The development by Smith & Wesson ( amongst many others ) of revolver handguns that used metal cartridges helped to establish cartridge firearms as the standard in the USA by the 1870s .
Many continue to use percussion revolvers well after that .
The development by Smith & Wesson ( amongst many others ) of revolver handguns that used metal cartridges helped to establish cartridge firearms as the standard in the USA by the 1870s although many continue to use percussion revolvers well after that .