Cowboy guns have a strange magic about them. They are loved by many, adored since their inception, and coveted by shooters all over the world. There is something undeniably compelling about nineteenth-century technology harnessed with modern metallurgy and offered brand new today. It speaks to childhood memories of cap guns and Saturday matinees, while also appealing to seasoned shooters who simply want to experience the past with real steel in their hands. When the Cimarron Bad Boy arrives, even the box tells that story. The history leaps off the glossy cardboard in a way that feels more like an invitation than packaging.
Historical Accuracy in Practice
Before diving into the revolver itself, it is worth understanding the company behind it. Cimarron Firearms was founded in the early 1980s with a very specific mission: to faithfully reproduce the classic firearms of the American frontier. Rather than importing generic replicas, Cimarron built its reputation on obsessive historical accuracy. The company studies original Colt, Winchester, and Remington examples down to markings, finishes, grip profiles, and mechanical details.
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To achieve this level of fidelity, Cimarron works closely with select international manufacturers such as Uberti and Pietta to produce firearms that mirror original nineteenth-century designs while benefiting from modern metallurgy and quality control. Once these revolvers arrive stateside, Cimarron inspects and finishes each gun to its own standards before it ever reaches a dealer’s shelf. That focus on authenticity has made Cimarron a cornerstone brand for collectors, cowboy action shooters, historians, and anyone who appreciates the mechanical artistry of early American arms.
Bad Boy History
The Cimarron Bad Boy is a fascinating outgrowth of that philosophy. It is a modern interpretation of the classic octagonal barrel revolver, built on a pre-war frame with an Army grip and flat-top profile with adjustable sights. Originally released in 2017, the Bad Boy entered the market chambered in .44 Magnum and offered with 6 or 8 inch barrels. It was already an unusual pairing, marrying a true Old West profile with a hard-hitting modern cartridge. In early 2020, the concept took a sharp turn when Ted Nugent, a longtime Cimarron fan, challenged the company to offer the Bad Boy in his favorite cartridge, the 10mm Auto. Cimarron went a step further and introduced a convertible .38-40 cylinder alongside it.
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Bridge the Gap
That decision reflects Cimarron’s ability to blend old-world styling with modern ballistic performance in a way few companies would even attempt. The logic behind the pairing is clever and surprisingly practical. Shooters gain access to a powerful, widely available modern cartridge in 10mm for defensive and field use, while also retaining the option to step back into a historically significant frontier cartridge for traditional shooting. The .38-40 Winchester was once a dominant revolver and lever gun cartridge across the American West.
Today, it offers softer recoil, lower velocity, and a distinctly old-school shooting experience. The 10mm, by contrast, delivers flat-shooting energy, deep penetration, and widespread commercial support. The convertible Bad Boy effectively bridges two very different eras of handgun design in a single revolver.
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Cimarron even offers a Picatinny rail for the Bad Boy. My sample did not include one, but a pistol scope or micro red dot mounted on this platform would be a fascinating addition. It would tilt the revolver even further into modern field utility without stripping away its classic identity. As it ships, the Bad Boy keeps its period look intact while offering plenty of modern capability.
Under the Hammer
There are always questions surrounding older action styles, lockwork, and safety. This revolver follows the 1873 pattern on a pre-war frame. That means it is built on the same basic design and proportions as the original Colt Single Action Army introduced in 1873, before modern internal safeties and post-war dimensional changes appeared. The 1873 pattern refers to the classic Old West single-action layout with fixed sights, a four-click hammer, and traditional internal geometry.
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The pre-war frame indicates slimmer, historically accurate contours, grip angle, and cylinder window dimensions compared to later, slightly beefed-up designs. In hand, this translates to a revolver that not only looks authentic but balances and points like an original frontier Colt.
Hammer Mounted Firing Pin
One important detail that flows from this design is the traditional hammer-mounted firing pin. This makes the revolver a six-shot cylinder that is safely carried with five. That is not a flaw or an oversight. It is a defining feature of the original system and part of the revolver’s mechanical honesty. The Bad Boy weighs 2 pounds 12.8 ounces empty. It features an adjustable rear sight and a dovetail front sight. The single-action design is smooth, and the trigger averaged 4 pounds flat across six pulls measured with my Lyman trigger gauge. It is crisp and consistent, exactly what you want from a revolver that invites deliberate shooting.
On the test sample, I received, there were some cycling issues and light strikes. I completed what tests I could and mailed the gun back. Cimarron was attentive to the fix and turned around the Bad Boy quickly. Once the gun was returned, the action was solid, and the lock-up issues were remedied. The following tests were completed after the gun was returned.
