Colt: The Revolver of the American West

Colt: The Revolver of the American West by Richardson, Jeffrey. Hardcover edition. ISBN: 9780785836940.

From the worlds finest collection, the 100 most significant Colt revolvers are presented for the first time in this handsome volume. The Colt revolver "won the West" by being the handgun of choice on the American frontier, used by everyone from settlers and Native Americans to law-enforcement officers and outlaws. As a result of their shared history, the Colt revolver and the American West will forever be connected. The Autry Museum of the American West has compiled the finest assemblage of Colt revolvers in the world, amassing over 500 in its twenty-five year history, including the entire Colt Industries corporate collection and donations from the most prestigious private collectors. The Autrys curator has selected the 100 most important examples to document and celebrate the history of Samuel Colts revolutionary invention. The revolvers include pieces of historical significance, opulently engraved specimens, and extremely rare models. Featured are an early prototype revolver, the first Single Action Army, Wyatt Earps and Theodore Roosevelts favorite guns, and modern revolvers designed by Tiffany & Co. Each gun is described in a detailed essay, and additional artifacts--historical photographs and art, patent documents, advertisements, and memorabilia--are featured to place the revolvers in their proper historical context. This handsome volume is ideal for the collector or enthusiast of the American West.