.44 Colt

The .44 Colt is a centerfire revolver cartridge that was introduced by Colt's Patent Firearms Manufacturing Company in 1871. It was primarily designed for use in Colt's single-action revolvers, specifically the Model 1871-72 Open Top and the Single Action Army revolver (also known as the Peacemaker).

The cartridge utilized a heeled bullet, meaning the bullet's diameter was the same as the outside diameter of the cartridge case. This design was common in early cartridge technology. The .44 Colt was typically loaded with a black powder charge, although some later loadings may have utilized smokeless powder.

While it shared a similar designation to other .44 caliber cartridges of the era, the .44 Colt was distinct from the .44 Remington and other .44 caliber cartridges. Interchanging cartridges could result in damage to the firearm or injury to the shooter due to variations in case dimensions and bullet diameters.

The .44 Colt gained some popularity in the American West during the late 19th century but was eventually superseded by other cartridges, notably the .45 Colt, which offered improved ballistic performance and became a more widely adopted standard for Colt revolvers. Production of firearms chambered in .44 Colt decreased over time, and ammunition availability became limited. Today, it is considered an obsolete cartridge, and firearms chambered for it are primarily of interest to collectors and historical firearms enthusiasts.