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Colt Lightning rifle

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The Colt Lightning Carbine or Colt Lightning Rifle was a slide-action (pump-action) rifle manufactured by Colt from 1884 until 1904 and was originally chambered in .44-40 caliber. Colt eventually made the Lightning Rifle in three different frame sizes, to accommodate a wide range of cartridges, from .22 Short caliber and .38-40 to .50-95 Express . Its profile resembles the pump-action rimfire rifles made by the Winchester Repeating Arms Company and Remington Arms . The Lightning saw use as a sporting arm in America and was adopted for use by the San Francisco Police Department , but was never as popular or as reliable as the various lever-action rifles of its day. It is however reported to have been used by American forces in the Spanish-American War, most likely as privately purchased weapons.

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105-472: The medium-frame Colt Lightning Magazine Rifle was manufactured between 1884 and 1904. It was the first slide-action rifle offered by Colt. Colt records indicate 89,777 were produced, in .32-20 , .38-40 , and .44-40 as a companion arm to the Colt Single Action Army revolver. Two versions were offered: a rifle with a 26 in (66 cm) barrel and 15-round magazine, and a carbine with

210-668: A Can-Am minor league baseball team, played at Holman Stadium from 1998 through 2008, then changed to the American Defenders of New Hampshire in the 2009 season. The Defenders were evicted from the venue in August 2009, however, because of non-payment of rent, and moved to Pittsfield, Massachusetts to become the Pittsfield Colonials . Before the Pride, Holman was the home stadium for the independent Nashua Hawks;

315-463: A plinking and gallery gun . Colt records indicate 89,912 were made, in .22 Short and .22 Long . Barrel length was 24 in (61 cm) and the rifles had a blued finish, case-hardened hammer, and a walnut stock. The large-frame Lightning (also called the "Express Model") was manufactured between 1887 and 1894. Colt records indicate 6,496 were made in different big game calibers such as .38-56 WCF , .40-60 and .50-95 Express . Barrel length

420-406: A 20 in (51 cm) barrel and 12-round magazine. The San Francisco Police Department acquired 401 rifles all of which had 26 in (66 cm) round .44-40 barrels and bore S.F.P 1 through S.F.P 401 stampings on the lower tang. The small-frame Lightning (also referred to as "Second Model Colt Lightning") was the first rimfire rifle made by Colt and was manufactured between 1887 and 1904 as

525-471: A United States address were not used for target shooting, but for self-defense, because the grip and hammer were ideal for fast shooting. Surveys of existing Bisley show that a much larger number of 4 + 3 ⁄ 4  in (12 cm) Bisleys, perhaps as high as 62%, have survived as compared to the 5 + 1 ⁄ 2 " and 7 + 1 ⁄ 2 " barreled guns. Considering the majority of Bisleys were made in .32/20 and .38/40, some 60%, it appears that

630-581: A barrel length of 5 + 1 ⁄ 2 inches (14 cm). In 1898, 14,900 of the SAA revolvers were altered the same way by Springfield Armory. The original records of the War Department do refer to these revolvers with the shortened barrel as the "Altered Revolver". The name "Artillery" is actually a misnomer, which Sapp speculates may have originated because the Light Artillery happened to have

735-421: A bullet weight of 255 grains (16.5 g) at a nominal 970 feet per second (300 m/s). Authors John Taffin and Mike Venturino have demonstrated that modern black-powder loadings of the .45 Colt cartridge frequently achieve velocities in the vicinity of 1,000 feet per second (300 m/s) with the 7 + 1 ⁄ 2 -inch "cavalry" barrel length, even though modern solid-head cases make it impossible to load

840-402: A centerfire design containing charges of up to 40 grains (2.6 g) of fine-grained black powder and a 255-grain (16.5 g) blunt roundnosed bullet. Relative to period cartridges and most later handgun rounds, it was quite powerful in its full loading. The Colt Single Action Army revolver, along with the 1870 and 1875 Smith & Wesson American and Model 3 "Schofield" revolvers , replaced

945-469: A chambered cartridge. Like the earlier percussion revolvers, the Single Action Army was designed to allow loading of all the chambers. The safety notch replaced pins on the rear of the percussion revolver cylinders, which served the same purpose as the safety position; that is, preventing hammer contact with the primer/percussion cap. According to the original instructions from Colt, as well as

1050-468: A customized revolver with a 12-inch-long (30 cm) barrel. However, according to some other accounts, on October 26, 1881, the day of the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral, Earp carried an 1869 .44 caliber Smith & Wesson American Model with an 8-inch (20 cm) barrel. At the beginning of World War II , Colt ceased production of the Single Action Army revolver to devote more time to filling orders for

1155-615: A four-season humid continental climate , which has transitioned to the hot summer subtype, ( Köppen Dfa ), as of the 1991 to 2020 normals, with short spring and autumn transitions, long humid and warm to hot summers, and cold winters full of snow. The monthly daily average temperature ranges from 22.7 °F (−5.2 °C) in January to 70.9 °F (21.6 °C) in July. On average, there are 9.4 days of 90 °F (32 °C)+ highs and 8.7 days of sub-0 °F (−18 °C) lows. Precipitation

