Samuel Colt's Early Revolving Firearm Mechanism
An 1839 patent by Samuel Colt describing early improvements to the mechanical design of revolving firearms.
Original patent title: “Improvement in ffire-arms and in theaapparatust used therewith”
An 1839 patent by Samuel Colt describing early improvements to the mechanical design of revolving firearms. Granted to Samuel Colt in 1839 with 2 forward citations.
Key facts
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
This patent details mechanical refinements to the revolving firearm, specifically focusing on the synchronization between the rotation of the cylinder and the alignment of the barrel. It describes the internal components required to ensure the chamber locks securely in place before the hammer strikes the percussion cap. By automating the indexing of the cylinder, it allowed a user to fire multiple shots in rapid succession without manually realigning the mechanism.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover the fundamental concept of a revolving cylinder, which existed in earlier designs.
- Does not cover modern semi-automatic or fully automatic firearm actions.
- Does not cover the use of metallic cartridges, as this patent predates their widespread adoption.
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
What made this novel
The innovation lies in the reliable mechanical indexing of the cylinder, which solved the critical problem of chamber misalignment that plagued earlier, less reliable revolving designs.
The Patent Drawing
Schematic visualization of the patent's claim structure. Hand-drawn diagrams in progress for each landmark patent.
Where you've seen this
Real-world examples
Colt Paterson revolver
Early 19th-century percussion cap revolvers
Why it matters
The bigger picture
This patent represents a foundational step in the evolution of repeating firearms. It helped establish Samuel Colt's dominance in the 19th-century weapons industry and set the standard for the reliable revolver design that became an icon of American history.
Granted
August 29, 1839
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
Modern firearm manufacturers still utilize the core principles of cylinder indexing and hammer-actuated rotation, though they have moved to advanced materials and precision CNC manufacturing.
Market impact
This patent helped solidify the commercial viability of the revolver, effectively creating a new market for repeating handguns that replaced single-shot pistols in both military and civilian use.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
This patent details mechanical refinements to the revolving firearm, specifically focusing on the synchronization between the rotation of the cylinder and the alignment of the barrel. It describes the internal components required to ensure the chamber locks securely in place before the hammer strikes the percussion cap. By automating the indexing of the cylinder, it allowed a user to fire multiple shots in rapid succession without manually realigning the mechanism.
The clever bit
The innovation lies in the reliable mechanical indexing of the cylinder, which solved the critical problem of chamber misalignment that plagued earlier, less reliable revolving designs.
What it does not cover
- Does not cover the fundamental concept of a revolving cylinder, which existed in earlier designs.
- Does not cover modern semi-automatic or fully automatic firearm actions.
- Does not cover the use of metallic cartridges, as this patent predates their widespread adoption.
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Limited data
Citation count
10/40
Early citations
Claim breadth
0/20
Narrow claimsclaimsThe numbered statements at the end of a patent that legally define what the inventor owns.Read more →
Recency
0/20
Older than 20 years
Assignee scale
0/20
Independent or smaller assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →
PatentBrief Impact Score — based on citation count, claim breadth, recency, and assignee scale. Not a legal assessment.
Heuristic Value Estimate
What this patent might be worth
$3K – $10K
Midpoint $6K · expired or expiring · industry baseline
Heuristic only — blends forward/backward citation counts, claim scope, time remaining, litigation history, and CPC-derived industry baseline. Real valuations need a professional appraisal.
Concepts involved
Citations
Patent lineage
Cite this patent
(1839). Samuel Colt's Early Revolving Firearm Mechanism (U.S. Patent No. 1,304). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/1304/colt-revolver
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
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Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Samuel Colt's Early Revolving Firearm Mechanism cover?
An 1839 patent by Samuel Colt describing early improvements to the mechanical design of revolving firearms.
Who owns patent US 1304?
Samuel Colt owns this patent, granted in 1839.
When does this patent expire?
This patent has expired and is now in the public domain — anyone can use the invention freely.
What is patent US 1304 cited by?
This patent has been cited by 2 later patents that build on its ideas.
What problem does this patent solve?
This patent represents a foundational step in the evolution of repeating firearms. It helped establish Samuel Colt's dominance in the 19th-century weapons industry and set the standard for the reliable revolver design that became an icon of American history.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover the fundamental concept of a revolving cylinder, which existed in earlier designs.
Patent monitoring