In addition to the standard Single Action Army the gun was offered in a handful of variants. Here's What You Need To Remember: The revolver was one of the first 'modern' pistols - and, nearly two hundred years later, one of the most widely produced in history. One of the most famous handguns of all time is the Colt Single Action Army revolver. Also known as the Peacemaker, Frontier Six-Shooter and the M1873, the Single Action Army is also a staple of Hollywood films, appearing in virtually every cowboy and western film ever made. The revolver was was used by soldiers and civilians alike, and is still in production more than 140 years after it entered U.S. Army service.