I said throughout most of American history.
The Colt Peacemaker was far superior to the military issued precussion cap revolvers. As was the Winchester lever action rifles compared to the single shot Model 1873 rifles used by the Army in the late 1800s. The main reason Custer got his butt handed to him was because the Indians were better armed with multi-shot lever actions. Rifles that could be bought out of the Sears catalog.