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1260-478: A frame that was flat on top and fitted with an adjustable leaf rear sight. The front sight consisted of a base with an interchangeable blade. In 1896, at serial number 164,100, a spring-loaded base pin latch replaced the cylinder pin retaining screw and by 1900, at serial number 192,000, the Colt Single Action was certified for use with smokeless powder. In 1920, larger, highly visible sights replaced

1365-418: A full 40 grains. Specifications for 20th-century smokeless loads set velocity with a 255-grain (16.5 g) round-nosed flat-point bullet at 870 feet per second (270 m/s) providing 429-foot-pound-force (582 J) energy. The version of the .45 Colt as of 2014 differs from the original cartridge case in that the rim is significantly larger (with a groove immediately above it) and the internal aspect of

1470-498: A household in the city was $ 60,923, and the median income for a family was $ 76,612. Male full-time workers had a median income of $ 60,365 versus $ 43,212 for females. The per capita income for the city was $ 30,937. About 4.6% of families and 9.3% of the population were below the poverty line , including 11.4% of those under age 18 and 5.9% of those age 65 or over. Nashua has three main commercial districts. Centered on Main Street near

1575-559: A low-power station in Boston and subchannels of other stations) across the entire market. As WYCN-CD, it formerly carried a number of smaller networks, along with local programming and community calendar information of interest to Nashuans, until the sale to NBC. The Everett Turnpike is the major highway running through the city. U.S. Route 3 follows the turnpike from the Massachusetts border north to Exit 7E, where it branches to

1680-430: A population of 91,322, the second-largest in northern New England after nearby Manchester . It is one of two county seats of New Hampshire's most populous county, Hillsborough ; the other being Manchester. Built around the now-departed textile industry, in recent decades Nashua's economy has shifted to the financial services , high tech , and defense industries as part of the economic recovery that started in

1785-570: A private ambulance service, American Medical Response. The department has five fire commissioners. The commission has overall responsibility for the policy decisions, promotions, discipline, hiring and terminations. The fire chief reports directly to the commission. Their responsibility is to also work with fire administration with planning and prioritizing the department budget. There are two hospitals in Nashua, St. Joseph Hospital and Southern New Hampshire Health System . An episode of MTV's MADE

1890-569: A royalty fee to Smith & Wesson , Colt could not begin development of bored-through revolver cylinders for metallic cartridge use until April 4, 1869. For the design, Colt turned to two of its best engineers: William Mason and Charles Brinckerhoff Richards who had developed a number of revolvers and black powder conversions for the company. Their effort was designed for the United States government service revolver trials of 1872 by Colt's Patent Firearms Manufacturing Company and adopted as

1995-538: A total of 42 variations. Colt manufactured Third Generation Buntlines and New Frontiers through the Colt Custom Shop, as well as many engraved pistols. In 2010, Colt released a "revival" of the Frontier Six Shooter with a nickel finish. Starting in 1999, Colt began manufacturing a version of the Single Action Army revolver with a modern transfer bar safety , allowing it to be carried with

2100-484: A weekly printed edition. Nashua radio stations include oldies station WGHM 900 AM ( ESPN affiliate), talk station WSMN 1590 AM, and 106.3 WFNQ , a classic hits station owned by Binnie Media . WEVS 88.3 and 90.3 serve as the stations for New Hampshire Public Radio . The city is part of the Manchester radio market and can also receive almost all Boston -market stations clearly. One television station

2205-679: Is anchored by the Pheasant Lane Mall and numerous smaller shopping centers. It is one of several U.S. cities nicknamed Gate City , which references a reputation for being a travel gateway—in this case between the Boston region and New Hampshire. A number of civic groups and institutions have adopted the title. The area was part of a 200-square-mile (520 km ) tract of land in Massachusetts called "Dunstable", named after Edward Tyng of Dunstable in England. Located at

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2310-606: Is in Nashua. The three-building campus that once housed a Digital Equipment Corporation software development facility was sold to the John Flatley Company, which has renamed it "Nashua Technology Park". Nashua has had a series of amateur, semi-professional, and professional baseball teams. The Nashua Silver Knights , part of the Futures Collegiate Baseball League of New England (FCBL), is the city's current team. The Nashua Pride ,

2415-507: Is in the city's northwest corner. The nearest airports with scheduled airline service are Manchester–Boston Regional Airport in Manchester and Logan International Airport in Boston. Historically, Nashua was a hub for the trolley system in New Hampshire. Trolleys could be taken south to Boston , as well as north into Manchester and to locations as far east as Hampton, New Hampshire . The trolley also connected different areas of

2520-470: Is in the northwestern part of the city and is a large thoroughfare with commercial centers along both sides. The South Nashua Commercial District, centered on Daniel Webster Highway near the Massachusetts border, is anchored by the Pheasant Lane Mall , attracting many people from Massachusetts taking advantage of the lack of sales tax in New Hampshire. The city is home to a number of technical firms, including Nashua Corporation , which took its name from

2625-465: Is licensed to Nashua. WBTS-CD (channel 15) is owned by NBC Owned Television Stations , and serves as the NBC owned-and-operated station for the Boston market. The station moved from its own transmitter to a channel share with PBS member station WGBX-TV from their Needham, Massachusetts tower in 2018 upon NBC's assumption of ownership, letting it broadcast the "NBC Boston" service (previously carried by

