The .45 Colt, also known as the .45 Long Colt, is a renowned cartridge that has a rich history. The nickname “long” was unofficially added to its name by U.S. Army quartermasters in order to differentiate it from Smith and Wesson’s shorter .45 Schofield cartridge.
To fully understand why the .45 Colt is called the “long” Colt, we need to delve into its origins. The cartridge was developed in the early 1870s as a joint effort between Colt’s Manufacturing Company and the Union Metallic Cartridge Company. It was specifically designed for use in Colt’s Single Action Army revolver, which became the standard issue sidearm for the U.S. Army in 1873.
At the time of its adoption, the .45 Colt cartridge was significantly longer than other cartridges used in revolvers. It featured a case length of 1.285 inches, compared to the shorter .45 Schofield cartridge with a case length of 1.10 inches. This difference in length led to the distinction between the two cartridges.
The U.S. Army quartermasters, responsible for procurement and supply, needed a way to differentiate between the two similar but distinct cartridges. They began informally referring to the .45 Colt as the “.45 Long Colt” to avoid confusion. This unofficial nickname quickly gained traction and became widely used, even though it was not officially recognized by Colt or any other official governing body.
It is worth noting that the term “long” in the nickname is somewhat relative. Compared to other cartridges of the time, such as the .44-40 Winchester or the .38 Long Colt, the .45 Colt was indeed longer. However, in modern terms, it is not significantly longer than other popular revolver cartridges like the .357 Magnum or the .44 Magnum.
The popularity and longevity of the .45 Colt cartridge have contributed to the persistence of the nickname. Over the years, it has become ingrained in firearm culture and is still commonly used today, even though it is technically incorrect.
The .45 Colt cartridge acquired the nickname “long” Colt due to its longer case length compared to the .45 Schofield cartridge. While it was never officially recognized, the nickname gained widespread use, reflecting the cartridge’s historical significance and enduring popularity.