Tucker, professor of history and director of the center for connecticut. Martin pegler relates the history of singleaction colt, the gun that started a revolution in repeating firearms. Colt vintage detective special brochure square butt prewar rare. A history of the colt revolver the firearms classics library charles t haven.
A man is interested in pawning a civil warera colt revolver in this clip from season 10s episode, colts and vikings. The revolver of the american west, the new book featuring the 100 most significant colt revolvers from the worlds finest collection. According to colt, he came up with the idea for the revolver while at sea, inspired by the capstan, which had a ratchet and pawl mechanism on it, a version of which was used in his guns to rotate the cylinder by cocking the hammer. Colt first called this revolver the ranger model, but the designation navy quickly took over. A history of the colt revolver and the other arms made by colt s patent fire arms manufacturing company from 1836 to 1940 charles t haven, frank a. In 1847 colt introduced the sixshot walker revolver, of which the u. Everything walker hoped for was present in this incredible new handgun. Using records from the colt factory, regimental books, ordnance departmentbureau and the treasury department and surviving examples of the revolvers, the author has amassed a database that. Colt vintage hunting books and manuals for sale ebay. Samuel colt american inventor and manufacturer britannica. This site provides values and information on firearms in a convenient online pricing guide format, and allows you to find out what your used guns are worth.
In this groundbreaking new study, noted researcher and author charles w. If your firearm does not appear in the listing, please understand that this is not a comprehensive database. Colt s manufacturing company firearms, handguns, pistols, rifles, revolvers. In 1870 when the army tested colt s latest revolver, they complained that the. Buy history of the colt revolver by charles t haven isbn. July 19, 1814 january 10, 1862 was an american inventor, industrialist and businessman who established colts patent firearms manufacturing company now colts manufacturing company and made the mass production of revolvers commercially viable. Aug 11, 2017 arms enthusiasts often ask which governmentissue. A history of the colt revolver haven, charles t belden, frank a. A history of the colt revolver the firearms classics library haven, charles t on. Make offer 1940s advertising for a history of the colt revolver book. Dec 21, 2015 that had been true for decades, as the january 1, 1934, colt catalog confirmed. A history of colt firearms colt, samuel haven, charles t. A history of the colt revolver the firearms classics library. Excellent history of colts revolvers from the patterson to the early 1940s.
Colt pistols and revolvers for firearms collectors. How the colt single action army revolver won the west. Today the tradition continues as the single action army is made the same way in the hands of colt s accomplished technicians and machinists. Texas became a proving ground and nearly the only market for colt s revolutionary product. Gun world hundreds of books have been written about samuel colt and his guns, and hundreds more about historical episodes in which they were involved. The colt model 1860 army revolver is the most iconic handgun of the civil war. Samuel colt was an american inventor, industrialist and businessman who established colts.
A history of the colt revolver and the other arms made by colts patent fire arms manufacturing company from 1836 to 1940 green cloth binding with a bit of fading, corners bent, 2 small water drop stains, minor rubbing to spine tb otherwise a very nice book. While each had its advantages and drawbacks, the colt saw the most use with 37,063 being issued from 1873 through 1893. Colts patent fire arms manufacturing company records. However, formatting rules can vary widely between applications and fields of interest or study. A history of the colt revolver, and the other arms made by colts patent fire arms manufacturing company from 1836 to 1940. Lee ermey answers a question from carson a nineyear old boy from colorado who asks when the colt 45 started its service in the united states military and when it ended. Although it was introduced after the mexicanamerican war, it became popular among. The definitive history of the colt model 1860 army revolver. May 15, 2018 the colt model 1860 army revolver by charles w. Using records from the colt factory, regimental books, ordnance departmentbureau and the treasury department and surviving examples of the revolvers, the author has amassed a database.
