Throughout firearms history, a select few designs have shattered convention—pushing the boundaries of creativity, engineering, and innovation. The mid to late 19th century marked a golden age for firearms design and innovation, as titans like Colt, Smith & Wesson, and Remington battled for dominance in a rapidly evolving arms race. The game-changer? Self-contained metallic cartridges. Faster, cleaner, and more reliable—this breakthrough sparked a wave of conversions and new models that redefined the American handgun.

 There’s more to the story than the 1873 Single Action Army. Let’s dive into the revolvers that paved the way.

 
 C. Mason Conversions & Open Top Elegance

When metallic cartridges hit the scene, manufacturers scrambled to modernize their percussion revolvers. Enter William Mason - formerly of Remington - who joined forces with Colt’s Charles Richards to engineer a breech-loading solution. Their conversion system transformed aging cap-and-ball revolvers into sleek, cartridge-fed sidearms, laying the groundwork for the legendary 1873.

Open Top revolvers followed soon after, offering a cleaner silhouette and simplified design. These models captured the spirit of innovation while retaining the soul of the originals.

Remington Factory Conversions

Post-Civil War, Remington stepped up with its own factory conversions—robust, reliable, and ready for metallic cartridges. These upgrades typically featured:

  • Bored-through cylinders
  •  Integrated loading gates
  • Functional ejector rods

The Remington Conversion stands as a testament to solid-frame ingenuity and battlefield-ready engineering.

Schofield Top-Break: Cavalry-Grade Innovation

In 1875, Smith & Wesson unveiled the Schofield revolver, a top-break marvel refined by U.S. Cavalry Major George Schofield. His input led to a relocated barrel latch and spring-loaded mechanism, enabling one-handed operation—ideal for mounted troops. The result? A revolver that was fast, intuitive, and built for action.

Remington 1875 “Outlaw” Army

To challenge Colt’s dominance, Remington introduced the Model 1875 Improved Army, also known as the Frontier Army. With its rugged frame and classic styling, the 1875 earned its place among lawmen, outlaws, and government agencies alike. It was Remington’s bold answer to the 1873—and it didn’t disappoint.

See the Open Top Styles

See the C Mason Revolver

See the Remington Conversion Revolvers

Check out the Schofield Top Break Models

See the 1875 Outlaw Revolvers