Learn Our History Today: On January 4, 1847, famous weapons inventor Samuel Colt was awarded his first contract to supply the U.S. government with firearms. Since 1836, Samuel Colt had been producing his patented revolver, known as the “Paterson” due to its place of manufacturing, Paterson, New Jersey. This weapon was not excepted for use in the U.S. military, mainly due to its flimsy nature, difficult trigger pull and small caliber, but it did gain a dedicated following in the young Republic of Texas. There, Texas Rangers under the command of Captains John Hays and Samuel Walker did battle with Comanche Indians using the Paterson and were quite pleased with its performance.

After Texas was absorbed into the Union and the Mexican-American war commenced, Captain Walker became an officer in the United States Mounted Rifles, and he soon desired a suitable sidearm to equip his troopers. Very happy with the performance of the Paterson, Walker went back to Colt and began working with him to develop a new handgun, this time with a more sturdy construction and high caliber. The result was a .44 caliber, six-shot revolver, fifteen inches in length and four pounds in weight. Appropriately named the Colt Walker, this new handgun was just what the Texan was looking for, and in addition to arming his company, he convinced the military to put in orders for 1,000 more.