There are few firearms that instantly transport you to another era quite like a Colt Single Action Army. You don’t even have to fire one. Thumb back the hammer, hear those four unmistakable clicks, and suddenly you’re debating whether to ride into Tombstone or stop for coffee first.
When I first received word that Pietta was launching Peacemaker clones under the Pietta USA banner, my curiosity was immediately piqued. Italian-made cowboy guns are nothing new, Pietta has built an outstanding reputation over the years, but seeing “Pietta USA” raised a few questions. Had the company finally planted its flag on American soil?
Naturally, I requested a pair for testing.
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When the revolvers arrived, however, they showed up in Early & Modern Firearms (EMF) packaging instead of Pietta USA boxes. That sent me down the rabbit hole with a series of phone calls and emails.
The answer was actually pretty straightforward.
The Pietta brothers, Alessandro and Alberto, acquired EMF to simplify importing their firearms into the United States. By combining Pietta manufacturing with EMF’s established distribution, warranty service and repair network, the company could offer better customer support while remaining competitively priced. Today, Pietta USA and EMF essentially operate hand-in-hand.
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Great Western II: Classic Looks, Modern Manufacturing
The two revolvers I tested, the Great Western II Californian and Great Western II U.S. Marshal, are faithful reproductions of the legendary Colt Model 1873 Single Action Army. If you’ve ever wanted a classic sixgun without taking out a second mortgage for an original Colt, these deserve your attention.
Both revolvers are chambered in .45 Colt and feature 4¾-inch hammer-forged steel barrels. Their frames begin as drop forgings before being CNC machined for consistent dimensions. Traditional Colt-style hammers with floating firing pins preserve the authentic four-click action enthusiasts expect, while slightly taller front sights paired with wider rear sight channels make these easier to shoot than many vintage originals.
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The Californian wears traditional bluing with a beautifully casehardened frame and hammer. From the moment I opened the case, the revolver simply felt right. The hammer was smooth, the action crisp, and the one-piece walnut grip nestled naturally into my hand. Sometimes a handgun just fits. The Californian did exactly that.
The U.S. Marshal takes a different approach aesthetically, pairing its casehardened frame with a brass trigger guard and backstrap. The engraved walnut grip panels featuring U.S. Marshal badges certainly make it stand out. While the fit and finish remained excellent, the revolver simply didn’t fit my hands quite as naturally.
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That’s hardly a criticism.
Anyone who’s spent time around handguns knows ergonomics are intensely personal. One shooter’s perfect grip is another shooter’s awkward handshake.
Dressing the Part
Let’s be honest, buying a classic sixgun almost obligates you to buy good leather. It’s practically written somewhere in cowboy law.
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For this review, I paired each revolver with a different rig.
The DeSantis Butch Cassidy holster and matching cartridge belt are outstanding examples of traditional cowboy leatherwork. Built from premium steerhide with 36 cartridge loops for .45 Colt, the setup looks every bit as good as it performs. It became my preferred companion for the Californian.
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For field carry, I turned to the Galco SAO Strongside/Crossdraw holster. Available for multiple barrel lengths and both left- and right-handed shooters, it incorporates adjustable retention and premium leather construction while remaining practical enough for everyday outdoor use.
Neither setup is inexpensive, but quality leather ages much like a good revolver—it simply gets better with time.
Time to Burn Powder
Paper specs only tell part of the story.
I brought both revolvers to the range and ran them through drills that included informal practice, accuracy testing and some basic drills
Using Aguila 200-grain Soft Point and Hornady 255-grain Cowboy loads, the Californian printed directly to point of aim. The U.S. Marshal consistently impacted slightly high and left, though both revolvers repeatedly delivered sub-2-inch groups.
That kind of performance is difficult to complain about from fixed-sight single actions.
I also tested CCI Big 4 .45 Colt shotshells for snakes and small pests, followed by CCI Blazer 200-grain JHPs intended for more serious defensive applications. Recovered bullets showed excellent expansion, demonstrating these old-school wheelguns can still deliver modern performance.
One particularly clever option from EMF is the available .45 ACP conversion cylinder.
Installation took only moments, allowing the Californian to digest Ammo Inc. 150-grain Streak Visual Hollow Point Frangibles and Winchester 230-grain PDX1 Defender ammunition. Both loads clustered into sub-1-inch groups, while the Streak rounds added enough visual flair to make low-light shooting downright entertaining.
The flexibility is genuinely useful. Spend Saturday shooting traditional .45 Colt cowboy loads at a match, then swap cylinders and feed it inexpensive or defensive .45 ACP at home.
That’s a versatility few classic revolvers can match.
Final Thoughts
I had an absolute blast with both revolvers.
The Great Western II line captures everything people love about traditional single-action sixguns while quietly improving the areas that matter to modern shooters. Reliability was excellent, accuracy exceeded expectations, and both revolvers delivered plenty of personality.
If forced to choose only one, I’d happily take the Californian. It simply fit me better and felt like an extension of my hand.
But that’s the beauty of revolvers like these.
Handle both before making your decision, because odds are one of them will speak to you. This is one of those times it’s perfectly acceptable to judge something solely by how it feels in your hand.
What’s Next for Pietta USA?
The partnership between Pietta USA and EMF has positioned the company to become far more than another importer of Old West replicas. Since these revolvers first debuted, Pietta has continued expanding its presence in the American market with broader dealer support, improved customer service and an ever-growing catalog that includes both historic reproductions and modern firearms.
Specifications: Pietta USA/EMF Great Western II Californian
- Caliber: .45 Colt
- Barrel: 4¾ inches
- Overall Length: 10½ inches
- Weight: 35 ounces
- Grip: Walnut
- Sights: Fixed
- Action: Single Action
- Finish: Blued with casehardened frame
- Capacity: 6 rounds
Specifications: Pietta USA/EMF Great Western II U.S. Marshal
- Caliber: .45 Colt
- Barrel: 4¾ inches
- Overall Length: 10½ inches
- Weight: 35 ounces
- Grip: Engraved walnut
- Sights: Fixed
- Action: Single Action
- Finish: Blued, casehardened with brass trigger guard and backstrap
- Capacity: 6 rounds
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