Due to my Southern Heritage my ancestors loved S&W. After all their defence of the bored through cylinder kept efficient "Cattige" revolvers out of the hands of them "Blue Coats".
Actually I thought I worded my post in such a way as to show that Samuel Colt was indeed "The Great Equalizer". Actually when White was issued his patent he was an employee of Colt. Colt was given first shot at it but refused. On this occasion he simply failed to see its potential. Colt was even then gearing up for increased production of his arms for the War he was certain was imminent. As White's patent was based on the little BB Cap Colt looked at it as a Toy & simply failed to foresee how quickly the metallic cartridge would be replacing the Front Stuffers. an extension was applied for on White's patent which the patent office rejected. S&W appealed to congress who over-rode the patent office. This was while U S Grant was president so he vetoed congress's override as he was still miffed that S&W had prevented the use of effective cartridge revolvers by the Union Army
So, yes from the time of the Seminole Wars through "The War Between the States" & on into the following Indian wars Colt led the way. During TWBTS Colt's biggest competitor was Remington, followed by Starr. S&W would not even be in the running until later
Last edited by 2-piper; 03/25/17 01:49 PM.
