WESSON HISTORY
Edwin Wesson, the
eldest of the four brothers, had already established himself as a gunsmith by
1835. Later, he formed the "Wesson Rifle Co." with his father Rufus (a farmer)
and his brothers Frank, Franklin, and Daniel Baird (born in 1825). The company
gained considerable renown for the quality of its craftsmanship and the accuracy
of its hunting and sporting firearms. It was in this company that Daniel learned
the trade, and it was from the company's bankruptcy in November 1849 that the
Massachusetts Arms Co. of Chicopee Falls was founded. Edwin had already been
dead for nearly a year.
When the Mass. Arms
Co. ceased production of the W&L rifle, Daniel worked for several other
companies, including the Springfield Armory. It was there that he met Horace
Smith (born in 1808). In 1852, they formed their first company, which lasted a
few years and produced the Model 1 and 2 (all variations). They then separated
for a time and reunited after a few months, remaining together until Smith's
retirement.
Wesson rifles, the
Frank Wesson two-trigger pistols, the Frank Wesson pistols, the Sesson &
Leavitt, the Walker revolver barrels, the bullet mold for the Sesson & Leavitt,
certain components of Remington revolvers—all this represents the prehistory of
Smith & Wesson.
Then came the
acquisition of the Hunt patent and the lever-action pistols, which were
subsequently sold to the Volcanic Arms Co., who then sold the patent to Bernard
Tyler Henry. Henry developed the stunning Henry rifle, and finally sold the
entire operation to Oliver Winchester (while remaining superintendent of the
company). One small detail: Walter Hunt, inventor of the lever-action mechanism,
also granted rights to Stevens (1861 rifle) and also invented...the safety pin,
the patent for which is also held by Smith & Wesson.
Marcel