The Taylors & Company Smoke Wagon is a .44-40 WIN single-action revolver with a 5.5-inch barrel, blued barrel, color case-hardened steel frame, and checkered walnut grip. It's designed for cowboy action shooting and collecting, chambered in the same caliber that Winchester lever-action rifles and Colt SAA revolvers shared in the 1870s and 1880s. 
 

Key Specifications 

• Model: Smoke Wagon 
• Caliber: .44-40 WIN 
• Action: Single Action (SAO) 
• Barrel Length: 5.5 inches 
• Capacity: 6 rounds 
• Weight: 2.30 lbs 
• Sights: Blade Front, Open Groove Rear 
• Grip Material: Checkered Walnut 
• Finish: Blued / Color Case Hardened Steel 
   

Detailed Features 

The .44-40 Winchester Center Fire cartridge was introduced in 1873 and chambered in both the Winchester Model 1873 rifle and the Colt SAA revolver. Having the same caliber in both firearms was a significant practical advantage on the frontier. The Smoke Wagon continues that tradition as a revolver companion for .44-40 lever-actions. 
 
The color case-hardened frame provides the mottled heat-treatment finish characteristic of 19th-century revolvers. The blued barrel pairs well visually and is mechanically correct for the period. 
 
The checkered walnut grip holds securely and fills the hand. The blade front and open groove rear sights are historically accurate and get the shooter on target efficiently. 
 
At 2.30 lbs, the Smoke Wagon is a comfortable weight for extended range or competition use. 
 

Target Audience 

Cowboy action shooters who want revolver/rifle caliber parity with a .44-40 lever-action, and collectors who want the combination of color case-hardening and period-correct caliber. The .44-40 chambering is specific enough that it's primarily chosen by buyers who have a deliberate reason for the cartridge. 
 

Usage Scenarios 

• Cowboy Action Shooting: .44-40 caliber parity with a Winchester lever-action is a traditional cowboy action combination. 
• Historical Reenactments: The finish and caliber are period-correct for 1870s-1880s Western scenarios. 
• Collecting: The color case-hardened frame and caliber authenticity make this a historically grounded display piece.

The Taylors Smoke Wagon in .44-40 WIN attracts shooters and collectors who are specifically drawn to the historical caliber and its association with the lever-action/revolver combination of the 1870s frontier.

The .44-40 chambering is the most-discussed distinguishing feature. Cowboy action shooters who run a Winchester or Rossi .44-40 lever-action mention the cartridge parity as the primary reason to choose this revolver over .45 Colt alternatives. It simplifies ammunition management for single-caliber setups.

The color case-hardened finish gets consistent positive mentions. Owners find the frame finish attractive and historically appropriate. The blued barrel is described as clean and well-executed.

Reliability and action smoothness are reported positively. Users who shoot it regularly in competition note the action functions consistently and the trigger is appropriate for SAO revolver work.

The .44-40 caliber's ammunition availability is mentioned as a practical consideration. It's less common on store shelves than .45 Colt, and many Smoke Wagon owners handload. This is a known trade-off for choosing a historically specific cartridge over more common alternatives.

Excellent is the one word that keeps coming to mind with this revolver. My reaction is uncomplicated and completely positive. The whole revolver simply struck me as excellent from the outset, and that feeling has remained clear. It goes beyond ordinary approval and sums up my personal impression more honestly than a string of extra adjectives could. Whenever I consider how to describe the revolver, I arrive back at precisely the same conclusion. Nothing about my reaction feels mixed or uncertain. This is an excellent revolver, full stop, and that immediate enthusiasm still captures my view better than any longer description ever could.