Oliver Winchester

Oliver Fisher Winchester (November 30, 1810 - December 11, 1880) was a famous American gunsmith. His main claim to fame was his 1854 invention, the volcanic repeating rifle, also known as the Winchester rifle, which was later used somewhat in the Civil War. However, the United States Army at that time did not use many Winchesters; rather, the main repeating rifles were given to cavalry forces, and those were mainly Sharps' Carbines, which were used effectively in such battles as Gettysburg. The Winchester was not popular until after the Civil War, when it was considered the gun that won the West.