Colt Walker
Colt's Manufacturing Company · Revolver · Discontinued · 1847
Also known as: Colt Model 1847 Walker, Walker Colt, Whitneyville-Walker
Overview
The Colt Walker is a single-action, .44 caliber cap-and-ball percussion revolver designed in 1847 by Samuel Colt in collaboration with Texas Ranger Captain Samuel Hamilton Walker. The largest and most powerful black powder repeating handgun of its era, it featured a nine-inch barrel, a six-shot cylinder loaded with a heavy 60-grain powder charge, and an open-top frame. Roughly 1,100 were produced, most issued to the U.S. Mounted Rifles during the Mexican-American War.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 2041 g (72.0 oz) |
| Overall Length | 394 mm (15.51") |
| Barrel Length | 229 mm (9.02") |
| Action Type | Single Action Revolver |
| Firing Mechanism | Percussion |
| Trigger Type | Single Action |
| Magazine Capacity | 6 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Cylinder |
| Muzzle Velocity | 370 m/s (1214 fps) |
| Muzzle Energy | 620 J (457 ft·lbf) |
| Effective Range | 91 m (100 yd) |
| Barrel Rifling | Right Hand |
| Number of Grooves | 7 |
| Frame Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Stock Material | Walnut |
| Finish | Blued |
Calibers
- .44 Caliber Cap & Ball · primary — also known as .44 Black Powder, .44 Percussion, .454 Round Ball
Features
- Firing modes: Manual
- Feed systems: Cylinder
- Safety mechanisms: Half Cock Notch
- Features: Single Action, Cap And Ball, Percussion, Walnut Grips, Loading Lever, Open Top Frame
Service history
Operators
- United States Army · adopted 1847
- Texas Rangers · adopted 1847
Conflicts
- Mexican-American War (1846-1848)
Production
Estimated total produced: 1,100 · Production years: 1847
Approximately 1,100 produced in 1847, of which around 1,000 were military contract revolvers and roughly 100 were sold on the civilian market.
Origin
Country of origin: United States
Designer: Samuel Colt and Samuel Hamilton Walker
Discontinued: 1847
Notes
The Walker's heavy powder charge gave it muzzle energy comparable to a modern .357 Magnum, a power level not matched again in a repeating handgun until 1935. The cylinders were prone to bursting under the heavy load, and surviving original examples are among the most valuable American firearms.
Background
The Colt Walker revived Samuel Colt's bankrupt revolver venture. Captain Samuel Walker, impressed by earlier Colt revolvers used against the Comanche, sought a more powerful design; the resulting Walker model relaunched Colt as a manufacturer. It remained the most powerful production repeating handgun until the .357 Magnum appeared in 1935.