He was a gunsmith and military outfitter who in the late 1850’s was
located in St. Louis, Missouri, and who for a time was there connected
with H. E. Dimick, a gunsmith and dealer in imitation Colt Navy
Revolvers.
Folsom was entirely Southern in feeling and about 1859 left St. Louis
for New Orleans, Louisiana. There he opened up a shop at 55 Chartres
Street. Imported revolvers are occasionally found bearing his name.
Also to be found with his name and the St. Louis address are various
types of swords.
Some rifles are known that are marked “H. Folsom & Co., St. Louis.”
He is first listed in 1866 in the St. Louis City Directory and again in
1870 as a dealer and gunsmith.
It is known that Folsom worked in Memphis at some time and it is
possible and reasonable that he made deringers there and in St. Louis
but with a different marking, leaving off the St. Louis in the case of
the Memphis guns.