 In Downing's opinion, Colt's Ring Lever rifles were the solution, as they were "superior to twenty ordinary rifles" (with an extra ten-shot cylinder) and "superior to ten men" armed with conventional weapons.The price given for the 500 rifles was between $40 to $45 each, or a total of around $20,000.It is clear that Downing refers to Colt's Ring Lever rifles, as these were Colt's only models featuring ten-shot cylinders, and it is most likely that these rifles would be Second Model rifles as the letter's 1840 date was within the production range of the Second Model and Downing refers to the rifles as "improved".