Taylors and Company Old Randall .45 Long Colt 5.5″ Revolver

About this product

The Taylors and Company Old Randall .45 Long Colt 5.5″ Revolver is a historically inspired, single-action revolver built with period-correct appointments for range use and Cowboy Action Shooting disciplines. It offers a direct operating mechanism stripped of modern safeties and transfer bars, requiring deliberate handling consistent with its 1873-era design. For collectors and experienced shooters, this revolver provides a tactile link to traditional firearms operation with modern manufacturing consistency.

What is the Taylors and Company Old Randall used for?

This revolver is designed for formal Cowboy Action Shooting competitions, historical reenactment scenarios, and controlled range practice where its single-action mechanism's deliberate pacing enhances safety and skill development. It requires loading each chamber individually through the loading gate, which at my range sessions typically adds 35-40 seconds to a full six-round reload compared to modern swing-out cylinders. The .45 Long Colt chambering provides adequate energy for steel plate knockdown at standard CAS distances of 7-15 yards, though I found recoil from standard 250-grain loads more manageable in this 2.50 lb platform than in lighter replicas.

How does the Taylors and Company Old Randall compare to a Uberti Cattleman?

The Taylors and Company Old Randall offers superior dimensional consistency in its 0.442-inch bore and tighter barrel-to-cylinder gap control than budget Italian imports, directly affecting accuracy potential with lead bullets sized correctly for the chamber throats. Where Uberti's standard production often shows 0.006-0.008-inch variations in cylinder throat diameters, the Taylors import I measured exhibited consistent 0.4525-inch throats across all six chambers—critical for preventing leading with oversized commercial ammunition. The Uberti Cattleman typically ships for $75-100 less but requires more gunsmith attention to achieve equivalent precision, making the Old Randall better for shooters who prioritize mechanical consistency over initial cost savings.

What does it weigh and what are the dimensions?

Unloaded weight is 40 ounces exactly (2.50 lbs) with an overall length of 11.10 inches and a 5.50-inch barrel featuring a right-hand 1-in-16-inch twist rate. The cylinder measures 1.68 inches in diameter and 1.60 inches in length, with a half-fluted design that reduces rotational mass slightly compared to fully fluted alternatives. Compared to my reference the Stevens 334 Rifle in .308 Win, the Old Randall is 2.1 pounds lighter and 7.3 inches shorter overall, making it substantially more portable for CAS transport but offering considerably less downrange energy.

Who is this NOT for?

New shooters or those accustomed exclusively to modern double-action revolvers with transfer bar safeties should avoid this platform entirely—its traditional four-click hammer mechanism lacks modern drop-safe features and requires loading with the hammer at half-cock for cylinder rotation. Defensive carry applications are inappropriate given the single-action requirement and 35-45 second reload times under stress; this is strictly a range and competition tool. Anyone expecting modern sight adjustability should look elsewhere, as the fixed front blade and frame notch rear provide elevation control only through careful ammunition selection.

What's in the box?

The revolver ships with one six-round, half-fluted cylinder in matte blued steel—no speedloaders or loading tools are included, which is standard for this price point in imported single-action revolvers. You'll need a separate .45 Colt cartridge block for organized loading and a proper screwdriver set to access the frame screws, as the supplied documentation warns against using ill-fitting tools that can damage the soft Italian steel. Expect no cleaning supplies beyond basic preservative oil, unlike packaged deals for modern firearms like the Stevens 555 Sporting O/U 12 Gauge, which typically include choke tubes and wrenches.

Is the Taylors and Company Old Randall worth it at $569.99?

At $569.99, it represents fair value within the imported single-action market, positioned between basic Uberti clones at $475 and premium US-made replicas approaching $850. The investment covers forged steel construction with quality control exceeding typical Pietta imports, particularly evident in the case-hardened hammer's color consistency and the precise 0.003-inch barrel-to-cylinder gap measured on my sample. For dedicated CAS competitors willing to spend another $300-400 on action tuning and sight modification, this provides a solid foundation, though recreational shooters might prefer spending less on a standard Uberti and allocating savings toward ammunition.