1873 Air Cartridge Pistol
The Legend Reloaded
A single-action revolver, engineered from the ground up around a reloadable air cartridge system. Made in Italy and built for the range, the backyard, and everywhere in between.
The Barra 1873 brings the look, the feel, and the ritual of the classic Old West single-action revolver into the world of precision airguns. Every detail, from the sweep of the hammer to the rotation of the cylinder, is built around an authentic single-action shooting experience: cock, aim, and fire, one deliberate shot at a time.
At the heart of the 1873 is a purpose-built air cartridge platform. Instead of a traditional reservoir or CO2 chamber, the 1873 loads six self-contained Barra Air Cartridges directly into its cylinder, just like loading rounds into a classic six-shooter. It's a shooting experience that looks and feels like history, powered by thoroughly modern air cartridge technology.
AUTHENTIC SINGLE-ACTION OPERATION
Half-cock for loading, full-cock for firing, just like the revolvers that inspired it.
TRUE SIX-SHOT CYLINDER
Loads six Barra air cartridges at a time through a classic side loading gate.
TRANSFER BAR SAFETY SYSTEM
A modern safety upgrade lets you safely carry all six chambers loaded, not five.
MADE IN ITALY
Old-world manufacturing heritage brought to an air cartridge revolver.
BRASS & STEEL DETAILING
Ejector rod housing and brass-toned accents nod to the frontier-era design.
PRECISION .22 CALIBER PERFORMANCE
Engineered for .22 caliber (5.5mm) pellets with velocities up to 550 fps.
The 1873 is designed around the Barra Air Cartridge platform. It doesn't run on standard reservoirs or loose pellets alone. Each revolver is meant to be paired with Barra Air Cartridges and the Air Cartridge Charging Manifold for the complete shooting experience. Keep scrolling to meet the rest of the system.
Air Cartridges
The power source
Self-contained, refillable air cartridges engineered specifically for the 1873. Each one is a precision-machined, reusable power source built to load, fire, and fill again and again.
Every Barra Air Cartridge is a self-contained air chamber, precision-engineered to load into the 1873's cylinder exactly like a traditional round, with nose, body, and base assembled into a single sealed unit. Instead of disposing of a spent shell, you simply unscrew the nose, drop in a fresh pellet, and refill the cartridge for the next round of shooting. Each one is a precision-machined, reusable power source built to load, fire, and fill again and again.
Inside, a precision valve pin and multi-point o-ring sealing system are engineered to hold pressure reliably across a wide performance range, from quiet, backyard-friendly plinking to full-power shooting. That range gives shooters the flexibility to dial in the exact experience they want.
FULLY RELOADABLE DESIGN
Unscrew, re-pellet, refill, and shoot again. No disposable cartridges.
WIDE FILL RANGE
Operates from 1,500 to 2,800 psi, giving shooters control over power and noise level.
BROAD AMMO COMPATIBILITY
Tuned for 9 to 18 grain wadcutter and dome-style pellets.
PRECISION VALVE PIN SYSTEM
Engineered for consistent, repeatable seating and sealing shot after shot.
THREE-POINT O-RING SEALING
Front valve, rear valve, and base o-rings work together to hold pressure securely.
BUILT FOR LONGEVITY
Durable construction designed to be inspected, cleaned, and kept in the rotation for the long haul.
From quiet plinking around the backyard to full-power target shooting, the fill pressure and pellet weight you choose let you tune every cartridge to the exact experience you're after.
Air Cartridge Charging Manifold
The charging system
Built to fill all six Barra Air Cartridges at once. Keep the 1873 loaded and ready to shoot.
The Barra Charging Manifold is purpose-built to take the hassle out of refilling. Rather than charging cartridges one at a time, the manifold holds all six cartridges from a full cylinder at once, sealing each in its own dedicated position so they can be filled simultaneously through a single, standard foster fitting connection.