A scholarly work that far exceeds all of the popular colt histories available today. In 1836, connecticutborn gun manufacturer samuel colt 181462 received a u. Belden and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. As a result of their shared history, the colt revolver and the from the worlds finest collection, the 100 most significant colt revolvers are. May 14, 2019 samuel colt was an inventor and industrialist who created the revolvermost notably the. By 1855 colt owned the largest private arms manufacturing facility in the world. History of the colt revolver and the other arms made by colt s patent fire arms manufacturing company from 1836 to 1940 by haven, charles t frank a. Together, walker and colt created the 1847 colt walker singleaction revolver and forever altered history.
In this coffee table book, richardson lays out 100 examples of the colt. Completely updated pricing for colt firearms with new entries and photos. A history of the colt revolver from 1836 to 1940 by. Finding the blue book value of your new and used firearms, including pistols, rifles, shotguns, airguns, and blackpowder guns is easy with the number one source of gun pricing. Colt didnt invent the revolver but his designs greatly improved it and his. Revolver book by jim rasenberger official publisher page. This book serves as a reliable, easytouse reference for the collector and military historian.
Colt singleaction revolvers, by martin pegler, osprey publishing, oxford, u. The book is sectioned into chapters covering three historical periods to provide the reader a sense of perspective on the development of the various handguns discussed in each chapter. This stunning book is the first to present in detail the evolution of his most famous invention and to document the unsurpassed colt firearms collections held by the wadsworth atheneum. The colt model 1873 single action army still holds a special place in the hearts of shooters and collectors, which means firstgeneration models in good shape come with high price tags. Discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that. This rollicking and informative account will delight american history buffs. History of the colt revolver first edition bauman rare books. This popular service revolver is famous for its ruggedness and its ability to stand up under the severe abuse it receives at the sides of police officers the world over. Pdf download from the standard catalog of firearms. A history of the colt revolver hardcover january 1, 1997 by frank a. Information provided here is approximate, if you wish to support your investment with the purchase of a complete history and letter of authenticity for your firearm or for more information, please contact colt s archive department. The colt was not the first revolver, but it was the first cartridge revolver to be officially adopted by the u. History of colt revolvers 14 matching articles field and.
The colt walker, sometimes known as the walker colt, is a singleaction revolver with a. Whether youknow it as an accurate, cowboy, texas ranger, gunslinging, out west, corral gun, or as alittle protection, the peacemaker by samuel colt and samuel colt will never be forgotten. The first practical revolvingcylinder handgun was invented in 1831 by samuel colt of hartford, connecticut, and patented on february 25, 1836, the year of the texas revolution. A history of the colt revolver by haven charles t belden. An american legendthe official history of colt firearms. Colt automatic pistols is dedicated to collectors and enthusiasts of military and commercial colt pistols, colt revolvers, colt firearms and accessories. As a result of their shared history, the colt revolver and the american. It is the successor corporation to colt s earlier firearmsmaking efforts, which started in 1836. A history of the colt revolver and the other arms made by. Collecting rare books and first editions happy birthday, gun.
A history of the colt revolver and the other arms made by colts. A history of the colt revolver from 1836 to 1940 by haven. But the remarkable story of its creator, samuel colt, one of the wealthiest and most influential figures of the nineteenth century united states, has been all but lost to history. The revolver was also issued to the armys dragoon regiments. This revolver was designed as a solution to numerous problems encountered with the colt walker. Though out of print the book remains one of the touchstones for those doing research into the running of the company and its many products. This book is the bible of the colt with history, lore, photographs. Jan 03, 2018 the iconic colt single action army or colt peacemaker revolver still reigns supreme when it comes to frontier firepower. Pate presents the entire story of the model 1860 from its development and the supervision of sam colt to its procurement by the united states military and commercial customers. Rare and hard to find colt gun books, out of print, excellent condition.
