After the expiration of the Rollin White patent (which had given Smith & Wesson a monopoly on bored-through cylinders) in 1869, Colt was finally free to manufacture revolvers designed from the start for metallic cartridges. Up to this point, Colt relied on Richards and Richards-Mason conversions to adapt older percussion models to cartridge use.

In 1871, Colt introduced the Model 1871–72 Open Top, chambered in .44 Henry Rimfire, the same cartridge used in the famous Winchester Model 1866 lever-action rifle and the Henry 1860. This gave the revolver excellent ammunition compatibility on the frontier, as it meant that Trappers/Hunters could carry a single bag's worth of 44. Henry for all their firearms, allowing them to travel light.

The gun was called “Open Top” because, like the previous 1851 Navy 1860 Army, and 1861 Navy, it lacked a topstrap over the cylinder, making it structurally weaker than later designs like the 1873 Peacemaker or the New Army Remington. However, the Open Top had an improved ejector rod assembly, and fixed rear sight cut into the barrel (rather than the hammer like percussion guns and early conversions), giving it better accuracy and handling.
However, only about 7,000 Colt Open Tops were manufactured between 1872 and 1873, making it relatively scarce. Although it wasn’t in production long, it saw use by Gunfighters, Lawmen, Soldiers, and even The Mexican Goverment, not to mention it was an important transitional step that directly led to the development of the legendary Colt Single Action Army in 1873.


Nathan Algren (Tom Cruise) points his Colt at a young Japanese recruit to show Colonel Bagley and Omura that the soldiers are not ready for combat in The Last Samurai (2003)


Everett Hitch (Viggo Mortensen) draws his Colt 1871-72 Open Top when Bragg and his men enter the jail in Appalosa (2008)


Rafe Covington (Tom Selleck) holds the Colt 1871 Open Top Revolver during the final shootout in Crossfire Trail (2001)


Lt. Jim Ducharme (Val Kilmer) carries a Colt 1872 open top revolver in The Missing (2003)

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