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The C Company Walker revolvers are especially significant as they were the first
standard batch of 220 revolvers manufactured as part of the 1,000 revolver
U.S. contract and were specifically marked for Captain Samuel Walker’s C
Company of the U.S. Mounted Riflemen. On Feb 18, 1847, Captain Walker
wrote to Colt and indicated Colt was to number the revolvers by company.
This is one of the many unusual aspects of the Colt Walker revolvers. Due to
Walker’s involvement, the first revolvers manufactured were marked for Walker’s
company and were shipped to the Vera Cruz Ordnance Depot. However,
instead of going to Walker’s company, Colonel John Coffee Hays of the First
Regiment, Texas Mounted Volunteers, signed for 214 of the C Company Walkers
on October 19, 1847, and the other six C Company Walkers were listed as
stolen. Thus, this revolver was most likely used by one of the Texas Mounted
Volunteers in combat in Mexico. During the war, the Walker was reported to
be as effective as a rifle at 100 yards and more effective than a musket at 200
yards. While Captain Walker put his revolvers to good use, a Mexican marksman
succeeded where the Comanche had failed and sent Walker to his grave at the
Battle of Huamantla. The American and Texan cause, however, did not falter,
and the United States secured additional territory in the Southwest, including
additional land that became part of the State of Texas.