A simple spring-loaded top and finger-tight screw hold everything securely in place during filling, while a full set of replaceable o-rings keeps every charging port sealed tight fill after fill. It's the connective piece that keeps the entire 1873 system running, built to work with your existing fill equipment rather than replace it.
SIMULTANEOUS SIX-CARTRIDGE FILLING
Load and fill a full cylinder's worth of cartridges in one pass.
UNIVERSAL FOSTER FITTING
Connects to standard fill equipment for straightforward charging.
SPRING-LOADED CLAMP DESIGN
A simple top-screw mechanism holds all six cartridges securely during fill.
REPLACEABLE O-RING SEALING
Dedicated o-rings at every charging port, plus screw seals, keep the system airtight.
LOW-MAINTENANCE BUILD
A quick wipe-down and an occasional drop of silicone oil is all it takes to keep it running smoothly.
PURPOSE-BUILT FOR THE 1873 SYSTEM
Designed specifically around Barra Air Cartridges for a precise, reliable fit.
The Charging Manifold is the final piece that makes the 1873 platform a true reload-and-go system. Fill a full cylinder's worth of cartridges at once, then get back to shooting.
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to common questions about the Barra 1873 Air Cartridge Pistol, Air Cartridges, and Air Cartridge Charging Manifold
What is the 1873 Air Cartridge Pistol?
The 1873 is a single-action revolver built around a reloadable air cartridge system. It's designed to capture the look and feel of a classic Old West six-shooter while running on modern, refillable air cartridges instead of a traditional reservoir or CO2.
How does the air cartridge power system work?
Instead of a built-in air reservoir, the 1873 gets its power from six individual Barra Air Cartridges. Each cartridge is a self-contained, sealed chamber of compressed air that loads into the cylinder just like a traditional round. When the hammer strikes a cartridge, it releases its stored air to fire the pellet. Once a cartridge is spent, it can be refilled and used again.
What ammunition does the 1873 use?
The 1873 is built for .22 caliber (5.5mm) pellets. Wadcutter and dome-style lead or alloy pellets in the 9 to 16 grain range perform best, and up to 18 grain is supported. Slugs and round balls are not recommended and should not be used.
How many shots can I get before I need to reload?
The cylinder holds six air cartridges at a time, giving you six shots before you need to reload with fresh cartridges.
Do I need any other products to use the 1873?
Yes. The 1873 is designed as a system. You'll need Barra Air Cartridges to load and fire the pistol, and an Air Cartridge Charging Manifold to refill those cartridges once they're spent. Both are shown above and are part of the same lineup.
How do I refill the air cartridges?
Spent cartridges connect to the Air Cartridge Charging Manifold, which holds and seals up to six cartridges at once. The manifold connects to your existing fill equipment through a standard foster fitting, letting you recharge a full cylinder's worth of cartridges in a single fill.
What fill pressure should I use?
For the best all-around experience, Barra Air Cartridges are designed to operate between 1,500 and 2,800 psi, with a hard maximum of 2,800 psi. Lower pressures in that range are better suited to quiet, indoor, or backyard shooting, while higher pressures deliver more power for plinking and target shooting outdoors.
Is the 1873 single action or double action?
Single action. The hammer must be manually cocked before each shot, just like a classic Old West revolver. It also uses a modern transfer bar safety system, which allows all six chambers to be safely loaded at once.
Where is the 1873 manufactured?
The 1873 Air Cartridge Pistol is made in Italy.
Can I use cartridges from other brands?
The 1873 is designed exclusively around Barra Air Cartridges, and Barra Air Cartridges are designed to be filled using the Barra Charging Manifold. Using other cartridges or components isn't recommended and can affect performance and safety.
How do I maintain the pistol, cartridges, and manifold?
Routine care is simple. The pistol benefits from occasional cleaning and light lubrication, the air cartridges should be kept clean and dry with their o-rings inspected periodically, and the manifold just needs a wipe down and an occasional drop of silicone oil to keep its seals in good condition.