has been applied to the trigger (35 Ibs.
SECTION 4 FUNCTION Your Colt Single Action revolver will be ready to fire when chambers in the cylinder are loaded with ammunition (see loading instructions), and hammer has been drawn all the way back past HalfCock position to the Cocked position. The Action of "cocking" lowers cylinder locking bolt, rotates cylinder to carry a round of ammunition into alignment with barrel and hammer, raises cylinder locking bolt to lock cylinder and holds hammer under spring tension.
3. Open loading gate by swinging it out to the right, exposing back of cylinder and a chamber. Check each of six chambers to ensure they are clean and free from accumulated oil. (Clean if necessary; see cleaning instructions). 4. Use only ammunition recommended on page 3 of this instruction manual as suitable for your revolver. Insert a round of ammunition into chamber. 5. Press round home until it is fully seated. 6.
7. KEEP REVOLVER POINTING IN SAFE DIRECTION. Rotate cylinder until empty chamber is under hammer. With thumb firmly on hammer spur, draw hammer back slightly to disengage the HalfCock notch. Squeeze the trigger only long enough to allow hammer to move forward and clear Half-Cock notch, then release trigger completely and lower hammer controlling its movement with your thumb, into the fully down position.
~ NOTE: This pistol may be carried in either of the following modes according to your needs: Mode 1: - CYLINDER EMPTY Revolver cannot be discharged. Use Mode 1 for storage, transporting, demonstrating and dry practice. Mode 2: - 5 CHAMBERS LOADED, WITH EMPTY CHAMBER UNDER HAMMER Revolver can be fired when hammer is cocked and trigger is squeezed. Use Mode 2 when you MUST BE PREPARED to use the revolver IMMEDIATELY without warning.
& CAUTION: ALWAYS EXERCISE EXTREME CARE TO KEEP MUZZLE POINTING IN A SAFE DIRECTION, WELL CLEAR OF YOUR BODY, PARTICULARLY WHEN UNLOADING REVOLVERS THAT DO NOT HAVE EJECTOR RODS. 1. 8e sure you are familiar with Safety Instruction in Section 3. KEEP REVOLVER POINTING IN SAFE DIRECTION AND DO NOT TOUCH TRIGGER. 2. Draw hammer back to Half-Cock position. (The cylinder is now free to rotate clockwise). 3. Open loading gate. 4.
8. Collect live ammunition for safe storage and empty cartridge cases for disposal. FIGURE 6-EJECTION mIImI Before firing your Colt Single Action revolver, practice your stance, aim, rhythm and breathing for steady aim with your revolver UNLOADED. Practice firing on a range before going hunting or using your revolver for any other type of shooting. If you have a dual cylinder revolver learn to allow for the customary variation in point of bullet impact with different caliber cylinders installed.
& CAUTIONS 1. ALWAYS WEAR AND ENCOURAGE OTHERS NEAR YOU TO WEAR EAR PROTECTION WHEN SHOOTING, especially on a range. Without ear protection, the noise from your revolver and other guns close to you could leave a "ringing" in the ears for some time after firing, while the cumulative long term effect could be permanent hearing loss. 2. ALWAYS WEAR AND ENCOURAGE OTHERS TO WEAR PROTECTIVE SHOOTING GLASSES.
inch and three quarters) to "cocked" position and allow hammer to go slightly forward until "cocked" notch is engaged. Remove thumb from hammer spur. REAR FRONT SIGHT SIGHT 4. Take aim. (Aim by aligning target with front and rear sights. See Figure 7. Then focus on the front sight). 5. Keeping steady aim, place index finger on trigger and squeeze gently. Don't jerk the trigger as you will disturb your aim and spoil your accuracy. 6. Release trigger and remove index finger from trigger. ~ (~ .
NOTE: Dispose of misfired rounds in accordance with the ammunition manufacturer's instructions. 7. To fire second and subsequent 6 above. & rounds, repeat steps 3 through 8. KEEP REVOLVER POINTING IN SAFE DIRECTION. Unload revolver as previously described. CAUTION: NEVER LEAVE REVOLVER COCKED READY TO FIRE as this condition is EXTREMELY dangerous, and revolver could easily be accidentally age to property.
SECTION 5 h. ili MAINTENANCE A Colt revolver, like any other precision mechanism, will function better and last longer when it is properly maintained. Follow the advice in this section to keep your revolver in peak condition. CAUTION: ENSURE THAT THE REVOLVER IS NOT LOADED BEFORE STRIPPING AND CLEANING, so that it will not fire, and do not alter parts as the level of safety could be reduced. 1. Be sure you are familiar with "Safety Instructions" in Section 3. Draw hammer back to Half-Cock position. 3.
FIGURE 9-CYLINDER REMOVAL c. Carefully remove cylinder to the right of frame and avoid contact between the ratchet and loading gate. IMPORTANT: Do not strip your revolver further than removing the cylinder. If later additional maintenance is required see "Servicing and Repair" later in this instruction manual. NOTE: Assemble in reverse order. With hammer at Half-Cock carefully install the cylinder by rolling it into the frame from the right side. Install and secure the base pin.