The colt single actions army revolver is undoubtedly the most famous handgun in firearm history. The connecticut state library is also a good source for historical information pertaining to colt firearms and history. Samuel colt, american firearms inventor, manufacturer, and entrepreneur who popularized the revolver. The colt single action army, also known as the single action army, saa, model p, peacemaker and m1873, is a singleaction revolver with a revolving cylinder holding six metallic cartridges. By charles haven and frank belden published by crown william morrow bonanza books in 1940 and contains a foreword by stephen v. Samuel colt 18141862 first patented his colt revolver in 1835 and thereby redefined the architecture of handguns. The revolver of the american west by jeffrey richardson. Colt s manufacturing company, llc cmc, formerly colt s patent firearms manufacturing company is an american firearms manufacturer, founded in 1855 by samuel colt.
History of the colt revolver first edition samuel colt. The only short coming is that the book does not go beyond the early forties. Pate colt model 1860 army revolver history military history us history civil war cap and ball cavalry colt new model army nma us army the colt model 1860 army revolver phil. In 1836, an american, samuel colt, patented a popular revolver which led to the widespread use of the revolver. Image available on the internet and included in accordance with title 17 u.
In 1870 when the army tested colts latest revolver, they complained that the. More than a century after its debut, colt s big, bold and beautiful doubleaction revolver is still cherished. Hosleycurator of american decorative arts at the wadsworth athenaeum in hartford, connecticut, and keeper of that museums extensive collection of colt firearmsanalyzes the career of samuel colt 181462, inventor of the colt revolver, an important element in the lore of. A history of the colt revolver and the other arms made by colts patent fire arms manufacturing company from 1836 to 1940 book. The colt official police revolver is without any question the worlds outstanding police arm. The colt single action revolver won the west by being the gun of choice on the american frontier, used by everyone from settlers and native americans to lawenforcement officers and outlaws. Using records from the colt factory, regimental books, ordnance departmentbureau and the treasury department and surviving examples of the revolvers, the author has amassed a. A history of the colt revolver and the other arms made by colts patent fire arms manufacturing company from 1838 to 1940 by charles t. The history of the colt revolver and the other arms made by colts patent arms manufacturing company from 1836 to 1949 charles t. Know what your colt firearms are worth with this uptodate 76page.
Shop colt firearms books and collectibles abebooks. Discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that delivers new. Edwards published by the stackpole company, c1953, 1957, harrisburg. The colt model 1860 army revolver by pate mowbray publishing.
Samuel colt did not invent the revolver, but after some 200 years of development his paterson revolver of 1836 started a revolution in repeating firearms. Get the best deals on colt vintage hunting books and manuals when you shop the largest online selection at. This provided a reliable and repeatable way to index each round and. After the colt revolver won the trials, the government changed the specification to a. By the end of 1874, 12,500 colt single action army revolvers chambered for the. The legendary colt revolver played an outsized role in the violent conquest of the american west, and it lives on in the national psyche. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Army, and it kept its monopoly until the single action system was superseded.
Now, jeffrey richardson has combined both aspects of colt history in his magnificent book colt. Pate the definitive history of the colt model 1860 army revolver. A history of the colt revolver the firearms classics. As a teenaged seaman, colt carved a wooden model of a revolving cylinder mechanism, and he later perfected a working version that was patented in england and france in 1835 and in the united states. Whether youknow it as an accurate, cowboy, texas ranger, gun slinging, out west, corral gun, or as alittle protection, the peacemaker by samuel colt and samuel colt will never be forgotten. In the 1968 book true grit, 14yearold mattie carries a colt dragoon. The colt frontier or frontier sixshooter was a colts 1873 model p type revolver manufactured in. This history of the colt revolver contains numerous illustrations. A history of the colt revolver and other arms made the result was winchester. A history of the colt revolver and the other arms made. Includes illustrations collected by the colt company of both colt and non colt items, 18511964. A history of the colt revolver and the other arms made by colt s patent fire arms manufacturing company from 1836 to 1940 book. Today we will take a look at the history of the colt company, from sam colt s first efforts in paterson and before to the west hartford remnants that survive today. A history of the colt revolver from 1836 to 1940 copyright 1940 by charles t.