In practice, the Colt Walker did not disappoint on the whole. She was a handful of power with stopping qualities out to 100 yards - comparable to that of then-modern rifles. The ball ammunition could cause maximum damage at range but was truly ruthless in close-in fighting. A cavalryman could open fire with his Walker at distance and, once out of ammunition, could close in with his sabre for the final death blow - hopefully against retreating forces. The firing action was, as expected, rather violent in nature and with a heavy recoil. The recoil proved violent enough in some actions that the loading lever was lowered unexpectedly, such was its force. This led to many in-the-field remedies to rectify the issue. Compared to other sidearms of the day, the Colt Walker was a very heavy handgun and its large dimensions made for some issues when quick handling from a holster was in order, particularly when on horseback - the user needed to clear over 15 inches of gun from his holster before aiming and firing. Additionally, early construction was such that the cylinder held a nasty habit of rupturing when deposits of gunpowder unknowingly remained near the firing chamber openings along the front of the cylinder. To counter this issue, Colt suggested a 50 grain load instead of the listed 60 and repaired any damaged Walker units - about 30% were returned with this damage.
The Colt Walker led a legendary existence despite the rather modest production numbers. Few firearms matched the stopping capabilities of the gun at the time and it was not until the arrival of the famed .357 Magnum in America that the Colt Walker was "truly" unseated from its throne. Due to its uniqueness in the field of firearms and its scarcity in original availability, the Colt Walker is a favorite among collectors today. Its popularity is such that modern firearms manufacturers have taken to production of replicas for the civilian market.
The limitations of the Colt Walker led to the development of the Colt Dragoon model of 1848. It featured smaller dimensions, a revised loading lever and different metal construction. The US government alone would go on to order 8,000 of this very popular Colt product. The Dragoon was also featured in the Mexican War.
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