WHEN TO CLEAN You should clean your revolver as soon after firing as possible so that the job will be easier and there will be less opportunity for corrosion to start. When your revolver has not be fired, clean it periodically; we suggest once or twice a year in a temperate climate, or as often as once a month in a tropical climate. If you carry a loaded revolver, UNLOAD it and clean it at least once a month. If you get your revolver wet, clean it as soon as possible.
revolver as severe cases result in burring of the metal around firing pin hole which could contribute to eventual firing failures. 3. Attach cotton flannel patch to end of cleaning rod, insert it in muzzle and pass rod and patch down through barrel. Repeat, changing patches until last patch comes out clean. 4. Clean each of the six chambers in cylinder with similar method to step 3 above. 5.
If it is not to be stored, or if it is being removed from storage for use, pass a dry patch through barrel and chambers to remove as much oil as possible. (See note on cold weather lubrication). 10. Check that flannel or brush bristles have not become lodged in any part of revolver, then wipe all external surfaces with a flannel patch moistened with gun oil. (See note on cold weather lubrication). 11. Reassemble revolver. See "Assembling After Cleaning." 12.
.. '.1.. Should your revolver require adjustment, or repair, make sure it is NOT loaded and send it to Colt's. For spare parts, seek advice from the Dealer who should have up to date information on how best to obtain genuine Colt parts. An illustration and list of part names are included in the next section of this instruction manual to help you identify the part you need, but it is important to note that all parts are not available for sale.
THIS GUN IS MANUFACTURED TO PERFORM PROPERLY WITH THE ORIGINAL PARTS AS DESIGNED. IT IS YOUR DUTY TO MAKE SURE ANY PARTS YOU BUY ARE INSTALLED CORRECTLY AND THAT NEITHER REPLACEMENTS NOR ORIGINALS ARE ALTERED OR CHANGED. This is why we say return it to Colt's. YOUR GUN IS A COMPLEX TOOL WITH MANY PARTS THAT MUST RELATE CORRECTLY TO OTHER PARTS. PUTTING A GUN TOGETHER WRONG OR WITH MODIFIED PARTS CAN RESULT IN A DAMAGED GUN, DANGER, AND INJURY OR DEATH TO YOU AND OTHERS THROUGH MALFUNCTION.
A ili NOTE: Various Federal and State laws and local ordinances govern the transfer and transportation of firearms, so take the advice of the Dealer in your state on how to send your firearm to Colt's. Before shipping your revolver, here are some important points to remember: 1. CAUTION: MAKE SURE THAT THE FIREARM IS NOT LOADED. 2. Write a letter explaining the problem and your requirements in as much detail as possible.
SECTION 6 PARTS IllUSTRATION AND LIST This section is provided so that you may identify names of parts for your own interest. However, for adjustment, repair or spare parts information, see Section 5 "Servicing and Repair." See page 40 for illustration. See page 41 for names of parts. The Colt "Cowboy" revolver incorporates a transfer bar safety system manufactured under license from Sturm, Ruger & Company, Inc.
~((/ .! \h~ / ~\ . - aQ"arQ:C(([((am (a"((((~((((cro- Figure 9-Colt Single Action Revolver-Parts @ Illustration.
DESCRIPTION 1. Barrel 2. Ejector Tube 3. Ejector Head 4. Ejector Rod 5. Ejector Spring 6. Ejector Tube Screw 7. Frame 8. Cylinder 9. Cylinder Spacer 10. Base Pin 11. Base Pin Screw 12. Base Pin Spring 13. Base Pin Screw Nut 14. Gate 15. Gate Catch 16. Gate Spring 17. Gate Catch Screw 18. Transfer Bar 19. Hammer Assembly 20. Hammer Roll Pin 21. Hammer Roll 22. Hand 23. Trigger 24. Bolt 25. Sear and Bolt Spring 26. Sear and Bolt Spring Screw 27. Bolt Screw 28. Trigger Screw 29. Hammer Screw 30.
SECTION 7 THE CUSTOMIZED GUN Our Colt Custom Shop offers a wide range of special services such as engraving, inlaying and special serializing to the same high standard of quality long synonymous with the name "COLT." Sometimes modifications, which meet our customer's special requirements, necessitate deviations from standard design and manufacturing tolerances which result in functional differences from a standard gun.
~ Colt Model Serial No.
Based on Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, Colt offers no express warranty on its product line. However, Colt recognizes its obligations concerning implied warranty. Colt also stands behind its products as it has historically, and will continue to provide services to its product line as it has over the years. Colt products will be serviced for a period of one year from the date of retail purchase, for defects in materials or workmanship, at no charge to the purchaser.
If your instruction manual becomes lost or destroyed, obtain a replacement by writing to Colt's Manufacturing Company, Inc., Box 1868, Hartford, Connecticut 06144-1868, USA or call1-800-962-COLT. Make a note of the address. When requesting a manual, include the information which is on the left side of your firearm together with its serial number or quote the Part No. as shown on the back cover of this manual.
*' LU Avvertimento Italiano Se c'e qualcosa che non riuscite a capire, rivolgetevi a qualcuno che sia qualificato nel ma",~ggiare in maniera sicura Ie armi da fuoco, ' Advertencia en Espaiiol Para cualquier aclaracion de esta manual, consulte con alguna persona perita en el manejo seguro de armas de fuego. Message Secutaire en Francais Pour tous renseignments complementaires, veuillez consulter un armurier qualifie dans Ie maniement de cesarmes.
