The first official revolver, created by Samuel Colt, is known as the "Colt Revolver." It was the first true multi-shot pistol that actually did what it was supposed to do - shoot bullets and do so with precision. The Colt was revolutionary as it was the only weapon that was hand-held with a double barreled flintlock. What made up the revolutionary colt was that it had a special mechanism called the revolving cylinder, which give its name the revolver. The weakness behind the double barreled Flintlock was that it took nearer a minute or two to reload and only two shots per reload. The Colt revolver could fire up to five to six shots. And also had a much faster reload time, making the colt the more dominant of the two.
The concept of a multi-shot weapon was new in the 1830's. Not only did the Colt impact the general public's perception of fire arms, it affected how wars are fought. Colt firearms have been the sidearm of choice through much of American military history, ranging from the Colt Model 1860's use through the Civil War to the Colt Model 1911A1 in World War II. As a testament to Colt's simple yet effective design, Colt Revolvers are still used today, ranging from private use to security forces. War and life as we know it could be very different if it wasn't for Samuel Colt.
Not only was it revolutionary in its design, it allowed for westward expansion in America. The two most important impacts of the Colt Revolver was its ability to allow the expansion of the American west as well as the introduction of a multi-shot firearm into America. The west was not a friendly place for Americans. Early frontiersmen dealt with hostile Native Americans and Mexicans. The Colt Revolver allowed one individual to fend off multiple attackers easily. Not only did the Colt Revolver aid in the protection of pioneers in the west, it became an important tool for the military. An example of this is the Texas Rangers who were usually outnumbered by hostile natives in Texas.
