Colt Walker.

[Spanish Marshal]

 Dear Comrades: 

   Again,  I request help.
 In Spain it is difficult to get bibliography on certain historical periods and especially if this is relative to certain weapons.
About the period of the frontier and the Indian Wars I have some book of " Men-At-Arms " series but, (and here is your help ), in none of them I have information about the time that the Walker was on duty, (I don´t know if this is a correct expression); and in what type of Units. For this reason I request ypur information. 
 
 Thank you in advance.
PS: Please, excuse my bad english grammar.

     Spanish Marshal

[Four-Eyed Buck]

Marshal, The Walker was the first of the large horse pistols/revolvers. It was a collaboration between Sam Colt and Capt. Walker of the Texas Rangers. They were first used during the Mexican War period( 1848). There were only 1100 made give or take a few. They were the most powerful hand gun made until the advent of either the .45Colt or the .357 Magnum. There are stories of Walkers blowing up from the charges overpowering the metal used in the cylinders. They are fairly rare over here now and have been faked quite a bit. The Walkers descendants are the First, Second, and Third Model Dragoons...............Buck

[Books OToole]

Four-Eyed Buck is correct.  There were only 1100 Walker Colts manufactured in 1847.  One thousand were issured to the Regiment of Mounted Riflemen, U. S. Army.  Only 100 were made for the civilian market.

Books

[Advertising]

[Four-Eyed Buck]

Books, while we're dealing with the Mexican War, tonight on Antiques Road Show there was a book from the period directly after the war brought in. It was by a reporter that was with the troops and had drawings by an artist that was with him. The color lithograph plates were done in Paris, 12 of them. The book was completely  original down to it's binding. Value was estimated at $45,000 to $50,000...........Buck

[Spanish Marshal]

 Good Morning from Spain: 

 Thank very much for your information.

  Spanish Marshal

[Dr. Bob]

Spanish Marshal,

If I recall correctly, the cylinder of the Walker would hold 65 grains of powder and the .457 inch diameter round ball.  This is a load that I used in my rifle.  This was truely a powerfull revolver!  It's large size made it difficult to handle for all the the bigest troopers.  The Dragoon models were still big, but much easier for the average size soldier to handle.  The 1860 Army was smaller still and made in vastly larger quantities. 

[Four-Eyed Buck]

Dr., believe the Walker was basically a "Magnum" BP revolver. The later models weren't nearly as powerful. There was one consequence to this though, they had a habit of blowing up. The metal in the cylinders couldn't handle the pressure for very long........Buck

[Spanish Marshal]

Good evening from Spain:   

      Thank very much for your information.

      Spanish Marshal