ARTV Preview: The History of The Colt Walker; Lockdown Puck; Abyssinian Mausers

by
posted on January 5, 2021
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
In this week's episode of American Rifleman TV, we take a look at the history of the Colt Walker revolvers which were requested from Samuel Colt by Sam Walker. For "Rifleman Review," we take a look at the Lockdown Puck, a security device that allows users to monitor their firearms and valuables with a smartphone. On "I Have This Old Gun," we look at the various Abyssinian Mauser rifles made in Germany and Czechoslovakia for export to the Ethiopian Empire under the rule of Emperor Haile Selassie.

Shooting a Colt Walker revolver.
Shooting a Colt Walker revolver.

Samuel Colt was a failed businessman prior to his firearms company, but even in the beginning his patent firearms company based in Paterson, N.J., didn't have much 
success. Despite his shortcomings, one of Colt's best customers was the fledgling Republic of Texas which purchased thousands of his Model 1839 revolving shotguns and Paterson revolvers. At the time, the Republic of Texas was warring with Apache Indian tribes within its borders after Sam Houston left office as the republic's president.

A small force of Texas Rangers under the command of Capt. John "Jack" Hays was all that stood in the way of the raiding Apache war parties. The Texas Ranger had used the Colt Paterson revolvers, and one of the rangers under Hays' command, Sam Walker, knew that the U.S. military could use a more powerful revolver for its mounted troops.  

The Lockdown Puck security device.
The Lockdown Puck security device.

Lockdown has a new state-of-the-art security system that allows users to monitor their valuables right from their smartphone, the Puck. The Puck, through a downloadable app, allows users to monitor their firearms and other valuables from anywhere and get real time notifications for movement, humidity and temperature. The Puck also allows users to set specific security setting and alarms to alert them if anything changes in the environment where the items are stored, whether it be a safe, room or vehicle.

Shooting a Czechoslovakian made Abyssinian Mauser.
Shooting a Czechoslovakian made Abyssinian Mauser.

In the mid-20th century, the Empire of Ethiopia, or Abyssinia, was nation constantly at war against the forced influence of European Colonial powers attempting to gain. control over the territory, most notably Italy. In order to better fight against these incursions, Ethiopia n Emperor Haile Selassie sought to purchase modern arms from all across the world to arm his forces. One of the most notable small arm types purchased by Abyssinia were Mauser bolt-action rifles.

Selassie approached Germany in the 1930s with a request to purchase more Mauser rifles, and Adolf Hitler approved the request for German-made Mauser Model 1933 and 1934 rifles to be exported to the Ethiopian Empire. After World War II, The Ethiopians purchased even more Mauser rifles from the formerly Nazi-controlled Brno factory in Czechoslovakia, which had their own unique features and are being imported into the U.S. surplus market today by Royal Tiger Imports. 

To watch complete segments of past episodes of American Rifleman TV, go to
americanrifleman.org/artv. For all-new episodes of ARTV, tune in Wednesday nights to Outdoor Channel 8:30 p.m. and 11:30 p.m. EST.

Latest

The Armed Citizen Podcast Hamlin F
The Armed Citizen Podcast Hamlin F

NRA CEO/EVP Doug Hamlin Talks Politics, the NRA, and the Future of Our Freedom

In this interview with The Armed Citizen Podcast at the 155th NRA Annual Meetings & Exhibits in Houston, Texas, NRA Executive Vice President and CEO Doug Hamlin talks about what is going on with the NRA, the many battles for our freedom around this nation the NRA is involved in, and what’s to come.

Best of the Best: American Rifleman's 2026 Golden Bullseye Award Winners

From firearms to accessories to optics to ammo and suppressors, we’ve determined these to be the stand-out products from the last year, providing firearm enthusiasts with innovation, value, utility and performance.

Review: Diamondback 9 mm SDR

Folks might be a bit surprised that Diamondback would choose 9 mm as the second caliber for its SDR revolver, but a closer look reveals why 9 mm is a solid caliber option for the platform.

Port Authority Doubles Down on Constitution-Free Zone with High-Profile Arrest

There exists a zone within the New York City metropolitan area where law-abiding gun owners are not just imperiled but specifically targeted for exercising their rights. It is an outrage that has continued for far too long.

Wilson Combat Acquires Guncrafter Industries

Wilson Combat has acquired the Guncrafter Industries brand and assets, uniting two of America’s foremost custom firearm manufacturers.

Bill Bachenberg Unanimously Reelected NRA President; Doug Hamlin Unanimously Reelected as NRA Executive Vice President & CEO In Houston

Today, the Board of Directors of the National Rifle Association of America (NRA), unanimously reelected Bill Bachenberg of Pennsylvania as President of the NRA, and Doug Hamlin as NRA Executive Vice President & CEO.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.