The Revolver that Took Victorian London and the World by Storm
As I’m working on my romantic fantasy novel series (Fae of the Crystal Palace) set around the Great Exhibition, I wanted to share some interesting stories I’ve uncovered during my research. Here is the story of Samuel Colt and his revolving pistols.
In 1851, the Great Exhibition in London showcased the technological marvels of the era. The Crystal Palace in Hyde Park was a beacon of innovation, drawing millions of visitors. Among the most talked-about exhibits was an American invention that captivated the crowds with its ingenuity and potential for revolutionising firearms – the Colt revolver.
Samuel Colt, was described as a charismatic figure – a robust, fast-talking industrialist from Connecticut, who held his audience spellbound at the Exhibition as he demonstrated his groundbreaking revolving pistol. This pistol could fire six shots in rapid succession without the need to reload, a feat that seemed almost magical to the onlookers. But Colt’s showmanship didn’t end there; he astonished the crowd by assembling the revolver from randomly selected parts, showcasing the precision and uniformity of its machined components.
Samuel Colt embodied the quintessential American entrepreneur of the time – bold, confident, and fiercely innovative. Remarkably just five years prior, he was a failed businessman and was also considered a controversial figure with some accounts saying he was more marketer than inventor. Born in 1814 near Hartford, Connecticut, Colt’s early life was a series of ups and downs, marked by financial instability and a penchant for pyrotechnic experiments that often led to trouble. This all changed when he conceptualised the revolver, an idea that would dominate his life and legacy.
The revolver addressed a centuries-old problem in firearms technology: the cumbersome reloading process. Colt’s solution was a rotating cylinder that aligned each chamber with the barrel, allowing for multiple shots before reloading. This innovation not only enhanced the efficiency of firearms but also heralded a new era in manufacturing. Colt’s approach relied heavily on machine-made parts, laying the groundwork for the age of mass production.
By the time of the Great Exhibition, Colt’s factory in Hartford was producing thousands of revolvers annually. His .31-caliber pocket pistol was particularly popular, and demand for his weapons soared, driven by military conflicts and expanding frontiers. Colt’s method of manufacturing with interchangeable parts not only revolutionised firearms production but also influenced broader industrial practices.
Colt’s impact extended far beyond the realm of firearms; he played a pivotal role in shaping the modern industrial landscape. Colt and his revolving pistols sparked the storyline and inspired my American inventor character in my Fae of the Crystal Palace book The Entangled.
You can also read more about this topic in “The Most Perfect Weapon” in the Invention and Technology magazine.
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Image credit: Exterior and Interior view of Colt Revolver. Armsmear: the home, the arm, and the armory of Samuel Colt: a memorial. Barnard, Henry, 1866.
