Colt ring lever rifles

First model The first model ring lever rifle features a octagonal barrel with a browned finish. The finishes of the other metal parts are blued. The rifle features a circular trigger guard, which lies behind the ring lever. The ring-shaped lever is used by the operator to both cock the internal hammer and rotate the cylinder (as opposed to cocking an external hammer on later single-action revolvers). The rifle features a walnut stock with crescent buttplate and a raised cheekpiece featuring an inlaid image of four horse-heads. The first model is distinguished by the presence of a top strap located over the cylinder, a feature absent from nearly all successive Colt revolvers until the development of the Colt Single Action Army in 1873. Second model Although the second model ring lever rifle is identical in operation to the first model, minor differences in appearance are apparent. Most notably, the second model lacks the top strap included on the first model, opting instead for an open top design. The second model also lacks the inlaid image on the cheekpiece, but includes an image of a house in the roll cylinder engraving not present in the first model. In similar fashion to the first model, improvements were made to the second model during production to include the addition of a loading lever, the rounding of the rear cylinder edge, and the addition of a capping notch in the recoil shield. The second model was only offered in .44 caliber, but was offered in both and barrel lengths (though the 28 inch barrel was less common). As with the first model, eight-shot cylinders were standard; only a small number of ten-shot cylinders were manufactured. ==Production==

Production of the first model ring lever rifle began in 1837 in the Patent Arms Manufacturing Company's factory in Paterson, New Jersey. The first model ring lever rifle was Samuel Colt's first manufactured firearm, and was followed shortly thereafter in late 1837 by the introduction of the Colt Paterson pistol. The first model remained in production until 1838, with a total of about 200 firearms manufactured (serial numbers 1 through 200). In 1838, the second model ring lever rifle began production and continued until 1841, with a total of about 500 manufactured (serial numbers 1 through 500). ==Reception and use==

, a proponent of Colt's ring lever rifles Although neither the First nor second model ring lever rifles saw widespread adoption by any military organization, several were procured by the United States Army and the Texas Navy. During the trial, officers of the second dragoons reported favorably on Colt's rifles after they conducted several experiments that demonstrated that the first model ring lever rifle was equal or superior to conventional arms in accuracy, penetration, rapidity of fire, resistance to weather, and safety. The experiments found that the ring lever rifle could fire off sixteen shots in thirty-one seconds, with the ability to load and fire an eight-shot cylinder in forty-eight seconds. This board of officers advocated equipping select trained men in each company with Colt's rifle, fearing universal employment may cause damage to the guns because of their delicate construction. As the board was conducting its experiments, several friendly Indians had gathered to watch and described Colt's rifle as "great medicine." The purchase gave Colt a total of $6,250, or $125 per rifle. Later in July 1839, however, a surprise Seminole attack led to the loss of thirty ring lever rifles, though fourteen were eventually recovered. Endorsements for Colt's ring lever rifles came from other sources as well, including First Sergeant P. W. Henry of Harney's second dragoons who drilled soldiers in the use of the revolving rifles. Henry claimed that when "passing through Indian country, I always felt myself safer with one of your rifles in my hands, than if I was attended by a body of ten or fifteen men armed with the common musket or carbine." In spite of the personal endorsements Colt gathered, he received no more contracts for ring lever rifles from the U.S. Army. In 1839, however, after difficulty in selling arms to state governments, 100 ring lever rifles were ordered by the Texas Navy. to Waddy Thompson, chairman of the U.S. House of Representatives' Committee on Military Affairs, Downing requested the procurement of 500 Colt ring lever rifles for distribution to frontier settlers in Florida. Downing recognized the advantage of Colt's ten-shot rifles, and desired to arm settlers with these rifles in order that they may effectively defend themselves and their families against attacks by the Seminoles. In his letter, Downing states that "no man in Florida is safe in his own house" and that military protection by the U.S. Army was ineffective. In Downing's opinion, Colt's ring lever rifles were the solution, as they were "superior to twenty ordinary rifles" (with an extra ten-shot cylinder) and "superior to ten men" armed with conventional weapons. The price given for the 500 rifles was between $40 and $45 each, or a total of around $20,000. Although such a transaction would represent significant business for Colt, it appears that the House of Representatives took no action on this proposal, as documents do not mention a purchase of this magnitude by the U.S. Government. ==See also==