2730-493: Is likely this was recommended after the Second World War because with the changed tolerances of the re-designed Second Generation Single Action Army, a sharp blow could damage the re-designed half-cock mechanism and allow a fully loaded revolver to fire. Drawn back about halfway, the hammer engages the second notch. This cams the cylinder bolt out of engagement and allows the cylinder to rotate for loading. Fully cocked,

2835-428: Is longer than the SAA mainspring, and the two are not interchangeable; it is attached to the hammer with a stirrup via a forked upper end. The serial numbers are stamped on the frame, the backstrap and the trigger-guard at the end of production, with tiny dies. Bisleys were serial-numbered in the range of 156300–331916, in the same sequence as the Single Action Army. All Bisleys after No. 161,376 had "BISLEY MODEL" with

2940-471: Is mainly bought as memorabilia by collectors and re-enactors . Its design has influenced the production of numerous other models from other companies. The original length of the barrel, issued to the U.S. Cavalry , was 7 + 1 ⁄ 2 inches (19 cm), with an overall length of 13 inches (33 cm). Bound by the Rollin White patent ( #12,648, April 3, 1855 ), and not wanting to pay

3045-423: Is not seeking reelection in 2024. At the presidential level, Nashua leans strongly towards Democrats. George H. W. Bush was the last Republican presidential nominee to win Nashua, in 1988 . In the 2000 U.S Census, 22,700 residents over age three were enrolled in a Nashua educational institution, approximately a fourth of the city. The local newspaper is The Telegraph , with daily news published online and

3150-467: Is proposed to have two station stops on the line, South Nashua , which would be located behind the Pheasant Lane Mall just north of the state line, and Nashua, which would be located in a rail yard near Crown Street in downtown Nashua and would utilize the existing Crown Street park-and-ride lot. Separately on October 11, 2017 the Nashua Board of Aldermen signed a memorandum of understanding with

3255-492: Is to be fired." as part of the loading instructions. Colt continued to provide instructions specifying the revolver was to be carried with all six chambers loaded and with the hammer on the safety notch from 1874 to at least 1945. In 1898, the advertisements for the Single Action Army, 1877 , and M1878 all instructed: "These Revolvers should be carried with the hammer resting in the Safety Notch." Colt's advertisements in

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3360-667: Is unclear whether the highway will ever be completed. If finished, the Nashua-Hudson Circumferential Highway would be part of the Everett Turnpike, and would rejoin the mainline highway at a hypothetical Exit 9 in northern Nashua. In 2015, after four years of construction, the city completed the Broad Street Parkway, which connects Exit 6 of the Everett Turnpike to the city's downtown area ("Tree Streets" neighborhood), with

3465-459: Is well-spread throughout the year, though winter is the driest. Snowfall, the heaviest of which typically comes from nor'easters , averages around 55 inches (140 cm) per season, but can vary widely from year to year. Nashua recorded the New Hampshire state record high temperature of 106 °F (41 °C) during the deadly 1911 heat wave . As of the census of 2010, there were 86,494 people, 35,044 households, and 21,876 families residing in

3570-525: The Colt 1860 Army Percussion revolver. The Colt quickly gained favor over the S&;W and remained the primary U.S. military sidearm until 1892 when it was replaced by the .38 Long Colt caliber Colt Model 1892 , a double-action revolver with swing-out cylinder. By the end of 1874, serial no. 16,000 was reached; 12,500 Colt Single Action Army revolvers chambered for the .45 Colt cartridge had entered service and

3675-522: The Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC). The Spartans Drum and Bugle Corps (1997, 1998, 2004, 2007 Drum Corps International Division II Champions and 2019 Open Class Champions) is based in Nashua. The city's government is headed by a mayor and fifteen aldermen : six at-large aldermen elected three at a time every four years, and nine ward aldermen, one for each ward in the city, elected every two years. In

3780-499: The Gunfight at the O.K. Corral were armed with this rifle and pistol combination. .38-40 and .32-20 (.32 WCF) also qualify as "Frontier Calibers" because 1873 and 1892 Winchesters were made in these calibers, offering the same convenience as the 44-40 (44WCF) caliber, namely using the same cartridge in both revolver and rifle. The Colt Bisley (1894–1912) was introduced in 1894 as an accurate target pistol. The name Bisley came from

3885-776: The Industrial Revolution with textile mills operated from water power . In 1823, the Nashua Manufacturing Company was incorporated. The company eventually had four mills and employed approximately 1,000 people. The following year, the Jackson Manufacturing Company was incorporated. In 1836, the New Hampshire half of Dunstable was renamed "Nashua", after the Nashua River; the Dunstable name lives on across

3990-554: The Nashua Transit System , which has nine scheduled bus routes in the city. Boston Express , a subsidiary of Concord Coach Lines , operates a Nashua-Boston bus line that runs out of the Nashua Transit Center off Exit 8 on the Everett Turnpike. This line transports passengers to South Station and Logan International Airport in Boston. Nashua Airport (Boire Field), a general aviation facility,

4095-611: The New Hampshire General Court , Nashua is represented in the House by Hillsborough County's 3rd (Ward 4), 4th (Ward 2), 5th (Ward 1), 6th (Ward 3), 7th (Ward 7), 8th (Ward 6), 9th (Ward 5), 10th (Ward 9), and 11th (Ward 8) districts and in the Senate by District 12 (Wards 1, 2, and 5, shared with Hollis , Mason , Brookline , Greenville , New Ipswich , and Rindge ) and District 13 (Wards 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, and 9). In

