2/25/1836: Colt patents the "gun that won the West"

[Craig Tx]

On this day in 1836, Samuel Colt, of Hartford, Connecticut, patented the Colt revolver.

This invention, along with windmills and barbed wire, brought order to the Great Plains. It was eventually produced in numerous models, the most famous being that of 1871. In 1839 the Republic of Texas ordered 180 of the .36 caliber holster models for the Texas Navy. The Texas Rangers gave the Colt revolver its reputation as a weapon ideally suited for mounted combat. Frederick Law Olmsted remarked that "there were probably as many revolvers in Texas as there were males."

[Bigsmoke]

Craig, As always, another interesting article.  However, I am not familiar with the Colt 1871.  Is that the cartridge conversion of the 1860 Army?
Today, the last line could be rewritten, "There are probably as many Glocks in Los Angeles as there are gangbangers."
Anyway, keep up with the snippets from Texas history, it's great reading.  Thank you,
John

[Craig Tx]

It refers to the 1871 Open Top.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colt_Model_1871%E2%80%9372_Open_Top

[Bigsmoke]

Thank you.  Much as I thought.
I guess if I weren't so lazy, I could have looked it up myself.  Duh.
John

[Craig Tx]

Personally, I think there are three that tie for the most famous.  The Paterson, the Walker, and the Single Action Army.