The Evolution of Firearms in the Wild West
This month I want to talk about America’s trek west and how it jumpstarted the evolution of firearms as we know them today.
Early Expansion West
When our early ancestors and settlers made it to the new world, they brought with them flintlock rifles and pistols. The evolution of firearms in the 1500s hadn’t changed much since firearms were invented in the 10th century. Even through the Revolutionary War, as well as the Civil War, firearms stayed the same. All used black powder, were still loaded from the muzzle, and were not very accurate.
As we entered the 1800s, the push west began. The Louisiana Purchase doubled the size of the United States, and more settlers decided to move away from the original thirteen states. The Homestead Act of 1862 granted free land to those who settled and cultivated it. The economic opportunities were endless.
As the population started moving west, they were met with resistance, not only from the vast country and the dangers associated with predatory animals, but the need for food. The migrators also met stiff resistance from the Native Americans. The original Americans did not appreciate the expansion of the United States and fought to keep their land.
During this push west, one of the first firearm inventors surfaced. You can’t think of the Wild West and not think of Sam Colt. He came up with the idea for the Colt revolver. Other revolvers had been invented in the past, but Colt perfected it. His guns became famous quickly because of the quality in which they were made. Even with the Colt revolver in production and being used by militaries and militias all over the world, there was still the issue of reloading the firearm. It takes a lot of time to reload the revolvers, just like the muzzleloading rifle of the same time period.
Then, in the mid-1800s, the cartridge we recognize today was born. Cartridges were invented in the 1600’s but weren’t widely accepted by militaries and gun owners because they were not reliable. The cartridges were made from paper, and when the paper became wet, the cartridges were useless. Using muzzleloaders with a powder horn was much more reliable.
Another invention that changed firearms from this point on was the introduction of barrel rifling. Up to the mid-1800s, all firearm barrels were smooth. For this reason, earlier firearms were not that accurate. When the cartridge was introduced, bullets took on a different shape. These bullets needed to spin to stay in the air. Accuracy and speed became the important factors in firearm manufacturing. First copper and then brass was introduced in cartridge making. That’s when the modern cartridge started taking shape.
Sharps Trapdoor
Instead of reloading from the muzzle-end of a rifle, you could load from the breech-end. One of the early front runners and mass-produced rifles of the breech loading rifles was the Sharps Trapdoor.
The Sharps rifle became one of the icons of the American West. You will see this rifle in pictures being used by Native Americans, soldiers, and settlers alike.
Later Expansion West
At this time in American history, the famous names of firearms began to pop up. Sam Colt already made a name for himself during the Civil War, and he cemented his name when he introduced the Single Action Army Model 1873. This revolver was used by many militaries in the world, and the “Peacemaker” is still being manufactured today.
Peacemaker
Another name made famous during this time was Winchester Arms Company. The gun that won the west was introduced in 1873 as well. It was called the Winchester Model 1873. This rifle has been carried by many armies around the globe. The rifle came in many different calibers to meet the needs of the owner. Other firearm manufacturers of the time would also offer multiple other calibers. Matching the caliber of your rifle and your revolver was a very popular option. That way you only had to carry one caliber of ammo.
Other manufacturers that became famous during the late 1800s were Henry, Marlin, Remington, Smith & Wesson, and Savage. All of these manufacturers have etched their names in American history and continue to manufacture firearms today.
Lastly, I couldn’t write about gun evolution during our country’s expansion west without mentioning the most famous gun designer in the world: John Browning. John Browning is known as the father of firearm design. He built his first gun in his father’s gun shop at the age of thirteen and gained his first patent when he was only 24 years old.
Winchester Lever Rifles
Browning influenced nearly all categories of firearms design, especially the autoloading of ammunition. He invented, or made significant improvements to, single-shot, lever-action, and pump-action rifles and shotguns. He was credited with having a hand in improving the Winchester lever gun Models 1886, the infamous Model 94, and Teddy Roosevelt’s favorite, the Model 1895 magazine fed lever gun.
Never in the history of firearms did the largest evolution of technology accelerate faster than in the United States during the 1800s during the expansion of our country, from muzzle-loaded to breech-loaded, from single-shot rifles, pistols, and faster repeating firearms. During this time, weapons that previously could only be accurate out to fifty yards could then shoot past 150 yards accurately.
This time in our history was the golden age of firearms. Firearms had a love affair with the American West, where heroes were born and some of our country’s worst mistakes were made. Sadly, there is also an ugly side to our western history, and we should never forget that history, so we don’t repeat it.
Semper Fi!
Written by: David Johnson, Leatherneck Gunsmithing