4200-627: The New Hampshire Senate , Nashua is represented by two state senators: In the New Hampshire Executive Council , Nashua is included within the 5th District and is currently represented by Republican Dave Wheeler. Nashua is included within New Hampshire's 2nd congressional district and is currently represented (until 2025) by Democrat Ann McLane Kuster in the U.S. House of Representatives ; Kuster

4305-520: The U.S. Army from 1873 to 1892. The Colt SAA has been offered in over 30 different calibers and various barrel lengths. Its overall appearance has remained consistent since 1873. Colt has cancelled its production twice, but renewed it due to popular demand. The revolver was dubbed the "Peacemaker", and is a famous piece of Americana and the American Wild West era, due to its popularity with ranchers, lawmen, and outlaws alike. Today, it

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4410-670: The United States Army Ordnance Corps , specifies the loading of all six chambers and carrying the revolver habitually with the hammer cocked in the safety notch. Specifically, the 1874 U.S. Army Ordnance Manual, Description and Rules for the Management of the Springfield Rifle, Carbine, and Army Revolvers, Caliber .45 , state "bring the hammer to the safety notch; keep it there until the Pistol

4515-613: The famous firing range in Bisley , England. The Colt Bisley can be distinguished by the longer grip, the wider hammer spur, and the wider trigger. The distinguishing feature of the Bisley Target Model is the topstrap, which is flat and fitted with a sliding rear sight, adjustable for windage only. The front sight is a removable blade, which fits into the slotted base attached to the barrel. The revolvers were supplied with different blades for elevation. The Bisley mainspring

4620-534: The .38 caliber Colt Model 1892 Double Action Army revolver. The .45 Single Action Army revolver was still standard issue to the Infantry, Artillery and other branches of the U.S. Army. In 1895–1896, the U.S. federal government returned 2,000 SAA revolvers to Colt to be refurbished; 800 were issued to the New York Militia with the 7 + 1 ⁄ 2 inches (19 cm) barrel and 1,200 were altered to

4725-656: The .44-40 Winchester cartridge in the Far West appreciated the convenience of being able to carry a single caliber of ammunition, which they could fire in both revolver and rifle. The Colt Frontier Six Shooter Revolver and the Winchester Model 1873 or the Winchester Model 1892 in .44-40 WCF caliber was one of the most common combinations seen in "the Old West". For example, the two mounted "Cowboys" at

4830-493: The .45 Colt cartridge and being accompanied by an extra cylinder for the .45 ACP . The power, accuracy and handling qualities of the Single Action Army (SAA) made it a popular sidearm from its inception, well into the 20th century. The association with the history of the American West remains to the present century, and these revolvers remain popular with shooters and collectors. George S. Patton , who began his career in

4935-437: The .45 Colt cartridge, especially 19th-century "pre-smokeless" revolvers, which should be fired (if at all) with black powder, only. Prior to World War II, the .45 Colt used a groove diameter of .454"; post-WWII production adopted the .452" groove diameter of the .45 ACP . From 1924 through 1940, a small number of Single Actions in the pistol caliber .45 ACP were produced. Colt's records list several Single Actions chambered for

5040-454: The .45 Colt has always been the most common. A scaled-down .22 rimfire version called the Scout or Frontier Scout was available in the late 20th century. The first Colt Single Action Army prototypes were manufactured in .44 American caliber for the 1872 government trials, as the .44 American was the cartridge used in the 1,000 Smith & Wesson Model 3 revolvers issued to the troops. After

5145-433: The .45 caliber Artillery Model. The Artillery Model usually had mixed numbers. It can be identified by the U.S. on the frame, the inspector's stamps on different parts (such as a tiny A for Orville W. Ainsworth, DFC, HN, RAC for later inspectors and K for replacement parts) and the cartouche of Rinaldo A. Carr (RAC), the inspector who inspected the refurbished guns, on the grip. The Colt Frontier or Frontier Six-Shooter

5250-489: The 1920s through 1945 (after which the first generation Single Action Armys were discontinued) instructed that the revolver "May be carried cocked with the hammer in the safety notch." The Single Action Army action is a refinement of the earlier Colt percussion revolvers and the Colt 1871 cartridge revolver. The cylinder is mounted on a central axis and operated by a hand with a double finger with which more extended action allows

5355-571: The 1970 film by the same name at the General George Patton Museum of Leadership at Fort Knox, KY as of 2022. Villa himself used a 5-inch barrell Colt Bisley in 44-40 caliber for the full length of his military career. In the early and mid-20th century, original Peacemakers lacking historical provenance and not in pristine condition were not particularly valuable. They served as raw material for early enthusiasts such as Elmer Keith , Harold Croft and R. F. Sedgley who modified

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5460-509: The 1980s in the Greater Boston region. Major private employers in the city include Nashua Corporation , BAE Systems , and Teradyne . The city also hosts two major regional medical centers, Southern New Hampshire Medical Center and St. Joseph Hospital . The South Nashua commercial district is a major regional shopping destination, lying directly on the Massachusetts border and taking advantage of New Hampshire's lack of sales tax. It

