1875 Army Outlaw

The Remington Model 1875 Single Action Army was introduced in late 1874 to compete directly with the Colt 1873 Single Action Army for military contracts. Remington designed it as a cartridge-firing successor to their successful 1858 percussion model, aiming to provide a more durable alternative to contemporary competitors. Production spanned from 1875 to 1889, during which approximately 25,000 to 30,000 units were manufactured, a significantly smaller output than the Colt but nonetheless influential in the American West.

The revolver is a six-shot, single-action firearm and was primarily chambered in .44 Remington Centerfire, .44-40 Winchester, and .45 Colt. It has a 7.5-inch barrel and it is immediately recognizable by its distinctive steel "web" or sail-like reinforcement located beneath the barrel which adds structural strength and protects the ejector rod housing. 

While the U.S. Army did not adopt it on a large scale, the Egyptian government ordered roughly 10,000 units, and it saw limited service with the U.S. Interior Department and the Indian Police. In civil contexts, it gained a reputation for reliability among frontiersmen and outlaws, most notably being a favored sidearm of Frank James.

Modern and historical users appreciate the Remington 1875 model for its superior balance. A significant "pro" in respect of the Colt 1873 SAA was the ease of removing the cylinder, held by a simple spring-loaded catch (a system that Colt adopted in 1892). 

Unfortunately, a notable "con" was its late arrival to the market. By 1875, the Colt was already firmly established, and the proprietary .44 Remington caliber initially used was difficult for civilians to find, eventually forcing the company to pivot to Winchester and Colt chamberings to stay relevant.