Samuel Walker
It seemed like an unlikely pairing: a well-heeled
Connecticut gunmaker and a rough hewn Texas Ranger. Despite their backgrounds, both had an
abiding passion for firearms, and how to improve them. They met at a New York gunsmith shop to
exchange their ideas. The result was a
revolving pistol that would change the course of Texas and the American West.
Fighting Mexicans and Comanches provided Texas Rangers with
more than a firsthand knowledge of firearms.
Being on horseback, it was crucial they have repeating firepower to take
out mounted, hard charging adversaries. This
needed feature became apparent in confrontations with the Comanches. The “Lords of the Plains” could use a bow and
arrow faster than Rangers could fire and reload a musket. To make matters worse, the Rangers often had
to get off their horses to fire at them; the Comanches could stay on horseback. The solution came from an unlikely source:
the Texas Navy. In 1839, the Texas Navy
purchased 130 of Samuel Colt’s revolving pistols. Named for their origin of manufacture,
Patterson, New Jersey, the Patterson Colt featured a five shot cylinder with
.36 caliber paper charges. Though
fragile with its delicate frame, pocket watch mechanisms and cumbersome reload
process, the Colts provided game changing firepower. Better yet, they could be fired on
horseback. When Republic of Texas
President Sam Houston disbanded the navy, a surplus of Texas Navy Colt
revolvers became available. The Rangers
helped themselves.
On June 8, 1844, the Patterson Colts got a thorough
shakedown. At the battle of Walker’s
Creek, fifty miles north of San Antonio, a Ranger detachment of 14 battled 70 Comanches
under Yellow Wolf. When numbers were starting to tip the balance
in the Comanches favor, Captain Jack “Coffee” Hayes shouted, “Any man who has a
load, kill that chief!” Yellow Wolf was
dropped from his saddle while his warriors fled the battlefield. Under the superior leadership of Captain
Hayes and their Colts’ firepower, the Rangers won a signal victory that put the
enemies of Texas on notice.
One of the Rangers, Samuel Walker (no connection to the
creek), suffered a gapping lance wound in the back during the battle. He recovered in time for the War with Mexico
where he served as a Ranger lieutenant. The
Rangers continued to prove their mettle, but more manpower was needed. During a recruiting trip to New York, Walker
was approached by the Patterson Colt’s manufacturer: Samuel Colt. The famed gun maker, however, was flat broke. He desperately needed a sale. Both Samuels warmed to each other and started
an earnest discussion on revolvers. The
Patterson’s shortcomings were the main topic.
How do you make a proven revolver better? Walker had answers.
As in any confrontation with overwhelming numbers, firepower
was vital. Instead of five chambers, a
sixth chamber would be added. The
reloading process was simplified; the cylinder could be reloaded without taking
the revolver apart. A loading lever was
attached to secure the cartridges in their chambers. Stopping power from one shot depended on the
caliber. The .34 caliber bullet was
replaced with a .44 caliber. The result
of the discussion was a new revolver that was heavier, sturdier, and packed a
wallop. The reloading was still
cumbersome, but was compensated for by having more loaded revolvers on
hand. Instead of one revolver, a Ranger
would carry from two to five revolvers.
Also, the reloading lever was often knocked loose when the revolver was
discharged. A piece of rawhide cord was
often used to secure the lever to the barrel.
The most serious problem was a ruptured cylinder after firing; a problem
caused by loose powder igniting the cartridges in the other cylinders. Nevertheless, the Walker Colt was the most
powerful handgun prior to the modern day .357 Magnum.
The first six- shooter was manufactured during the War with
Mexico. In 1847, Samuel Walker would
receive two of his namesake revolvers.
Tragically, he was killed at the Battle of Huamantla. Only 1,100 Walker Colts were produced, making
them extremely rare and coveted by gun collectors. At auction, a Walker Colt could go for as
high as $950,000.00.
