Like Ford vs Chevy
For decades these two companies fought tooth and nail. (Photo: Francis Borek)
Before all of the endlessly debated firearms rivalries of today became the fodder of forums and social media. Before AR vs. AK, 870 vs. 500, or even Mauser vs. Lee Enfield — there was Colt vs. Smith & Wesson.
The rise of these two firearms companies took place at roughly the same time, and the founders of the companies both decided to exit the gun market for some time before diving back into the fray. For decades, the rivalry between Colt and S&W was akin to the rivalry between Ford and Chevy. It was only in the 1990s, with both companies in poor financial shape and beset by boycotts, that the rivalry faded from the consciousness of the firearms community.
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I wasn’t around for the rivalry back in it’s heyday, but I always found it amusing that S&W is producing both 1911s and AR-15s — two designs made famous by Colt, and two companies I always thought of as revolver companies. As such it’s time to reignite the rivalry (if only for a short time) with two of their most famous service revolvers.
Enter Colt
Sam Colt got his start in the firearms world in 1836 when he created a petite little pocket gun in .28 and .36 caliber. These guns would later be dubbed by collectors as the Paterson due to the location of his factory in Paterson, NJ. Colt claimed he was inspired by the locking mechanism that locked a sailing ship’s wheel in place.
A potential safety hazard, a shooter can cock the hammer while the cylinder is out. (Photo: Francis Borek)
Aided by the invention of the percussion cap, he began to produce revolvers in earnest. Colt even pioneered the concept of mass-production decades before Henry Ford. The only problem was the lack of sales. His new revolver was expensive and delicate. Though it was tested by the US Army, it wasn’t soldier proof. His Paterson factory closed in 1843. Incredibly, the factory building itself wasn’t closed until 1983, though fires have left it nothing more than a standing ruin.
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