Smith & Wesson became reality when Horace Smith and Daniel B. Wesson formed their first partnership in 1852 to manufacture a lever-action pistol that incorporated a tubular magazine which fired a fully self-contained cartridge. This new repeating pistol could be fired as rapidly as the lever, which loaded the pistol and cocked the hammer, could be manipulated. The firepower of this lever-action pistol was so impressive that in 1854, when the gun was reviewed by Scientific American, it was nicknamed the Volcanic because its rapid-fire sequence had the force of an erupting volcano.

The original site of the Smith & Wesson Arms Co. was in Norwich, Connecticut, where the company operated until it hit financial difficulties in 1854. During the reorganization of the company, a new investor named Oliver Winchester provided additional finances to support the p

a contract for 20,000 Model 3's, paying in advance with gold. This contract proved to be one of many signed with the Russian Government but more significantly, it influenced the total market and soon orders poured into the factory, far exceeding its ability to supply handguns. The Model 3 became extremely popular throughout the world and on the American western frontier.

roduction of this particular type of firearm. The factory moved to New Haven, Connecticut, the site of some of Winchester's holdings, and the name of the company was changed to Volcanic Repeating Arms Co. Horace Smith and D.B. Wesson finally sold their majority interest to Oliver Winchester, who using the original Smith & Wesson patents, continued their venture. It emerged in 1866 as the Winchester Repeating Arms Co.

The Smith & Wesson arms exhibit was extremely popular, and many nations expressed interest in the products. One of the most important people to view the exhibit was the Russian Grand Duke Alexis. He was so impressed with Smith & Wesson's revolvers that he purchased several small pistols for himself and his aides. This marketing approach proved highly successful, and European orders helped to relieve the effects of the domestic depression. The opening of a worldwide market increased sale

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