Cimarron 1847 Walker

The Cimarron 1847 Walker is the most historically faithful reproduction of the original Walker Colt revolver—the imposing 9” barrel, 72 oz single-action that was the most powerful handgun in the world when Sam Walker and Samuel Colt designed it in 1847. Cimarron’s reproduction ships with a cap-and-ball black powder cylinder featuring roll-engraved scenes accurate to the original. Period-correct barrel stampings and wooden grips complete an authentic package that satisfies both the serious collector and the historically-minded shooter.

Read our full Cimarron 1847 Walker Buying Guide ↓

Historical Significance: Why the Walker Still Matters

The 1847 Walker was the product of a collaboration between Texas Ranger Captain Samuel Hamilton Walker and Samuel Colt—designed to address the limitations of the earlier Colt Paterson by creating the most powerful handgun available to mounted cavalry. At 4.5 lbs loaded and firing a .44 caliber ball with a heavy black powder charge, the Walker generated muzzle energy exceeding many rifle cartridges of the era. Only 1,100 originals were manufactured and fewer than 200 are known to survive; an original Walker in good condition is worth hundreds of thousands of dollars. The Cimarron reproduction provides the closest available approximation of the original for a fraction of that cost.

Cap-and-Ball Operation

The Walker’s primary cylinder fires cap-and-ball black powder loads—the loading method used before self-contained metallic cartridges existed. Each of the six chambers is loaded individually by measuring black powder, seating a lead ball over the powder with the loading lever, and placing a percussion cap on the nipple behind each chamber. This process takes several minutes but is an authentic historical experience. The Cimarron Walker uses standard #11 percussion caps available at most gun stores and accepts commercially cast .454” round balls or conical bullets. Black powder or Pyrodex substitute is appropriate; do not use smokeless powder in cap-and-ball cylinders.

The .45 Colt Conversion Cylinder - Some newer models in 2026 only

Some newer versions of the Cimarron 1847 Walker ship with an interchangeable .45 Colt conversion cylinder that allows the Walker to fire modern metallic cartridges without modification to the firearm. The conversion cylinder replaces the cap-and-ball cylinder entirely, converting the Walker to a single-action .45 Colt revolver that loads from the rear like any modern SAA. Standard .45 Colt ammunition fires reliably; standard-pressure loads are recommended. The conversion cylinder ships fitted to the specific revolver and should not be interchanged between different Walker revolvers. This dual-cylinder system makes the Cimarron Walker practical for regular shooting use rather than limiting it to black powder sessions only, but it must transfer to a regular FFL.

Size, Weight, and Handling

The Walker is the largest and heaviest production revolver in Cimarron’s lineup at 15.75” overall length and 72 oz unloaded. It is not a carry gun—it was designed for cavalry holster carry on horseback, where size and weight were less important than power. For modern use, it is primarily a range shooter, display piece, and historical curiosity. The weight, paradoxically, makes it pleasant to shoot with full black powder loads because the mass absorbs recoil effectively. For collectors of frontier-era firearms or buyers who want the most historically significant revolver reproduction available, the Walker stands alone.

See the standard SAA family on the Cimarron Model P page, browse the full Cimarron lineup, or explore black powder pistols.