Horace Smith and Daniel Wesson, both of Massachusetts, were some of the most prolific gunmakers ever to exist in early America. In 1852 Horace Smith and Daniel Wesson, both already having an extensive background in firearms manufacture, formed a partnership, to manufacture the "Iron Frame Volcanics," which were an evolution of the earlier Hunt and Jennings patents and produced probably a 1,000 or so before selling their shares in the company in 1855, which was subsequently reorganized into Volcanic Repeating Arms (see Winchester history). Both Smith and Wesson left the company shortly after manufacturing was moved to New Haven. In 1856 Smith and Wesson formed a second partnership to manufacture a new revolver that used th new metalic cartridge, developed in part by B. Tyler Henry. This revolver would revolutionize the industry as would many of the revolvers to carry the Smith & Wesson name.

    With the exception of the Model 320 Revolving Rifle and the Wesson Fire Arms Co. Double Barrel Shotgun that it is believed wasn't solely made at their plant, Smith and Wesson didn't enter into the long gun market, until much later than an Antique Gun Museum would be interested in.