5565-770: The AA Nashua Pirates ; the AA Nashua Angels; and the A Nashua Dodgers , the first racially integrated professional baseball team in the 20th century. After minor league baseball began in Nashua in 1885, the team hosted the Nashua Millionaires franchise, with the team playing in the New England League from 1901 to 1933. In collegiate sports, Nashua is home to the Rivier University Raiders, who compete in

5670-591: The Buntline frame. The Third Generation began in 1976, characterized by a change in barrel thread pitch and a solid cylinder bushing replacing the removable/replaceable part from the first and second generations. This series ran until 1982 as a limited-issue product with the serial number range of SA80,000 to SA99,999. In 1994, production of the SAA resumed with the increase in popularity of " Cowboy Action Shooting " matches. These models are known either as "Late Third Generation" or sometimes Fourth Generation. They have

5775-584: The Massachusetts border. The Nashua River was named by the Nashaway people, and in the Penacook language it means "beautiful stream with a pebbly bottom", with an alternative meaning of "land between two rivers". In 1842, the town split into two towns. Eleven years later, they joined back together under the name "Nashua", and were re-incorporated as a city. During the split, the northern area, known today as "French Hill", called itself " Nashville ", while

5880-593: The Nettleton and OWA Colts have the cartouche (OWA or HN) on the left side of the wood grip. By the mid-1870s, the Army had purchased a significant number of Smith & Wesson Schofield revolvers chambering a shorter .45 round. Logistical problems arose because the ammunition was not interchangeable. The Colt revolvers would accept the shorter round, but not vice versa. For a time, the Government stopped orders for

5985-441: The SAA included .38-40 Winchester introduced in 1884, the .32-20 Winchester introduced in 1884, the .41 Long Colt introduced in 1885, the .38 Long Colt in 1887, the .38 Special and the .357 Magnum in the 20th century. Some of the separately-serialized .44 Henry rimfire revolvers were rechambered to .22 rimfire after 1885. The SAA at one time or another was offered in dozens of calibers from .22 rimfire to .476 Eley , though

6090-618: The Second Generation Colt Single Actions were factory-engraved by Colt. The factory engravers of the period were Alvin Herbert, Earl Bieu, Dennis Kies, Robert Burt, Steve Kamyk and Leonard Francolini. One of the most sought-after engravers who have worked on Colt revolvers was Alvin White and the shop of A. A. White Engravers. The original instructions for operation of the Single Action Army, both by Colt and

6195-783: The Single Action Army revolver, which makes these engraved models extremely rare and valuable with collectors. Engraved pieces were often ordered by or for famous people of the day, including lawmen, heads of state, and captains of industry. This tradition began with the founder, Samuel Colt , who regularly gave such examples away as a means of publicity for Colt. Colt employed a number of engravers, many of whom were trained artisans who emigrated from Europe. These artisans, such as Gustave Young, Cuno A. Helfricht, Rudolph J. Kornbrath and Louis Daniel Nimschke , were known for inlaying gold, silver, and precious stones in their work. Many of these engraved pieces were adorned with stocks made of ivory or pearl, with engraving and inlays as well. About 400 of

6300-695: The Single Action Army's production. It was Ainsworth who inspected the Colts used by Col. G. A. Custer 's 7th Cavalry at the Battle of the Little Bighorn . The number range of possible Little Bighorn Colts is 4500–7527. Henry Nettleton was the U.S. Principal Sub-inspector in 1878 at the Springfield Armory . Second only to the OWA Colts, Nettleton Colts are prized by serious collectors. Both

6405-533: The U.S. Army Ordnance Department, the revolver was to be carried with all six chambers loaded and carried with the hammer half-cocked in the safety notch. However, beginning sometime after the Second World War and after the introduction of the Second Generation single action in the 1950s, some gun-writers began strongly advocating the practice of leaving one empty chamber under the hammer. It

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6510-400: The average family size was 3.01. In the city the population was spread out, with 22.1% under the age of 18, 9.3% from 18 to 24, 28.0% from 25 to 44, 27.8% from 45 to 64, and 12.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38.5 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.8 males. In 2011 the estimated median income for

6615-684: The caliber stamped on the left side of the barrel, which is rare for older Colt revolvers. The most common were in the American calibers of .32-20, .38-40, .45 Colt, .44-40, .41 Long Colt, and also in the British calibers of .450 Eley and .455 Eley. A total number of 44,350 were manufactured. Production of the Bisley was terminated in 1912, but serial No. 331916 was shipped after the First World War. Most Bisley Standard Model Revolvers shipped to

6720-435: The cartridge was shortened so that it would also function in the newly adopted S & W Schofield revolver. It was designated "Revolver Cartridge" and loaded with 28 grains of black powder and a bullet of 230 grain. The Bénet-primed cartridges were manufactured until 1882 and then replaced by reloadable cartridges with brass cases and external primers. The original .45 Colt black-powder load of 40 grains (2.6 g) propelled

6825-433: The city and river. Nashua Corp. was a leading producer of floppy disks through the early 1990s, making the Nashua name well known in the world of personal computers . Defense contractor BAE Systems (formerly Sanders Associates ), computer firm Dell , and software company Oracle Corporation are the largest representatives of the high-tech industry prominent in the region. The Boston Air Route Traffic Control Center

