In 1954, William R. Wilson founded the Great Western Arms Company with financial backing from a doctor and 2 NFL Football players: Dan Reeves and Dan Fortmann to produce an almost-exact clone of the old Colt SAA for television and movie westerns. Great Western revolvers were made in the same three standard barrel lengths as the Colt Single Action Army: 43⁄4 inch, 51⁄2 inch, and 71⁄2 inch, plus a 121⁄2 inch Buntline Special. They were chambered in .22 long rifle, .38 Special, .357 Magnum, .44 Special, .44 Magnum and .45 Colt. They became popular for use in the sport of Fast Draw.