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."

Craig's note:  This was, of course, the Paterson.

[rollingb]

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."

Craig's note:  This was, of course, the Paterson.

Yes,.... the only revolver that is acceptable at pre-1840 reenactments because of it's early 1836 patent date.   

[Butler Ford 40]

One of my two heroes! The other, of course, John M Browning. 

[Bigsmoke]

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."

Craig's note:  This was, of course, the Paterson.

Yes,.... the only revolver that is now acceptable at pre-1840 reenactments because of it's early 1836 patent date.   

I am trying to think of any recent rendezvous that I have attended that the Patterson revolver was acceptable at.  And I come up blank.

Back in my early days of attending rendezvous, it was pretty common to see revolvers at most any RDV.  But then the thread counters became more numerous and that freedom evaporated.  No more wheel guns allowed.  Oh well... 

I recollect one time at Ft. Bridger I had brought a box full of Uberti revolvers, only to find that all revolvers were taboo.  so, I left them in that big box and went about my business.  Lo and behold, one afternoon a fellow came by and said he was looking for a Remington, and I invited him behind my counter and dug one out of the box.  Amazingly enough, along came the merchandise gestapo and started reaming me a new one about having contraband merchandise for sale.  I nicely invited him to leave me alone and vacate my premises.  FWIW, I have never been back to Bridger since then. 

John (Bigsmoke)

[rollingb]

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."

Craig's note:  This was, of course, the Paterson.

Yes,.... the only revolver that is now acceptable at pre-1840 reenactments because of it's early 1836 patent date.   

I am trying to think of any recent rendezvous that I have attended that the Patterson revolver was acceptable at.  And I come up blank.

Back in my early days of attending rendezvous, it was pretty common to see revolvers at most any RDV.  But then the thread counters became more numerous and that freedom evaporated.  No more wheel guns allowed.  Oh well... 

I recollect one time at Ft. Bridger I had brought a box full of Uberti revolvers, only to find that all revolvers were taboo.  so, I left them in that big box and went about my business.  Lo and behold, one afternoon a fellow came by and said he was looking for a Remington, and I invited him behind my counter and dug one out of the box.  Amazingly enough, along came the merchandise gestapo and started reaming me a new one about having contraband merchandise for sale.  I nicely invited him to leave me alone and vacate my premises.  FWIW, I have never been back to Bridger since then. 

John (Bigsmoke)

John, I hope that didn't happen while I was on the Ft. Bridger Rendezvous Association Board of Directors during the last half of the -80's,.... 'cause if it did, then I feel I owe you a personal apology. 

It wasn't too long after I moved from Ft. Bridger to Alaska (and Chuck Bond moved to Oregon), about all of the "FBRA" Board of Directors were from "out of state" (mostly Utah) and it still remains so today (as far as I know).

[Bigsmoke]

Rondo,
It might have been the last half of the 1980's, I sure don't know for sure when I was there.  But, now that I think of it, it must have been the first half of the 1980's, as that was when I was selling those Uberti revolvers.

Regardless, it doesn't matter now.  Actually, I hadn't even thought of that for many years now, until this thread reminded me of it.
So, no big deal, apology not necessary, but thank you anyway.  I was probably more pi$$ed at myself for not knowing the rules before I left than anything else.   It would have been very easy to leave the revolvers on the shelves before I left.

Remembering back, by the time I stopped that part of my business dealings, I had gleaned one of each model revolver, and each barrel length, for my personal collection.  It was pretty impressive there for a while.  Then over the years, one by one, they got sold off.  Dammit, another one of those, "Why didn't I keep them" moments.  Where I lived then, I had an upstairs room with a couple of plywood sheets that I displayed them on.    But then we moved and the new house wasn't nearly so accommodating.  Now, after moving again and downsizing even more, I don't think there is even closet space to stack the boxes on a shelf.  That's progress ?   

John (Bigsmoke)

[Doc Nock]

Rondo,
It might have been the last half of the 1980's, I sure don't know for sure when I was there.  But, now that I think of it, it must have been the first half of the 1980's, as that was when I was selling those Uberti revolvers.

Regardless, it doesn't matter now.  Actually, I hadn't even thought of that for many years now, until this thread reminded me of it.
So, no big deal, apology not necessary, but thank you anyway.  I was probably more pi$$ed at myself for not knowing the rules before I left than anything else.   It would have been very easy to leave the revolvers on the shelves before I left.

Remembering back, by the time I stopped that part of my business dealings, I had gleaned one of each model revolver, and each barrel length, for my personal collection.  It was pretty impressive there for a while.  Then over the years, one by one, they got sold off.  Dammit, another one of those, "Why didn't I keep them" moments.  Where I lived then, I had an upstairs room with a couple of plywood sheets that I displayed them on.    But then we moved and the new house wasn't nearly so accommodating.  Now, after moving again and downsizing even more, I don't think there is even closet space to stack the boxes on a shelf.  That's progress ?   

John (Bigsmoke)

somewhere I recall hearing " When I was a child, I spake as a child, thought as one but now that I'm grown..."

Nothing in life is quite as sure as "change"...