1871 Richards-Mason Army

The Colt 1860 Army Richards-Mason revolver represents the pinnacle of Colt’s efforts to adapt its legendary percussion inventory to the modern cartridge era. Introduced in 1877, this model was the final and most sophisticated iteration of the "Army" conversions, designed to provide a high-quality metallic cartridge sidearm using the existing stock of 1860 frames. This specific variant was born from the collaboration between Charles Richards and William Mason, incorporating Mason’s improved ejector system. Production was relatively short-lived, spanning from 1877 to 1878, with approximately 2,100 units manufactured. 

Mechanically, the revolver is a single-action six-shooter and was chambered for the .44 Colt centerfire cartridge. It typically retains the classic 8-inch round barrel of the original Army model, though the loading lever has been replaced by a spring-loaded ejector rod housed in a sleek shroud. The most notable technical refinement is the hammer-mounted firing pin, which replaced the more complex breech-ring firing pins of earlier Richards conversions. While the U.S. military was officially adopting the 1873 Single Action Army, many Richards-Mason conversions saw secondary service with state militias and cavalry units during the final decades of the Indian Wars.

In civil contexts, the Richards-Mason was a favorite among frontiersmen for its exceptional balance and natural point-ability, which allowed for intuitive shooting. A major pro of this model was the improved Mason ejector, which was significantly more durable and faster to operate than previous designs, but with the arrival of the Colt 1873 Single Action Army, the Colt open-top frame era was definitely coming to an end.