Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed a resolution put on his desk that declares the Colt Walker the official state handgun of Texas.
HCR 15 was filed last December by state Rep. Ben Leman, the measure passed the House Committee on Culture, Recreation, & Tourism unanimously. After this, the bill coasted through the legislature with little to no opposition and onto the governor’s desk.
The 1847 Colt Walker is an iconic pistol and would save Texas in the early days of the state. Eli Whitney manufactured just over 1,100 of these handguns, 1000 were sent to Texas and 100 were released for the consumer market.
Here are some interesting facts about the 1847 Colt Walker that HCR 15 found:
- The 1847 Colt Walker was essential in the fight to reclaim Texas during the Mexican-American war.
- The co-inventor of the handgun, Samuel Walker, was a captain in the Texas Rangers.
- The 1847 Colt Walker is still regarded as the most powerful black powder pistols in existence.
- The 1847 Colt Walker was the first pistol to hold 6 rounds.
The handgun is a highly desired collectible and is featured in an extraordinarily diverse set of institutions, the MET in New York has one, the Smithsonian National Museum of American History has one, and the Texas Ranger Hall of Fame has one. In 2018 one of these handguns sold for $1.8 million during an auction.
The 1847 Colt Walker has had its legacy cemented in the great state of Texas.
