Taylors and Company 1873 Drifter .45 Long Colt 5.50-inch

About this product

What is the Taylors and Company 1873 Drifter .45 Long Colt 5.50-inch? It's a modern-manufacture single-action revolver built on a forged frame with period-accurate styling and mechanical reliability that meets contemporary standards for cowboy action shooting. This isn't a replica—it's a working firearm built to handle modern .45 Long Colt ammunition while maintaining the handling characteristics of the 1873 design that won the West.

What is the Taylors and Company 1873 Drifter used for?

This revolver is purpose-built for cowboy action competition, where its 5.50-inch octagonal barrel provides ideal sight radius and balance for timed stages. The single-action mechanism forces deliberate shot placement, while the 6-round cylinder capacity matches period-correct rules. It's also suitable for range training and historical shooting disciplines where authenticity matters more than tactical speed.

How does the Taylors and Company 1873 Drifter compare to the Stevens 334 Rifle?

The Drifter serves a completely different purpose than the Stevens 334 Rifle—it's a handgun for close-range competition versus a centerfire rifle for hunting and precision. While the Stevens 334 in .308 Win delivers 1500+ foot-pounds at 100 yards, the Drifter's .45 Long Colt produces about 400 foot-pounds at 25 yards. The Stevens is better for big game; the Drifter excels in fast-draw scenarios.

What does it weigh and what are the dimensions?

The Drifter weighs exactly 40 ounces with an overall length of 11.10 inches—substantial enough to absorb .45 Long Colt recoil without being unwieldy. The 5.50-inch octagonal barrel provides a 7-inch sight radius from front blade to rear notch, while the cylinder measures 1.75 inches in diameter. This balance makes it 2 inches shorter overall than typical 7.5-inch barrel variants while maintaining shootability.

Who is this NOT for?

This revolver isn't for concealed carry or home defense—the single-action mechanism requires manually cocking the hammer before each shot, adding 1.5 seconds to first-round deployment. It's also not ideal for beginners unfamiliar with single-action safety protocols, as the design lacks modern transfer bars or firing pin blocks. If you need rapid follow-up shots or tactical readiness, consider a double-action design instead.

What's in the box?

You'll receive the revolver, one 6-round cylinder, and basic documentation—no cleaning kit or supplemental sights are included. The walnut grips come pre-fitted and sealed, requiring no additional finishing. Expect to invest another $40-60 in a proper holster and loading gate tool, as these aren't part of the factory package despite being essential for competition use.

Is the Taylors and Company 1873 Drifter worth it at $674.99?

At $674.99, it's priced appropriately for a forged-frame revolver with authentic features—about $200 less than custom-tuned competition models but $300 more than budget Italian imports. The value comes from Taylor's quality control and the option for their tuning service, which can reduce trigger pull from the factory 4.5 pounds to a crisp 2.5 pounds for competition. If you're serious about cowboy action, the investment justifies itself in reliability alone.