Dunno if I'm the only one reading anymore, but working out the supply of revolvers in early Texas is of interest...
First off, in 1840 everything was still produced at Colt's "Patent Arms Company" at Patterson NJ. Apparently the durability and uniformity of parts was still a big issue in that era, and Pattersons gained a quick reputation for fragility, prob'ly why the operation folded.
Wiki gives the following stats...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colt_Paterson Samuel Colt's first factory, the Patent Arms Company of Paterson, New Jersey manufactured 1,450 revolving rifles and carbines, 462 revolving shotguns and 2,350 revolving pistols between 1836 and 1842 when the business failed. A creditor and business associate, John Ehlers, continued manufacture and sale of (approximately 500 of the total 2,850) pistols through 1847). Revolving pistols held five shots and varied from "pocket" to "belt" and "holster" designations based upon size and intended mode of carry. Calibers ranged from 28/100s through 36/100s-inch. The model most identified with the "Paterson Colt" designation is the Number 5 Holster or Texas Paterson (1,000 units), which was manufactured in .36 caliber.
OK, more'n 2,800 Pattersons made, how many made it to Texas?
"Texas History Online" has it that
The Republic of Texas ordered 180 of the .36 caliber Holster model revolvers for its navy in August 1839 http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/lnc01Moore ("Savage Frontier") gives a pretty comprehansive account but is vague on numbers, from which I assume we don't know today exactly how many Pattersons were sent here...
The original purchase of the Colt Patent Arms had been made in 1839 for the use of the Texas Navy. Some of the navy's pistols would eventually fall into the hands of the Texas Rangers.
Another order of these five-shooters was placed for the First Regiment's cavalrymen.
That would be where Lyman Wells got his one presumes. Interesting to note that the new handgun was classed as a cvalry arm from the very beginning, that not being an innovation of Jack Hays.
...several orders were placed for Colt carbines with bullet molds and other accessories. Fifty were ordered by the Army on August 3rd, 1839, at a unit cost of fifty-five dollars. This order also called for fifty belt pistols, with loading levers, bullet molds, and equipment, at a cost of thirty-five dollars each.
A second order on Otober 5th 1839, called for forty more belt pistols, thirty carbines, and fifty rifles, with their respective assessories.
An Ordinance Department memo from March 20th, 1840, lists five cases of these Patent Arms in Galveston awaiting shipment to Austin for the army's use. Sixteen Patent Arms were being shipped to one of the First Regiment companies that were raised by the War Department in February 1940.
Army ordinance returns for the First Infantry Companies May-June 1840 show that they had Thirty Patent arms. The Paterson rifles and carbines could fire from five to eight shots of larger caliber (.36 to .58) depending on the model
For way of comparison, note that the Texas War Department was also contracting at that time with Tryon in Philadelphia for 1,500 smoothbore flintlock at about $20 per..
http://www.thestoryoftexas.com/get_involved/pdfs/Star_OND11.pdfThus for comparison...
Flintlock musket... $20
Belt model revolver... $35
Revolving carbine, with supplied accesories... $55
For further point of comparison; Moore has it that a Ranger Captain of that era made $75 a month while a Private made $35. Moore also points has it that,such was the demand for and the scarcity of these weapons that the going rate for one among civilians at that time hovered around $200.
Birdwatcher
