 The Remington Army cartridge-conversions were the first large-caliber cartridge revolvers available, beating even Smith & Wesson's .44 American to market by nearly two years.Due to the large volume of these pistols, individual gunsmiths also produced cartridge conversions (from cap and ball versions) in a variety of calibers such as .44-40 and .45 Colt.William F. "Buffalo Bill" Cody used an ivory-handled New Model Army .44, serial number "73,293", from 1863 until 1906, when he gave it to his ranch foreman with a handwritten note which said that, "It never failed me."