Colt Walker
First practical six shooter, defining the Old West gunfighter mystique.
The Colt Walker, or Walker Colt, is a single-action, six-shot black powder revolver that fires .44 caliber lead balls. Samuel Colt designed it in 1846 based on requests from Captain Samuel Hamilton Walker. It was the first practical six-shooter and helped create the image of the Old West gunfighter. Before mass production began in 1847, handguns had little impact on the American West or the nation. It is the official handgun of Texas.
The revolver was developed in the mid-1840s through a partnership between Texas Ranger Captain Samuel Hamilton Walker and Samuel Colt, improving on the earlier Colt Paterson. Walker wanted a very powerful handgun for close-range fighting. He carried two of his namesake revolvers during the Mexican-American War but was killed in battle in 1847, the same year the gun was invented, shortly after receiving them. Only 1,100 were originally made: 1,000 for a military contract and 100 for civilian sale, making originals extremely rare and valuable. In October 2008, one passed down from a Mexican War veteran sold at auction for $920,000. In July 2018, a Model 1847 Colt Walker—the only known surviving example with its original case—sold for $1.84 million at Rock Island Auction, the highest price ever paid for a single firearm at auction.
The Republic of Texas had bought many early Paterson Holster Pistols, a five-shot .36 caliber revolver, and Walker used them as a Texas Ranger. In 1847, serving as a captain in the U.S. Mounted Rifles during the Mexican-American War, he asked Colt for a large revolver to replace single-shot Model 1842 Percussion Pistols. The desired .44–.45 caliber gun was meant for saddle holsters. It saw use in the war and on the Texas frontier.
Medical officer John "Rip" Ford took a special interest in the Walkers when they arrived at Veracruz. He got two for himself and became the main source of information on their performance. He claimed the revolver could shoot as far and hit as hard as a .54 caliber Mississippi Rifle, based on seeing a Mexican soldier hit at over one hundred yards. Unlike most later military pistols, the Walker was practical out to about 100 yards.
The Walker holds 60 grains of powder per chamber, more than double a typical black powder revolver. It weighs 4.5 pounds unloaded, has a 9-inch barrel, and fires .44 caliber (0.454 inch) conical and round balls.
Quick Facts
- Origin
- United States
- Is Ranged
- yes
- Service
- 1847–1865
- Used By
- State of Texas · United States · Confederate States of America
- Wars
- Mexican–American War · Texas-Indian Wars · American Civil War
- Designer
- Samuel Colt, Captain Samuel Walker
- Design Date
- 1846
- Manufacturer
- Eli Whitney, Jr. at Whitneyville, Connecticut for Saml. Colt, New York City
- Production Date
- 1847
- Number
- 1,100
- Variants
- Colt Whitneyville Hartford Dragoon Revolver, quantity about 240
- Weight
- 4.5 lb
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The Colt Walker was created in the mid-1840s through a collaboration between Texas Ranger Captain Samuel Hamilton Walker and American firearms inventor Samuel Colt, building upon the earlier Colt Paterson design. Walker wanted a handgun extremely powerful at close range. He carried two of his namesake revolvers in the Mexican–American War and was killed in battle in 1847, shortly after receiving them. Only 1,100 were originally made: 1,000 as part of a military contract and 100 for the civilian market, making original specimens extremely rare and valuable.
The Walker holds a powder charge of 60 grains per chamber, more than twice that of a typical black powder revolver. It weighs 4.5 pounds unloaded, has a 9-inch barrel, and fires .44 caliber conical and round balls. The initial contract was filled by Eli Whitney III. Colt commissioned New York engraver Waterman Ormsby to etch a battle scene on the cylinder based on Walker's description of an 1844 engagement. Problems included ruptured cylinders (under 300 of the original 1,000 were returned for repair), attributed to primitive metallurgy, powder spillage, or loading bullets backwards. The loading lever catch was inadequate, often dropping under recoil; a period fix was a rawhide loop around barrel and lever.
Reader's Guide
The Colt Walker's significance lies in its role as the first practical six shooter, marking a turning point in handgun history. It was used in the Mexican–American War and on the Texas frontier. Medical officer John 'Rip' Ford, who obtained two examples, reported the revolver could carry as far and strike with the same or greater force as a .54 caliber Mississippi Rifle, based on an observation of a Mexican soldier hit at over one hundred yards. The Walker was a practical weapon out to about 100 yards. Its legacy includes the Whitneyville-Hartford Dragoon, the first transitional model to the Dragoon series, built from leftover Walker parts. Subsequent Dragoon models (First, Second, Third) were based on the Walker, with improvements such as shorter barrels, shorter chambers, reduced powder loads, and an improved loading lever catch. The Walker is regarded as the most powerful commercially manufactured repeating handgun from 1847 until the introduction of the .357 Magnum in 1935, with muzzle energy nearly identical to a 4-inch .357 Magnum. It still holds the record for the most powerful handgun ever issued by the US military. Modern replicas are produced by companies such as Uberti and Pietta, and functional percussion replicas were made under the Colt name in two phases (1980–1982 and 1994–2002). The name 'Colt Walker' is often used as a common expression for any overly large generic handgun.
Did You Know?
- On October 9, 2008, a specimen sold at auction for US$920,000; in July 2018, a Model 1847 with original case sold for a record $1.84 million.
- It is the official handgun of the state of Texas, as signed into resolution by Governor Greg Abbott on May 23, 2021.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Colt Walker revolver?
The Colt Walker is a single-action, six-shot black powder handgun chambered for .44-caliber lead balls. Samuel Colt designed it in 1846 at the request of Texas Ranger Captain Samuel Hamilton Walker, and it entered mass production the following year.
Who is behind the design of the Colt Walker?
The revolver grew out of a mid-1840s partnership in which Captain Samuel Hamilton Walker identified the shortcomings of earlier Colt models and pushed for a more practical sidearm, while Samuel Colt engineered the final design. Walker's field feedback directly shaped the improvements that defined the finished weapon.
What are the key specifications of the Colt Walker?
It holds six .44-caliber rounds (0.454-inch diameter) behind a 9-inch barrel and weighs 4.5 pounds unloaded. Colt recommended no more than 50 grains of black powder per chamber, even though the chambers could physically accommodate 60 grains.
Why is the Colt Walker considered so important in firearms history?
It is widely regarded as the first truly practical six-shooter, and before its 1847 mass production handguns had minimal influence on the American West. The Walker essentially cemented the iconic image of the Old West gunfighter that persists in popular culture to this day.
What is the Colt Walker's connection to Texas?
The revolver was developed in direct response to the needs of Texas Rangers, led by Captain Samuel Hamilton Walker, who wanted a reliable sidearm for frontier duty. Today it holds the distinction of being the official handgun of the state of Texas.
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