6930-567: The city, with the Nashua line ending at the city dance hall. The trolley system decreased in popularity in the 20th century, finally closing in 1932. Efforts are being made to extend the MBTA Commuter Rail's Lowell Line from Lowell to Manchester, stopping at Nashua along the way. The state legislature created the New Hampshire Rail Transit Authority (NHRTA) in 2007 with the goal of overseeing

7035-587: The city. The eastern boundary of Nashua is formed by the Merrimack River , and the city is drained by the Nashua River and Salmon Brook , tributaries of the Merrimack. The Nashua River roughly bisects the city. Pennichuck Brook forms the city's northern boundary. The highest point in Nashua is Gilboa Hill in the southern part of the city, at 426 feet (130 m) above sea level . Nashua has

7140-432: The city. The population density was 2,719.9 inhabitants per square mile (1,050.2/km ). There were 37,168 housing units at an average density of 1,202.8 per square mile (464.4/km ). The racial makeup of the city was 83.4% White , 2.7% African American , 0.3% Native American , 6.5% Asian , 0.03% Pacific Islander , 4.6% from some other race , and 2.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 9.8% of

7245-428: The confluence of the Nashua and Merrimack rivers, Dunstable was first settled about 1654 as a fur trading town. Nashua lies approximately in the center of the original 1673 grant. In 1732, Dunstable was split along the Merrimack River , with the town of Nottingham West (now the town of Hudson, New Hampshire ) created out of the eastern portion. The previously disputed boundary between Massachusetts and New Hampshire

7350-401: The cylinder-ratchet to be cut in a larger circle, giving more torsional force to the cylinder. Four notches on the face of the hammer engage the sear portion of the trigger, affording four basic hammer positions. The hammer rests within the frame when it is fully lowered. Drawn slightly to the rear, the hammer engages the safety notch of the sear and holds the firing pin out of direct contact with

7455-405: The development of commuter rail in the state. The proposed line would connect Lowell, Massachusetts , to Bedford, New Hampshire , with the end station being near the Manchester–Boston Regional Airport . As of November, 2022, an ongoing study by AECOM and the State of New Hampshire for design and financing is due to be completed by early 2023, and the project is awaiting federal funding. Nashua

7560-675: The first commercial home video game system. The arrival of Digital Equipment Corp. , now part of Hewlett-Packard , in the 1970s made the city part of the Boston -area high-tech corridor. Nashua is in southeastern Hillsborough County. It is bordered to the south by Middlesex County, Massachusetts . According to the United States Census Bureau , the city has a total area of 31.7 square miles (82.2 km ), of which 30.8 square miles (79.9 km ) are land and 0.89 square miles (2.3 km ) are water, comprising 2.84% of

7665-694: The first units armed with the altered revolver. The Artillery Single Actions were issued to the Infantry, the Light Artillery, the Volunteer Cavalry and other troops because the standard-issue .38 caliber Colt M 1892 double-action revolver was lacking in stopping power. For that reason, the .45 Artillery SAA Revolvers were used successfully by front troops in the Spanish–American War and the Philippine–American War . Theodore Roosevelt's Rough Riders charged up San Juan Hill wielding

7770-457: The geographic center of the city, Downtown Nashua is the oldest of the commercial districts, featuring commercial, entertainment, and dining venues, near historic commercial buildings and homes as well. Recent plans have incorporated the Nashua River into the design of a pedestrian-friendly walkway. The downtown Nashua Riverwalk is a large, public/private venture funded through the use of tax increment financing (TIF). Amherst Street ( Route 101A )

7875-413: The goal of easing traffic congestion and opening up Nashua's old mill-yard as part of the city's economic development. The new parkway provides a third crossing of the Nashua River and a way for traffic to avoid Library Hill, a busy downtown intersection. The idea of a road connecting Broad Street with Hollis Street within the city had been discussed since the 1960s. Public transportation is provided by

7980-491: The hammer resting on a loaded chamber. The Colt Cowboy, as it was named, was designed to be more affordable than the Single Action Army. It was offered with barrel lengths of 4.75", 5.5", and 7.5". The 7.5" variant was discontinued in 1999, as was the 4.75" variant, which was reintroduced in 2002. Manufacturing of the Colt Cowboy was discontinued in 2003. Colt engraved about one percent of its first-generation production of

8085-502: The horse-cavalry, carried a custom-made SAA with ivory grips engraved with his initials and an eagle, which became his trademark. He used it during the Mexican Punitive Expedition of 1916 in a gunfight with two of Pancho Villa 's lieutenants and carried it until his death in 1945 shortly after the end of World War II. It remains on display, along with the SAA carried by actor George C. Scott portraying Patton in

8190-477: The last mill near Nashua closing in 1949. But then Sanders Associates , a newly created defense firm that is now part of BAE Systems , moved into one of the closed mills and helped restart the city's economy. Sanders Associates also played a key role in the development of the home video game console market. Ralph H. Baer , an employee of Sanders, developed what would become the Magnavox Odyssey ,

8295-434: The legend was roll-stamped until 1919, when the caliber designation ".44-40" was added. Later Colt M1878 Double Action Army Models also wore this designation on the barrel when chambered in .44 WCF/.44-40 Winchester. The Bisley 1895 Model was the final Colt to wear the Frontier Six Shooter designation. The 44-40 was also promoted as the standard chambering for the new, hugely successful, Winchester Model 1873 rifle. Users of

