He made his first firearm at age 13 in his father's gun shop, and was awarded the first of his 128 firearm patents on October 7, 1879, at the age of 24.
Han lavede sit første våben i en alder af 13 år, i sin fars våben butik, og derefter fik han sit første patent på et våben, i October 7, 1879 i en alder af 24.