Cimarron Firearms Model P U.S. Cavalry .45 LC 7.5″

About this product

The Cimarron Firearms Model P U.S. Cavalry .45 LC 7.5″ is a faithful reproduction of the Colt Single Action Army revolver used by the U.S. Cavalry from 1873 onward, designed for historical accuracy and traditional single-action shooting. The revolver features a color case hardened frame, blued 7.5-inch barrel and cylinder, and a one-piece walnut grip stamped with the Ordnance Department’s OWA cartouche. At 40.9 ounces with a six-round cylinder and non-dedoctored cylinder notch geometry, it is a tangible piece of firearms history built to modern proof standards.

What is the Model P U.S. Cavalry .45 LC used for?

This revolver is primarily used for Single-Action Shooting Society (SASS) cowboy action competition and historical collection, as its fixed sights and six-round capacity meet the requirements for Traditional Category competition. The specific OWA cartouche and 7.5-inch barrel length replicate the 1870s Ordnance Department specifications for mounted cavalry issue, making it period-correct for reenactments. It also serves acceptably for recreational range use with standard-pressure .45 Colt ammunition, but its historical design lacks modern ergonomic and safety features.

How does the Model P U.S. Cavalry compare to the Stevens 334 Rifle?

The Cimarron Model P is a manual-cocking, six-shot revolver chambered in .45 Colt, while the Stevens 334 Rifle is a bolt-action rifle chambered in .308 Winchester with a five-round detachable magazine. The Stevens 334 is objectively better for hunting or precision shooting at ranges beyond 25 yards, offering superior accuracy, a modern safety, and the capacity for optics mounting. The Model P excels in historical authenticity and meets specific competition rules the Stevens cannot, but it is inferior for any practical application requiring rapid reloads, extended range, or magnified optics.

What does it weigh and what are the dimensions?

The revolver weighs 40.9 ounces (1159 grams) unloaded and measures 13.5 inches in overall length with its 7.5-inch barrel. Its cylinder diameter is 1.7 inches, and the frame width across the recoil shield is 1.44 inches, requiring a holster designed for full-size single-action revolvers. The 7.5-inch barrel length was chosen for the original 1873 cavalry contract to balance projectile velocity with maneuverability on horseback, a detail that adds 4.2 inches of sight radius over a typical 3.5-inch sheriff's model.

Who is this NOT for?

This revolver is not for anyone seeking a defensive firearm, a suppressor host, or a platform for modernization. Its single-action mechanism requires manually cocking the hammer for each shot, a process that takes a practiced shooter a minimum of 2.5 seconds for six aimed rounds versus sub-2 seconds with a modern double-action revolver. It lacks a transfer bar safety, meaning carrying with all six chambers loaded is historically authentic but carry conditionally unsafe. It is also not drigged and tapped for optics, unlike the Stevens 555 Sporting O/U, which is pre-drilled for a rail.

What's in the box?

Each Cimarron Model P U.S. Cavalry ships with the revolver, one six-round cylinder, and a single-piece walnut grip with the OWA cartouche stamping. The box includes neither a manual safety lock (as this model lacks a safety notch in the traditional sense) nor a cleaning kit, though it does ship with a basic owner's manual covering function and disassembly. You should expect to add a .45 Colt bore snake, a quality screwdriver set for grip removal, and approximately 60 rounds of ammunition to properly zero the fixed sights.

Is the Model P U.S. Cavalry worth it at $742.99?

At $742.99, this revolver is worth it for the shooter who requires historical accuracy for SASS competition or collection, as it correctly replicates the 1873 Ordnance Department specifications at a price approximately $120 less than a custom-built replica from a specialist shop. Its investment value lies in the authenticity of its case hardening, the correct cartouche stamp, and the use of forgings rather than castings for major components. For the recreational shooter seeking a fun range toy, a used Ruger Vaquero at around $600 offers a transfer bar safety and more durable construction but lacks the historical pedigree.