The Taylors and Company 1873 Cattleman Birdshead is a single-action .45 Colt revolver with a 3.5-inch nickel-plated barrel and cylinder, ivory synthetic birdshead grip, and fixed blade/notched rear sights. It holds 6 rounds, weighs 2.35 lbs, and measures 9.05 inches overall. 
 

Key Specifications 

• Caliber: .45 Colt (LC) 
• Action: Single Action Only (SAO) 
• Capacity: 6 rounds 
• Barrel Length: 3.5 inches 
• Overall Length: 9.05 inches 
• Weight: 2.35 lbs 
• Sights: Fixed Blade Front / Notched Rear 
• Grip Type: Ivory Birdshead Synthetic 
• Finish: Nickel-Plated Barrel & Cylinder 
   

Features 

• Single-action mechanism with crisp trigger pull; hammer must be manually cocked for each shot. 
• Nickel-plated barrel and cylinder with corrosion resistance and high-contrast appearance. 
• Birdshead grip shape, more compact profile than a standard Colt SAA grip, favored by some for snub-nosed carry revolvers. 
• Fixed blade front and notch rear sights for quick target acquisition. 
• 3.5-inch barrel in a compact 9.05-inch package at 2.35 lbs. 
   

Use Cases 

Primarily a cowboy action shooting competition revolver and collector piece. The birdshead grip and short barrel suit concealment-oriented single-action use. The .45 Colt chambering works for range shooting with factory loads and handloads. This is not a modern carry gun; the SAO action and lack of transfer bar safety in some configurations require traditional handling practices.

Owners of the Taylors & Company 1873 Cattleman Birdshead in .45 LC tend to focus on the combination of aesthetics and feel.

The nickel finish and ivory birdshead grips draw consistent praise. Buyers who want a classic single-action revolver with visual character get exactly that. The revolver feels solid and well balanced in hand, and the trigger pull on the single-action is noted as crisp. Cowboy action shooters use it and generally find it reliable with .45 Colt loads.

Practical critiques come from those who approach it primarily as a utility gun. The 3.5-inch barrel limits velocity and effective range. Price is occasionally flagged as high for what some consider a recreation firearm. A few owners mention size and weight as factors for extended shooting sessions.

Collectors and cowboy action competitors are the clear target audience and tend to be the most satisfied. Those buying primarily for functional use sometimes find the single-action mechanism and classic-only feature set limiting compared to modern revolvers.