Handguns

Although the 1873 Winchester was made in several other calibers, the vast majority were produced in .44-40. But that doesn't fully account for the historical significance of the cartridge.

Two other Winchesters preceded the Model 1873 the Henry and the Model 1866. Each represented a technological advance, but the 1873 offered several major improvements over both. These improvements made the '73 Winchester the preeminent rifle of the frontier for nearly 20 years.

Arguably, the most important improvement incorporated into the Model 1873 was that a "central fire" cartridge replaced the earlier rimfire .44 used in the Henry and Model 1866. That new cartridge was the .44-40 Winchester.

Even more than the rifle in which it was introduced, the .44-40 was a hit on the American frontier. In 1878 Colt started offering the .44-40 as a chambering for its single-action revolvers. It was an inspired decision. The need to carry only a single kind of ammunition for both rifle and revolver appealed to settlers, prospectors, cowmen and anyone else who had to carry all their necessities in their saddlebags or on a pack horse.

Colt offered the .44-40 in a couple of rifles, including the pump-action 1885 Lightning. Remington used it, as did Marlin, and virtually every American single-shot rifle was chambered for it at one time or another. It remained on the American shooting scene in a variety of firearms well into the 20th century, but as World War II loomed, fewer and fewer arms-makers offered the .44-40. Then, in 1942 Colt--the last holdout--stopped chambering revolvers for it.

Now, with the growing popularity of Cowboy Action shooting, the .44-40 has enjoyed renewed interest. Although some competitors use vintage 19th century firearms, replicas are allowed under the rules, and several gunmakers have stepped up to meet the demand.

My test rifle was a Yellow Boy replica 1866 Winchester saddle carbine with a 19-inch barrel made by Uberti and imported by Navy Arms. This carbine has a polished-brass receiver, color case-hardened hammer and lever and richly toned walnut stock with a bit of figure in the wood.