[Jeff Higgins]

The traditional companion piece to the lever gun is the single action revolver. The Ruger Blackhawk (adjustable sights) or Vaquero (fixed sights) represent the biggest bang for the buck. The Blackhawk is available in blued or stainless; the Vaquero in blued/case hardened or polished stainless. I have several versions of both, and rely upon them as my "every day" guns. They get shot the most; they get carried the most. Accurate and absolutely indestructable.

Other single actions available today are the original Colt Peacemaker and its various replicas. Stay away from the Italian replicas - Uberti, Pedersoli, and the like. They are of far lower quality than the American made replicas and, of course, the real Colts. United States Firearms is generally acknowledged as producing some the best single actions today, possibly ever. They are up to a standard of fit and finish not seen since the pre-war Colts. As for Colt, they seem to finally be digging themselves out of a pretty deep hole. The single actions they have produced in the last couple of years are every bit as good as the U.S. Firearms guns, and possibly even their own pre-war guns. A little more spendy than the latter, as there seems to still be a premium on the prancing pony, but there is nothing like a real Colt.

Single actions are great "fun" guns for gravel pit or desert plinking. There is an air of nostalgia about them that makes them a bit more appealing to some. Most folks fire revolvers single action anyway, regardless if it is actually a double action. Granted, the single action is slower to load and reload, but in an afternoon plinking session, who really cares?