The World's most Powerful Pistol – '1847 Walker Revolver'

Am Shooting Journal ^ | 2/22/2017 | E Nestor

[w1n1]

The iconic Colt 1847 Walker Revolver was the game changer of the old west. Ian from Forgotten Weapons takes a look at an authentic Colt 1847 Walker Revolver, perhaps best known today as Clint Eastwood’s weapon in The Outlaw Josey Wales.

Did you know that this massive cap-and-ball revolver was the most powerful revolver until the modern .357 Magnum cartridge was invented? That truth is certainly quite impressive.

At the time, the Colt 1847 Walker Revolver would have been unlike anything ever experienced before. The massive .44 caliber revolver was meant for taking out mounted opponents on horseback, or the horse itself. These revolvers were hard used, broken, and exploded by soldiers untrained to load them correctly. Not many of these old beastly revolvers survive in great condition. See the rest of this 1847 Walker story here.

[SJSAMPLE]

My local Cabelas has a Colt repro in the used case for $1500. Looks like crap and you can get a Uberti new for $450.

[wardaddy]

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=aCsOig_uLio

[Freedom4US]

Thanks gentlemen. I figured as much, it’s a popular model. I have a .36 Navy that is a sweet pointer. Had to replace the “hand”, and file and fit that. Don’t know if it was just el-cheapo parts or corrosion from BP. I’m pretty good about cleaning but I bet it doesn’t take much.

[vetvetdoug]

Horse pistol. The first pistol with enough power to kill a horse.

[vetvetdoug]

Reenactors use 80 grains in the Walkers and the effect and noise is significant. There's not much recoil as its just wadding.

[JoeProBono]

[MCRD]

I had one that was made by Uberti, like Steve Earle said “she shoots as fast as lightning but reloads a might slow”. The only problem I ever had was sometimes the recoil would jar a percussion cap loose and it would end up in the trigger mechanism creating a jam. It was a cool gun and weighed about 5lbs loaded so felt recoil wasn’t too bad.

[farming pharmer]

I had one that was made by Uberti, like Steve Earle said “she shoots as fast as lightning but reloads a might slow”. The only problem I ever had was sometimes the recoil would jar a percussion cap loose and it would end up in the trigger mechanism creating a jam. It was a cool gun and weighed about 5lbs loaded so felt recoil wasn’t too bad.

That's cool...I've never fired a Walker.

I've got a Uberti made 1851 navy in 36 cal. It works very well and has kept it's timing. I like the black powder for the satisfying recoil, the smoke and the history.

The cleanup on the other hand...:(

[AFreeBird]

Whupped them again, didn’t we, Josie?

Great movie.

Dy’n ain’t much of a liv’n boy.

[central_va]

A ton of one-liners in that epic flick.

"Buzzards gotta eat, same as worms."

[dangerdoc]

Until you run out of those pesky caps. We’ll all be out napping flint for our muskets.

[central_va]

I have a tool that you can make caps with from soda cans.

[Flag_This]

I thought they were called “horse pistols” because they were carried in holsters on the saddle...

[dangerdoc]

How are you at fulminating mercury? And where do you get more mercury.

The best technology I could sustain is flints and black powder.

I do have a stash of brass, powder and primers though, I could go awhile on center fire.

[central_va]

You can make fulminated Mercury from house hold products. No more dangerous than making crack.