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Samuel Colt got the idea of designing a pistol with a revolving cylinder from watching the wheel on a ship while he was working as a seaman. He creates a wooden model and tries for several years to make a real one that works.
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Samuel Colt continued to work on his invention and in 1835 he was issued its first patent (Number 6909) in England.
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Samuel Colt receives a patent for an improved revolver that could shoot many bullets called the Patterson Pistol. He didn't invent the pistol but he made it better.
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Samuel Colt start a company in Patterson, New Jersey to make revolvers, rifles and shotguns. He sells them to some Texas Rangers who are fighting the Native American Indians. THe company doesn't o very well even thought the gun is very popular
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Samuel Colt designs a new revolver with the help of another Texas Ranger named Samuel Walker and makes the Walker-Colt Revolver. He signs a contract to make guns for the War Department to fight in the war against Mexico and sells over 1000 guns.
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By 1855 Colt had the largest private arms manufacturing facility in the world. His Navy Colt was especially popular with gunfighters like Wild Bill Hickok.
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Samuel Colt died on 14th January, 1862. His wife, Elizabeth, took over the company. Colt sold over 100,00 guns and rifles during the Civil War.
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Today, Colt’s Manufacturing Company LLC operates just a few miles away from Samuel Colt’s original Hartford, Connecticut armory and continues to maintain its position as one of the world’s leading gun manufacturers
