A .22 revolver in the old Colt style is about the cheapest way to enjoy a cowboy gun. Chiappa's 1873 SAA is chambered in .22 LR, has engraving on the black finish, and looks at home in a leather holster.

Because it fires the .22 Long Rifle, it is easy on the wallet and gentle on the wrist. A box of ammunition lasts a long afternoon of tin cans and paper plates, and a new shooter can learn the single-action routine without any recoil to worry about. Kids can learn the pattern before moving up to a .45 Colt or a .357.

Working the hammer and gate takes some practice, and that is part of the charm. You load one chamber at a time, cock for every shot, and carry with the hammer on an empty chamber, as people have done for a century and a half.

Keep it clean, wipe the black finish with an oily rag, and give the cylinder a drop of lubricant now and then. It ships to your FFL dealer, where the background check is completed before you take it home.