8400-516: The longer Colt cartridge and used the Smith & Wesson round exclusively. The Schofield was soon retired and sold to the civilian market. The largest group of U.S. Colt Cavalry revolvers was inspected by David F. Clark, his D.F.C. cartouche being encountered on revolvers inspected from 1880 to 1887. During 1893, the .45 U.S. Colt Single Action Army revolver was retired by the Cavalry and replaced by

8505-599: The market for SAAs was changing. In the late 1890s, with increasing urbanization in the Western United States , suggests the possibility that many of these pistols were used as companion pieces to lever-action rifles of the same period. The unique features of the Bisley with their low-slung hammer, less humped backstrap, and shorter barrel may have suited the city-dwelling suit-coat-wearing clientele who still found themselves outdoors, not only on horses but in buggies and automobiles. The need for man-stopping bullets

8610-499: The model. Calibers, at least thirty in all, ranged from .22 rimfire through .476 Eley, with approximately half, or 158,884 (including Bisley and Flat Top Target variations), chambered for .45 Colt. The next most prevalent were the .44-40 Winchester Center fire (WCF) at 71,392; 38-40 (38 WCF) at 50,520; .32-20 Winchester (32 WCF) at 43,284 and, the 41 Colt at 19,676. All original, good condition, U.S. Cavalry and Artillery Single Action Armies (those produced between 1873 and 1891) are among

8715-476: The most valuable to collectors. Especially valuable, often going for well over $ 10,000, are the OWA (Orville Wood Ainsworth) and the rare Henry Nettleton inspected Single Action Army Colts. The OWA Colt refers to the earliest issued Single Action Army guns, which were inspected by Orville W. Ainsworth. Ainsworth was the ordnance sub-inspector at the Colt factory for the first 13 months (October 1873 to November 1874) of

8820-429: The northeast along the two-lane Henri A. Burque Highway to Concord Street and then heads north into the town of Merrimack. Other New Hampshire state highways in the city include: Maps of the Nashua area often show a stretch of freeway forming a circumferential highway through Nashua and the neighboring town of Hudson . Only a small section of the south end of this highway (Exit 2 off U.S. Route 3 ) has been built, and it

8925-539: The now bankrupt Boston Surface Railroad Company for the creation of a rail line. The fire department of Nashua, Nashua Fire, has 176 full-time members and is responsible for 31.9 square miles (83 km ), protecting a population of 91,322. In the city, there are six stations. There is one fire chief, one assistant chief, and four deputy chiefs. The department has six engines, three ladder trucks, one haz-mat/rescue truck (known as Special Hazards 1), two brush trucks, two spare engines, and one spare ladder truck. Nashua uses

9030-565: The original style removable/replaceable cylinder bushing. The serial number for this series started at S02001A and continue to use the "S" prefix and "A" suffix as of 2022. Colt currently offers the Single Action Army in one of two finishes: either an all-nickel, or blued with color case-hardened frame; in the traditional three barrel lengths: 4 + 3 ⁄ 4 ,  5 + 1 ⁄ 2 , and 7 + 1 ⁄ 2 inches (12, 14, and 19 cm); and eight chamberings: .32-20, .38-40, .44-40, .38 Special, .357 Magnum, .44 Special, .45 Colt, or .45 ACP;

9135-485: The original thin blade and notch. The revolvers remained essentially unchanged from that point until cessation of manufacture at the beginning of World War II. From 1873 through 1940 (with small numbers assembled during and after World War II, the so-called "Pre-War, Post-War" model), production of the Colt Single Action Army reached 357,859. This is identified as the "Pre War" or "First Generation" of

9240-410: The population. There were 35,044 households, out of which 28.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.9% were married couples living together, 11.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.6% were non-families. 29.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and

9345-465: The primer pocket is surrounded by solid brass instead of protruding into the powder chamber. This "solid head" case is stronger and resists deformation of the primer pocket. Some commercial and custom revolvers and single-shot pistols (such as the Ruger Blackhawk, T/C Contender and others) employ high-pressure loads that are dangerous in the Single Action Army and other vintage arms chambered for

9450-438: The range of 0001SA to 73,205SA. Due to the popularity of the television show The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp , Colt introduced the aforementioned Buntline Special as a Second generation offering from 1957 to 1974. From 1961 to 1975, Colt offered an adjustable-sight model known as "The New Frontier", capitalizing on President John F. Kennedy 's campaign slogan. Colt manufactured 4200 of these revolvers, including 70 built on

9555-500: The remaining revolvers were sold in the civilian market. The Single Action Army became available in standard barrel lengths of 4 + 3 ⁄ 4 inch, 5 + 1 ⁄ 2 inch, as well as the Cavalry standard, original 7 + 1 ⁄ 2 inch. The shorter barrelled revolvers are sometimes called the "Civilian" or "Gunfighter" model ( 4 + 3 ⁄ 4 inch) and the Artillery Model ( 5 + 1 ⁄ 2 inch). There

