The grandfather to todays modern revolver, this colt model 1889 was the first double action revolver built in america with a solid frame and a swingout cylinder. Approximately,000 of these revolvers were purchased for use by union forces and several of the confederate states had obtained a. The flintlock mechanism was designed to push back the lid and spark a flint at the same time. The history of colt guns began when colts manufacturing company was founded in 1855 by samuel colt, years after the failure of his first corporation, the patent arms manufacturing company 183642. File photo check out our website and use our facebook link to like our page. So goes the saying aptly applied to, perhaps, the best known and respected firearms during the last half of the 19th century. A cartridgeconverted colt walker instead of the colt dragoon in the book was used in the 1969 film. Colt model 1849 pocket revolver the model 1849 pocket revolver was the most widelyproduced of any colt percussion revolver. Bates, johnny, cumpston, mike 2005percussion pistols and revolvers, history, performance and practical use. The connecticut state library is also a good source for historical information pertaining to colt firearms and history. Buy colts double action revolver, model of 1878 by don wilkerson isbn. The revolver was most commonly sold with a sixinch barrel, although two, three, four, and eightinch barrels were also available. In this section, i will be looking at the invention of the colt revolver, specifically how it was invented and the perceived need it fulfilled.
A history of the colt revolver from 1836 to 1940 by. A history of the colt revolver and the other arms made by colts patent fire arms manufacturing company from 1836 to 1940. Photograph, a fiveshot paterson colt revolver was the first design of the colt revolver. The colt paterson revolver found patchy success and failure. It was born in the mid1950s in a postwar era in which quality was already starting to fall from the heights that american gun making had attained in the 1930s and 40s. The model 1849 pocket revolver was the most widelyproduced of any colt percussion revolver. Sep 21, 2015 it was a failure of the 18711872 colt open top revolver in qualifying for the u. This was the only hand held pistol until the colt revolver was invented. Revolver book by jim rasenberger official publisher page. Samuel colt designs a new revolver with the help of another texas ranger named samuel walker and makes the walkercolt revolver. A history of the colt revolver and the other arms made by colts patent fire arms manufacturing company from 1836 to 1940 charles t haven, frank a.
It was one of the first multishot weapons to be put into mass production and became a symbol of the american frontier. It is the successor corporation to colt s earlier firearmsmaking efforts, which started in 1836. Colt vintage hunting books and manuals for sale ebay. Finally, merchandise can often go on sale while the patent application is being processed, and when i was young i often wondered who this pat pending was whose. Thick quarto, publishers dark green pebbled cloth, slipcase. This model was made on the frame and grips of the model of 1849 pocket pistol by cutting the frame to allow for the size of the rebated. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders.
It features a six inch barrel, nickel finish, checkered hard rubber grips. A history of the colt revolver idsa arms books, llc. The uberti 1875 remington outlaw new army revolver is a fine example of the original only with modern materials and manufacturing. Its most immediate impact was on the expansionism of the american west, where white. In 1955, colts firearms introduced what many believe to be the most elegant. I was wondering if it would be fake or not im sorry i cant give you a picture but i can tell you the details. Antique colt firearms and revolvers for sale at 19th. Though he didnt invent the revolver, colt s earliest designs played a large part in the evolution from singleshot pistols. Forty years ago, one handgun caliber dominated all others, regardless the intended application. All of the revolvers were digitally illustrated by hand, including the decorative line drawings framing the title of this poster. 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. Short history of the colt revolver timeline timetoast. Revolver, colt, caliber 45, m1917 and revolver, smith and. 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.
This project chronicles the history of the colt revolver beginning in 1836 through the rest of the century. This example is an ultimate python in stainless steel and has the best features found with any python. Colt series 70 pistol this pistol features the legendary series 70 firing system, making it a faithful reproduction to government models manufactured prior to world war ii. Tucker, professor of history and director of the center for connecticut. See all 6 formats and editions hide other formats and editions. A history of colt firearms colt, samuel haven, charles t. History of colt revolvers 14 matching articles field. Because of the high cost of serviceable original colt navies and with the popularity of the reproduction, we chose a navy model of 20th century manufacture for our classic test report. In seven serpentsthe history of colts snake guns, author gurney brown of cherrys and the colt collectors assn covers seven of the hottest firearms on the market today. Colt is known for the engineering, production, and marketing of firearms, most especially between the 1850s and world war i, when it. Revolver, colt, caliber 45, m1917 and revolver, smith and wesson, caliber 45, m1917. So in 1898 colt debuted a new largeframe double action revolver chambered in the more popular and effective cartridges like.
To many shooters, the navy colt represents the classic capandball revolver. The barrel was the pythons most defining and beautiful feature. In 1836, connecticutborn gun manufacturer samuel colt 181462 received a u. Armys demand for a robust revolver that led colt to design a completely new revolver that became the standard from which other singleaction revolvers are measured the 1873 colt single action army.
