It
seems hard to imagine a world without revolvers. The concept seems so
logical and natural and yet we spent centuries with only single shot
firearms.
There were many attempts at designing
multiple-shot weapons but the inconsistencies of black-powder and the
dangers of 'chain-fire' plus the craftsmanship nature of firearms led
more to multiple barrelled innovations rather than shots kept behind
a single barrel.
The legend has it that Samuel Colt, sent
to sea by his father as a youth, dreamt up his revolutionary concept
by watching the ship's capstan turn as it hauled anchor or load and
it was the ratchet and pawl of the capstan that conjured up the
revolver in his imagination.
Revolvers did exist, but in small
calibre and turned by lever or hand which was a slow and imprecise
operation. Novelties. Colt's intention was to make a revolver that
would rotate and lock by the pulling of the hammer thus freeing the
other hand to perhaps carry a second or a sabre. They would be rifled
and made to be assembled by the many instead of a lone craftsman and
could have different barrel sizes, for the barrel would be
detachable. He designed them in the hope of a military contract. But
that would not be. The first revolver was not a success.
He carved a wooden model to show the
patent offices that his design was practical and it is this wooden
model that is the inspiration behind the story.
His invention would change the world
forever, and as the saying goes:
“The
Lord made men, but Sam Colt made them equal.”
But perhaps not for the better.
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