9660-400: The revolver is ready to fire. Cartridge ejection is via the spring-loaded rod housed in a tube on the right side of the barrel. It is possible to fire the SAA rapidly by holding down the trigger and "fanning" the hammer with the other hand. Ed McGivern dispelled the myth of the inaccuracy of this procedure by shooting tight groups while fanning the revolver. By 1878, the Single Action Army

9765-407: The revolvers to enhance performance and experimented with more effective ammunition. At the beginning of the 21st century, first- and second-generation SAAs are highly regarded as collectors' items and often considered too valuable to shoot. Nashua, New Hampshire Nashua ( / ˈ n æ ʃ ə w ʌ / ) is a city in southern New Hampshire , United States. As of the 2020 census , it had

9870-516: The southern part kept the name Nashua. Six railroad lines crossed the mill town , namely the Nashua and Lowell , Worcester and Nashua , Nashua and Acton, Nashua and Wilton, Concord and Nashua, and Rochester railroads. Like the rival Amoskeag Manufacturing Company upriver in Manchester , the Nashua mills prospered until about World War I , after which a slow decline set in. Water power

9975-402: The standard military service revolver. Production began in 1873 with the Single Action Army model 1873, also referred to as the "New Model Army Metallic Cartridge Revolving Pistol". The first production Single Action Army, serial number 1, thought lost for many years after its production, was found in a barn in Nashua , New Hampshire, in the early 1900s. This gun was chambered in .44 S&W,

10080-475: The tests, the Colt was declared the superior revolver and the government specified that a .45 caliber cartridge would be required. With the adoption of the Colt Single Action Army revolver in 1873, the service cartridges were Copper-cased .45 centerfire Benét inside primed "Colt's Revolver Cartridges" loaded with 30 grains of black powder and an inside lubricated bullet of 250 grain. They were manufactured at Frankford Arsenal , Philadelphia, PA, through 1874. In 1875,

10185-521: The war. When the war ended, no plans were made to revive the Single Action Army revolver as the design was seen as obsolete. However, the advent of television and Western-themed movies created customer demand for the revolver, so Colt resumed manufacture in 1956 with the Second-Generation line of Single Action Army revolvers. These Second-Generation Colt Single Action Army revolvers were produced from 1956 to 1974 and carried serial numbers in

10290-461: Was 22 or 28 in (56 or 71 cm). Reproduction Lightning rifles are still manufactured today by companies such as Uberti , Taurus , and Pedersoli for hunting, historical reenactment , and competition purposes such as Cowboy Action Shooting in calibers such as .38 Special / .357 Magnum , .44-40 , and .45 Colt . Of these calibers, only the .44-40 was offered in the Lightning when it

10395-471: Was a Colt's 1873 "Model P" type revolver manufactured in .44-40 Winchester caliber instead of .45 Colt (in which configuration it was called the Single Action Army ) so that it was compatible with Winchester Model 1873 ammunition. Production began in 1877. Colt Frontier Six-Shooter was the actual name of the Colt pistol model, and this was acid-etched on the left side of the barrel. After 1889,

10500-408: Was also a variant with a sub-4-inch barrel, without an ejector rod, unofficially called the "Sheriff's Model", "Banker's Special", or "Storekeeper". From 1875 until 1880 Colt marketed a single-action revolver chambered in .44 Henry in a separate number range from no. 1 to 1,863. A "Flattop Target Model" was listed in Colt's catalogs from 1890 to 1898. Colt manufactured 914 of these revolvers with

10605-477: Was being offered from the factory in additional calibers for civilian and foreign military sales. Many were sold in .44-40 Winchester Winchester Center Fire (WCF), introduced in 1878 to allow cross-compatibility with the Winchester '73 lever-action rifle; this model was called the " Colt Frontier Six-Shooter ", which was etched and later roll-stamped on the left side of the barrel. Additional period calibers for

10710-666: Was decreasing in urbanized environments, although in semi-urban areas, a pistol like the Bisley would be suitable for discouraging both four-legged and two-legged "varmints" while also suitable for collecting supper along the road. The Bisley may mark a movement to a more civilized West. Wyatt Earp biographer Stuart N. Lake popularized the myth of the Buntline Special. In his highly fictionalized biography, Wyatt Earp: Frontier Marshal , published in 1931, he wrote that Earp and four other lawmen— Bat Masterson , Bill Tilghman, Charlie Bassett and Neal Brown—were each presented with

10815-412: Was fixed in 1741 when the governorships of the two provinces were separated. As a result, the township of Dunstable was divided in two. Tyngsborough and some of Dunstable remained in Massachusetts, while Dunstable, New Hampshire , was incorporated in 1746 from the northern section of the town. Like many 19th century riverfront New England communities, New Hampshire's Dunstable was developed during

10920-476: Was originally produced by Colt. Colt Single Action Army The Colt Single Action Army (also known as the SAA , Model P , Peacemaker , or M1873 ) is a single-action revolver handgun . It was designed for the U.S. government service revolver trials of 1872 by Colt's Patent Firearms Manufacturing Company (today known as Colt's Manufacturing Company ) and was adopted as the standard-issued revolver of

11025-522: Was replaced with newer forms of energy to run factories, such as coal, and cotton could be manufactured into fabric where it grew, saving transportation costs. In 1922, it was affected by the 1922 New England Textile Strike , shutting down the mills in the city over an attempted wage cut and hours increase. The textile business started moving to the South during the Great Depression , with

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