This group contains letters from both Samuel Colt and Edwin Wesson as well as letters to Colt from Colonel Craig of the Ordnance Department. The first letter from Edwin Wesson to Daniel Crawford of Washington, Alabama, on February 21, 1843, discusses rifles ordered by Crawford, that he cannot promise how soon they will ship, and how he sets up the sights. The second letter is also to Crawford, this time on March 4, 1847, and addressed to him in Rockford, Alabama. In this letter, he is writing about a rifle for one of Crawford's friends and notes that he has so many orders that getting a rifle to them would take "nearer 6 months than 6 weeks." He then discusses interest in manufacturing superior powder for rifles but states he couldn't ship any to Crawford due to the difficulty of shipping small quantities. The first Colt letter is marked as a copy of a letter of introduction and is marked "1 Spring Gardens/Cockspur Street/London January 1st 1854". Colt writes, "Dear Sir. This is to introduce Mr. Sainthill my Belgian Agent, to whom you will please give all the information he requires, concerning my foreign Patents & oblige. Yours resp'y, Samuel Colt." It is addressed to "Mons A. Perpigne/Avocal/46. Rue St Anne/Paris." The next is a copy of the letter from Colonel Henry K. Craig, Chief of the Ordnance Department from September 6, 1858. That letter is addressed to "Sam Colt Esq" and states, "Sir, Thou are required immediately to comply with existing pressing orders, 750 Colt's Belt Pistols, which remember, I have to request may be delivered at the earliest day practicable, on Account of the late assignment." The last is marked "Copy" at the top and has a "CONGRESS/PARSONS CO." embossed stamp on the upper left. It is marked "Hartford Sept. 7, 1858." It is Colt's response to Craig noting, "I hasten in reply to say that since receiving your last order of August 12th for 500, there has never been a time when less than 750 Pistols have been ready for inspection besides the 368 ordered on the 22d July and that number has now increased to several thousand, and I can readily complete in a fortnights time what is required to make up the full number for which I now have orders." He goes on to note, "Major Thornton has at this time Six sub-inspectors stationed here who heretofore have inspected, proved and received about 50 pistols a week each man - say 300 a week or 1200 a month altogether. As yet there has been received but 500 Belt pistols of the 5368 called for in the last two orders leaving 4868 still to be inspected and delivered to complete your orders of July 22 and August 12, which with the present force and the present rate will require over four months for their inspection." Clearly Colt had a good handle on the details of his company's progress and production rates. He closes writing, "I have no and will continue to have a sufficient number of Pistols ready to employ advantageously three or four times the present force of sub-inspectors allowed me, and shall be glad to have them furnished (if it can conveniently be done) until all the Arms under my present existing control are inspected and received by your Department."