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Range Time
On the range, the Bad Boy truly came together. I had a full day planned and brought several other handguns along with a rifle. Wilson Combat’s 155-grain 10mm XTP has performed exceptionally well in nearly every 10mm platform I have tested, so I started there. I loaded a cylinder and settled in at 50 feet. The first two rounds landed cleanly inside the 10 ring. With curiosity firmly engaged, I decided to stretch the distance. I lined up on a plate at 82 yards and took a shot at steel and heard the unmistakable ping ring back. I was pleasantly surprised.
The range feel of this revolver is something that has to be experienced to be fully appreciated. The octagonal barrel places a significant amount of weight forward.
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At nearly three pounds, the gun is not light, but there are many heavier single-action revolvers that do not shoot nearly as softly. Whatever the balance of mass and geometry is here, Cimarron found something special. This is the least amount of felt recoil I have experienced in a single-action revolver of this size.
A Case for the Case
These revolvers are typically chambered in .44 Magnum, a cartridge well known for its sharp recoil impulse in traditional single actions. Allow me to make a brief case for the 10mm chambering in this platform. During recent testing for Ballistics Best, I ran a middle-of-the-road .44 Magnum load from HSM using a 300-grain XTP at 1050 feet per second. That translated to 734.26 foot-pounds of energy.
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By comparison, the 155-grain Wilson Combat 10mm XTP from the Bad Boy clocked 1375.2 feet per second and generated 650.84 foot-pounds of energy. One of the Lehigh Defense loads went even further, coming in at 867 foot-pounds. The takeaway is clear. The 10mm comfortably occupies the lower and middle end of .44 Magnum ballistic territory, with less recoil.
Load Data
I brought a wide spread of ammunition to test and captured all velocities using my Garmin Xero chronograph. The 155-grain Wilson Combat load was my favorite from this revolver, but there was not a truly bad performer in the group.
| HOP Munitions 180gr TMJ | 1250.3 fps | 624.37 ft/lbs |
| Wilson Combat 140gr TAC XP | 1411.9 fps | 619.56 ft/lbs |
| Wilson Combat 155gr XTP | 1375.2 fps | 650.84 ft/lbs |
| Wilson Combat 180gr XTP | 1274.3 fps | 648.59 ft/lbs |
| Lehigh Defense 115gr XD | 1843.0 fps | 867.16 ft/lbs |
| Lehigh Defense 150g XD | 1434.0 fps | 648.76 ft/lbs |
| HSM 38/40 Cowboy 180g Lead | 767.0 | 235.08 ft/lbs |
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Those numbers tell an interesting story. The modern 10mm loads deliver serious field performance in a revolver traditionally associated with the black powder era. The .38-40, by contrast, shifts the revolver into a completely different character. With dramatically reduced recoil and energy, it becomes a light, pleasant, historically flavored shooter. For reloaders, this revolver is a dream. You can tailor loads across a massive performance envelope, from gentle plinking rounds to serious field medicine. Very few handguns allow that level of flexibility without changing platforms entirely.
Pure Versatility
What surprised me most about the Bad Boy was how naturally it fits into multiple roles. At first glance, it would be easy to dismiss a revolver like this as a novelty piece aimed at Western reenactors and display cases. In reality, it occupies a very different space. The cool factor is undeniable, but the performance is real. It chambers a modern, relevant cartridge. The gun can be converted to a historic plinking round. Cimarron offers adjustable sights and modern steel. It balances beautifully. The gun shoots accurately at distances that have no right to feel easy. It also feels at home in a holster.
This is not a decorative wall hanger. This is a working revolver that just happens to wear nineteenth-century clothes. Good hits on a four-inch steel plate at 82 yards were not a fluke. The Bad Boy repeatedly delivered solid performance with a wide variety of ammunition. That places it squarely in the hybrid category. It is a collector’s gun, a range gun, and a legitimate hunting sidearm all at once.
Convertible Cylinder
The convertible cylinder adds a layer of romance, but it also brings pragmatic value. Landing at $864 MSRP, it’s priced right for casual range days, new shooters, or anyone who simply wants to enjoy the rhythm of a single-action without heavy recoil. The .38-40 is a joy. For serious field use, the 10mm is ready to work. That duality is rare, and it is executed here with a level of care that reflects Cimarron’s broader philosophy.
Cimarron Bad Boy
The Cimarron Bad Boy was a genuine surprise. It challenges the assumption that replica firearms are destined to be more show than go. This revolver exists on a different level. It blends style, ballistic performance, and mechanical authenticity in a way that feels almost rebellious in today’s market. It is quirky in the best way, useful in ways you would not initially expect, and beautiful in a way that other modern designs simply are not.
I am not certain Cimarron will ever see this one again. It fits too comfortably into too many roles. It might just have to stay here with me for a while.
For more information, visit Cimarron.
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