Without your pistols we would not have had the confidence to have undertaken such adventures, quoted walkers thoughts about the colt gun. The colt model 1860 army revolver was easily the most popular army revolver on both sides of the conflict during the american civil war. Take a break from modern firearms, slow down, and step back into history for a bit while shooting reproductions of. Hey, well i have recently got this navy colt revolver from my grandfather. Army soldiers got their hands on colt revolvers, the legend spread, and soon walker and colt were collaborating on the design for the. Apr 20, 2015 without your pistols we would not have had the confidence to have undertaken such adventures, quoted walkers thoughts about the colt gun. An additional 11,000 were produced in the companys london. Abe lincoln may have freed all men, but sam colt made them equal. In the history of modern double action american handguns, the colt python revolver stands above all others. A history of the colt revolver by haven charles t belden. I owned age 14 an old 1920s made police positive special in. Though he didnt invent the revolver, colts earliest designs played a large part in the evolution from singleshot pistols. Above information is from a history of the colt revolver by charles t. He signs a contract to make guns for the war department to fight in the war against mexico and sells over guns.
May 22, 2018 in 1898, colt firearms unveiled a new sixshot revolver chambered for the. This pistol also features an arched steel mainspring housing and a short steel trigger. All patent print pages are restored and digitally enhanced to remove as many flaws as possibl. Colts were the favorite revolver in the opening of the west and quickly gained an international reputation for ingenuity, reliability, and style. For many reasons, colts gun had a profound effect on american history. Vintage 1940 book a history of the colt revolver from. A scholarly work that far exceeds all of the popular colt histories available today.
Image available on the internet and included in accordance with title 17 u. Captain allyn capron was the son of west point graduate e. Apr 07, 2016 in 1955, colts firearms introduced what many believe to be the most elegant. A history of the colt revolver and the other arms made by. Colt singleaction revolvers, by martin pegler, osprey publishing, oxford, u. The only short coming is that the book does not go beyond the early forties. 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 gun selected was a colt reissue navy of 1971 vintage. The patent was issued by the united states patent office on january 19, 1875.
A history of the colt revolver and the other arms made by colts. It was born in the mid1950s in a postwar era in which quality was already starting to fall from the heights that american gun making had attained in. An additional 11,000 were produced in the companys london factory over a fouryear period ending in 1857. Excellent history of colts revolvers from the patterson to the early 1940s. It is the successor corporation to colts earlier firearmsmaking efforts, which started in 1836. In this book, the autrys curator has selected the 100 most important examples to document and celebrate the history of samuel colts. A history of the colt revolver from 1836 to 1940 by haven. Colts manufacturing company, llc is an american firearms manufacturer, founded in 1855 by. Colt historian colt archive properties, llc 1295 blue hills ave. Colt revolver pistol gun book single actions pistols full color. Uberti 1873 cattleman nm revolver carbine 18 for sale. This is a 1st us edition hbk copy of a history of the colt revolver and the other arms made by colts patent fire arms manufacturing company from 1836 to 1940 by charles t haven and frank a belden and published by bonanza books, new york in 1940 with its clipped dust jacket. A history of the colt revolver hardcover january 1, 1997 by frank a.
Firearms will need to be transferred through a ffl holder. Some time in the late 1500s, a lid was added to the flash pan design. Gun, colt a fine copy of the book on the colt revolver. History of the colt revolver first edition bauman rare books. The book is a must for both book collectors and colt firearms collectors. 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. Now, jeffrey richardson has combined both aspects of colt history in his magnificent book colt. Well it has a patent number on it saying patent no september 10 1850 also i have not been able to find a serial number on it or not but i dont really know were to look for a serial number on a older gon so if. By charles haven and frank belden published by crown william morrow bonanza books in 1940 and contains a foreword by stephen v. Samuel colt was an american inventor, industrialist and businessman who established colts. Heres an example of the type of information you will see in a colt historical letter. Between 1850 and 1873, over 325,000 were manufactured in hartford, connecticut. The colt revolver has played a paramount role in the history of american weapons. Nov 20, 2014 the history of colt guns began when colt s manufacturing company was founded in 1855 by samuel colt, years after the failure of his first corporation, the patent arms manufacturing company 1836 42.
While the book is a little long on the companys history and patent paper details, the. Colt pistols and revolvers for firearms collectors. Colts revolver provided its user with greatly increased firepower. From the world s finest collection, the 100 most significant colt revolvers are presented in this handsome volume. 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. Patent for a handgun featuring a revolving cylinder, effectively ending the days of single shot. I heartily recommend this book for anyone interested in the revolvers of the true old west. A history of the colt revolver and other arms made the result was winchester.
Colt s revolver provided its user with greatly increased firepower. A history of the colt revolver, and the other arms made by colts patent fire arms manufacturing company from 1836 to 1940. Superbly illustrated, the history of colt firearms recounts the fascinating story of this most legendary name from the entire 650year saga of firearms. Antique colt firearms and revolvers for sale at 19th century arms. Also in 1955, colt released one of the most famous revolvers in history, the colt python. Ainsworth, the wellknown principal subinspector for the colt single action army revolver in 1873, was assigned to colt by september. Teddy roosevelt even had it adopted by nyc cops, in.
1152 37 530 1519 288 1217 740 431 243 159 701 464 68 275 803 588 1316 1347 489 1482 414 1393 1561 767 84 1020 99 503 930 499 706 1130 786 15 57 1364 1161 235 675 738 496 1134