Weapons that Won the West – Part 6
By D. R. King, High River, Alta.

‘1854 was year that the gunsmith partnership of Smith & Wesson brought out their first pistol. Undoubtedly you know what a lever-action rifle looks like. Well, take the lever action, put it into a handgun and you will have a good idea of the first repeating pistol to be manufactured. Called the “Volcanic”, it featured a tube magazine beneath the barrel. The trigger guard doubled as the lever to jack open the action and cock the hammer.’

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