Who's first??

[willy]

Which guns were produced first ?
1.open top
2.Richards
3. Richard Mason
And what calibers were they ?

[Long Johns Wolf]

Colt Army 1860 Richards in .44 Colt.
Richards and Richards&Mason in .44 Colt cal., the 1871-72 Open Top in .44 Henry/.42 Stetson RF cal.
Long Johns Wolf

[willy]

Thanks for the info L J W .

[Slowhand Bob]

In original guns the earliest versions would have likely been based on the 44 Henry round.  Im not into the historical aspects but I think they followed the original RF Henry with a center fire Henry???  I will look into the Venturino books, actually a fun read, and see if he has the answer.

[Fox Creek Kid]

In original guns the earliest versions would have likely been based on the 44 Henry round.  Im not into the historical aspects but I think they followed the original RF Henry with a center fire Henry???...

Nope. The earliest were .44 Colt. The .44 S&W (before the .44 American) & the .44 American were basically a .44 Henry ctg. made as central fire.

S&W sold a lot of No. 3 revolvers in .44 Rimfire. The vast majority went to Mexico & South America. Colt chambered the '72 Open Top in .44 Stetson Rimfire, which only they made as they owned the patent. Other makers' .44 Rimfire would not chamber in the '72 OT.