| We are witnessing the quick technological development. Since the appearance of spears dating back to the Prehistoric Times, there have been introduced many types of weapons, including chemical and biological weapons. In this article we will discuss the weapon that became a breakthrough in the weapons industry. This is the Colt Revolver.
Samuel Colt got the idea of inventing a handgun with a revolving cylinder with several bullets which could be fired through a single barrel when he was at sea. When he came back to the USA he went on working on his invention, and in 1835 his five-shot revolver was patented. It was a revolutionary design, because it transformed a firearm into a multiple-shot gun.
In 1836 Colt founded his Patent Arms Manufacturing business New Jersey. Along with his five-shot firearms, he made rifles and shotguns.
Even though he made a breakthrough, sales were generally slow, and in 1842 the firm was closed down. Over the next few years he developed a device that could detonate an underwater explosive by remote control. Later on he got heavily involved in telegraph technology and designed the first underwater telegraph cable.
In 1847 Colt designed a six-shot Walker revolver. Shortly afterwards, the United States government ordered 1, 000 revolvers which were used in the Mexican War. Colt was now in a position to found a new company in Hartford, Connecticut. By 1855 Colt had the largest private arms manufacturing facility in the world. He manufactured a great variety of revolvers.
During the American Civil War Colt's firm sold thousands of revolvers and rifles. These firearms were bought by both sides.
After the inventor died, the business was run by Colt's wife and employed 1, 500 workers.
Colt and his advanced firearms played a great role in the history of a developing America. So popular was the Colt revolver in the 1800s that it was probably the best-known gun across the globe. Even nowadays, the name Colt suggests firearms to most Americans. |
