Cardboard SAA Colt .45

Little bit o' background: The Single Action Army (SAA) Colt .45 revolver was designed in 1872 for the US military, chambered in .45 Long Colt primarily, though it has been converted for lots of other calibers as well. I'm not gonna list them all; it takes too long. It's a single-shot, 6 round (for .45) revolver, 10.25, 11, or 13 inches long.

THIS IS A POTENTIALLY CONTROVERSIAL TOY. DO NOT BRING IT INTO PUBLIC, DO NOT POINT IT AT OTHER PEOPLE. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED. OF YOU DO SOMETHING STUPID AND GET INTO TROUBLE WITH THIS TOY, I AM NOT TO BLAME.

This is a great toy for a young kid in the Cowboys and Indians Phase. I very much enjoyed this phase in life. Also, for gun or Wild West enthusiasts, this is a good model project. Have fun and don't use this to rob a store. In fact, don't rob the blasted store!

Stuff U need:

Hobby

Knoife Scissors

Glue (Hot glue is optional but recommended)

Ruler

Pen/pencil

Picture of the desired pistol

Cardboard (single ply, shoebox)

Link to 3d model, courtesy of Sketchfab.com: https://sketchfab.com/3d-models/colt-single-actio...

First: draw a grid on the cardboard, inches X inches. It depends on the picture of the pistol, whether its 10.25, 11 pr 13 inches, but draw out a similar grid on the picture of the pistol. My pistol was 10.25 inches, so the picture had 10 and a quarter squares drawn on it lengthwise. See thuh picture.

Next cut out the main body, including half the barrel, excluding, the hammer (if you want a moving hammer), the cylinder, and the trigger housing. Next, trace the main body 2 more times. At this point, make the hammer. Trace the hammer twice. Glue it together. Wrap the exposed cardboard edges it a very thin layer of shoebox cardboard. See pics.

Now, that you have a three layer hammer, and a three layer body, trace the body and include the section that covers part of the hammer. See pic. Make two if these tracings. Glue it together, leaving the hammer loose in its socket. Stick a wire through the side through the hammer, making an axle to hold it place. Trace the body twice more, and glue the layers on either side. Move on.

Glue a thin strip of cardboard on either side of the handle to provide a round shape to it.

Take a piece of single ply cardboard. It has two layer of thin cardboard paper with a layer of ruffled paper between them. Tear off one layer of cardboard paper, and wrap the handle with that single layer. Make sure it looks as smooth as possible.

Now, take a 4 inch (This refers to my 10.25 inch revolver only, it will be longer on the other versions of the pistol (duh)) strip of shoebox cardboard, and wrap it around the barrel section. Put a cap over the front and cut an 11 millimeter hole in it (11 millimeters is roughly .45 cal.) If you own guns, perhaps a .45 cal pistol, use a .45 cartridge as a size guide for the barrel and cylinder. (By the way, if you have an actual SAA Colt .45 revolver (dang Im jealous) this build will be a heck of a lot easier if you use it as reference) A 10 mm or 7.62 cartridge will suffice too.

Coat the inside of the cylinder housing with cardboard paper. Glue a cylinder to the back of the housing. Now size the cylinder properly, and cut out 2 circles of shoebox cardboard. Also cut out a 1 inch wide 6 inch long strip of shoebox cardboard. Punch 11 mm holes in one of the circles. That will be the side closest to the barrel.

Wrap the long strip around the two circles. See the pics for reference. Now cut 6 grooves equally placed apart around the cylinder. Now glue the cylinder in the housing, making sure it is even on both sides.

Cut out two semicircles of shoebox cardboard and glue them next to the hammer. You will understand what I mean if you studied pictures of the pistol from all angles. These pieces blend the cylinder with the rest of the gun, giving it a gentle curve into the hammer section. (Note: Revolvers are hard to make, because they usually have difficult curves and are fitted to the shape of a human hand)

Cut a 10 inch strip of shoebox cardboard and fold it in half. Glue it together. This will be the trigger guard. Do the same for the trigger, just smaller. Make a hole where the trigger goes, and glue it in. It will now flex like a real trigger, and won't come out. Do the same for the trigger guard.

Next, glue a very thin tube of shoebox cardboard onto the 8 o'clock position on the side of the barrel. This is the part of the gun that holds a rod to poke out spent shells from the cylinder. Watch a video on SAA Colt .45 anatomy if you want to understand how it works.

Cut a deep groove into the very top of the gun on top of the cylinder housing. This is the rear sight. Glue a front sight fin onto the top of the barrel.

WARNING: TREAT THIS LIKE A REAL WEAPON. DO NOT POINT IT AT PEOPLE, OR USE IN A THREATENING MANNER. IF MAKING THIS FOR A YOUNG KID, DO NOT PAINT, OR IF YOU DO, PAINT THE FRONT OF THE BARREL ORANGE FOR SAFETY.

Good job, you finished, and paid attention to my warnings. And if you didn't pay attention GO BACK AND READ MY WARNINGS!!!!!!!!

Signing off,

The Cardboard Armorer