Cimarron Model P .45 Colt
Model: MP512
Cimarron Model P .45 Colt
Model: MP512
Full Specifications
About This Firearm
Cimarron's business model is finding the best Italian SAA clones, importing them under the Cimarron name, and selling them at meaningfully lower cost than a Colt-marked equivalent. The Model P is the bread-and-butter of that catalog — a Pietta-built reproduction of the standard 1873 Colt Single Action Army with the 4.75" "Civilian" barrel length, case-hardened frame, charcoal-blue barrel and cylinder, and a 1-piece walnut grip. The dimensions and handling characteristics match a Colt SAA closely enough that holsters and loading procedures translate directly.
Pietta began producing revolver replicas in 1964 and has been building SAA clones for decades; the fit and finish on current production is meaningfully better than the rough-edged imports of earlier generations. Compared to the Uberti El Patron (Uberti's premium-tier offering), the standard Cimarron Model P comes with a less-tuned action and fixed-pattern sights rather than El Patron's enlarged easy-view profile. The standard Model P is the entry point to the SAA-clone market; El Patron is the upgrade.
The half-cock safety and traditional five-round carry practice apply here just as they do to a Colt. The Model P uses the same hammer-down-on-empty-chamber loading procedure that has governed SAA carry since 1873. For a buyer who wants the SAA experience in .45 Colt without writing a check for a Colt-marked gun, the Pietta-built Cimarron Model P is the historically and mechanically faithful choice. Owners commonly describe handling and accuracy as indistinguishable from a Colt at typical cowboy-action distances.
Best For
Strengths & Limitations
- Pietta-built SAA clone with dimensions and handling that match a Colt SAA closely enough that holsters and loading practice translate directly
- Charcoal-blue barrel and case-hardened frame give the traditional 1873 finish combination without paying Colt prices
- Standard SASS-legal configuration as shipped — no modifications needed to compete in main-match cowboy action
- Standard production action is functional but coarser than the tuned Uberti El Patron; many owners eventually pay for an action job
- Half-cock notch safety means the same five-on-an-empty-chamber loading practice as a Colt, without the safety benefits of a Ruger transfer bar
Category Rankings
How the Cimarron Model P .45 Colt ranks among full-size .45 Colt handguns.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the first upgrade most Cimarron Model P owners do?
An action job. The stock Pietta action functions but is heavier and rougher than the tuned actions on premium SAA clones or a custom-worked Colt. Specialists like Bob Munden Gunworks, Long Hunter Shooting Supply, or local cowboy-action gunsmiths offer "short-stroke" or "slick-up" packages that lighten the trigger pull, smooth the hammer cocking stroke, and tune the timing. Many competitive cowboy shooters consider this the difference between a Model P that's functional and one that's truly fast.
Are Cimarron Model Ps made by Pietta or Uberti?
Cimarron imports SAA clones from both Italian makers and labels them under different product lines. The Model P (MP512 and similar SKUs) is Pietta-built; Uberti-built guns appear in other Cimarron product lines like the Frontier and certain Pistolero variants. Pietta and Uberti both produce excellent clones, with slight differences in finish quality and action feel that owners debate. The Model P with this Pietta sourcing is one of Cimarron's most popular SKUs.
Will Colt SAA parts fit a Pietta-built Cimarron Model P?
Some parts are interchangeable, many are not. Pietta builds to original Colt dimensions for the major frame and cylinder features, but internal parts (sears, springs, hammers, screws) are made to Pietta's own tolerances. Aftermarket parts specifically labeled for the Pietta SAA clone are widely available from makers like Powder River Precision and Wolff Springs. Trying to fit a Colt internal part without gunsmith fitting is a recipe for problems.
