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	New to Colt Collecting? Perhaps the best advice I can give to someone interested in collecting Colt firearms is to buy the absolute best reference materials you can afford. Quality reference materials will enhance your enjoyment of the hobby by helping you steer clear of a bad purchase or trade. There are many good books about Colt firearms on the market. Additionally, there are several out of print books which still can be located at second hand bookstores, gunshows and through Amazon.com. COLT AUTOMATIC PISTOLS
	The Government Models: The Development of the Colt Model of 1911 by William H. Goddard Hardcover (June 1988) Andrew Mowbray Pub; ISBN: 0917218248 The most authoritative source on the development of the world's most popular military pistol. Includes an illustrated description and analysis of all the variations, including rare factory models. A beautiful color section shows a wide selection of the most exciting Colt M1911s ever made. One hundred and ten pages of complete factory shipping records allow individual pistols to be researched by serial number! These records include all martial and thousands of commercial big frame Colt autos through the last Transition Government Model of 1924. Carefully designed for quick reference and distinctive appearance, Goddard's "The Government Models" is a must for every enthusiast of Colts and military firearms. The Colt Model 1905 Automatic Pistol : With Supplemental Coverage of the Colt M1907 Automatic Pistol - A Complete Facsimile of the Thompson-Lagarde report. by John Potocki / Hardcover / Published 1998 This exciting new book covers all aspects of the Colt Model 1905 Automatic Pistol, from its invention by the legendary John Browning to its numerous production variations. Of special value to collectors is the M1905 serial number table, carefully complied by the author from an extensive survey of surviving examples. Also included is important new information regarding military Colt M1907 Automatic Pistols and a complete copy of the pivotal Thompson-LaGarde Report, which established .45 as the minimum caliber. 192 pages with 138 illustrations. Recent Reviews: How did the 1905 come to be? Why did the U.S. Army adopt the .45 automatic in preference to the Colt .38 D.A. revolver? These questions are finally answered here. At long last, Colt automatic collectors are provided some solid reference on the elusive Model 1905 .45 caliber automatic models... The in-depth story which forms the basis of this book offers collectors more information on the 1905 than has ever been available in print. ...[This book] is well written, carefully researched, and thoughtfully prepared. The reader will have no trouble devouring its much sought-after data. Its photography is a delight to the eye. This little book fills a large void in our understanding of the evolution of the .45 automatic pistol. - Bullet 'n' Press Potocki has used the army's experiences in the Philippines in 1899 to introduce his book and to cover in detail how, and why, the .45 caliber automatic pistol had its origins. It is a fascinating story including the reasons, the beginnings of the .45 cartridge in 1904, the delivery of commercial cartridges in 1905, the production of the first pistols in late 1905 and the part played by John M. Browning. - Canadian Journal of Arms Collecting
	Colt 45 Service Pistols by Charles Clawson/Hardcover / Published 1993
	The Colt 1911 Automatic Pistol : Its Predecessor and Variations by Larry Hacker / Paperback / Published 1989
	COLT'S SUPER .38 - The Production History from 1929 through 1971 by Douglas G. Sheldon This book is the study of the production history of the Colt Super .38 that was introduced as a separate model in the year 1929 and discontinued in 1971. The pistol is still manufactured by Colt's to this day, but is now a caliber variation of the currently produced 80 Series pistols. The Super .38 Model was itself a variation of the renowned .45 caliber Model 1911, which was designed by John M. Browning and licensed to Colt's. The Model 1911, with minor improvements, has been continuously manufactured by them for over 85 years and, without a doubt, is the most successfully designed handgun in American history. This comprehensive book documents design changes in the Super .38 Model during the 43 years of production. Additional information is provided on special purchases, foreign sales, unique markings, along with packaging and advertising information. It is designed as a reference work and has been laid out in a user-friendly format to allow for quick access of needed information. Numerous photos and diagrams have been used throughout the text to clarify the provided data. Accuracy of information was the primary goal of the author. In many cases, this could only be accomplished by hand counting serial numbers in the original shipping ledgers located at the Colt factory. More than six weeks were spent during a seven year information gathering period pouring through records in the Historical Department located at Colt's. This is a followup work to the 1987 printing of the author's first book Colt's .38 Automatic Pistols. This previous book covers the production history of Browning's first automatic pistol design which was licensed to, and manufactured by, Colt's from 1900 through 1928. The two variations were phased out by the end of 1928 and replaced by the Super .38 Model.
	Collectors Guide to Colt's 38 Automatic Pistols by Douglas G. Sheldon / Paperback / Published 1987 This book covers the production history of Browning's first automatic pistol design which was licensed to, and manufactured by, Colt's from 1900 through 1928. The two variations were phased out by the end of 1928 and replaced by the Super .38 Model. It is the study of the production history of the Automatic Colt Pistols (Models 1900, 1902 and 1903) in .38 ACP. This comprehensive book documents design changes in the .38 ACP Models during the 28 years of production. Additional information is provided on special purchases, foreign sales, unique markings, along with packaging and advertising information. It is designed as a reference work and has been laid out in a user-friendly format to allow for quick access of needed information. Numerous photos and diagrams have been used throughout the text to clarify the provided data.
	.45 ACP Super Guns : Modified .45 Autos for Competition Hunting and Personal Defense by J.M. Ramos / Paperback / Published 1991

	COLT GENERAL INTEREST
	The Book of Colt Firearms by R. L. Wilson / Hardcover / 2nd edition (September 1993) This carefully scoped, no-expense-spared landmark work is a necessary volume for the collector, the researcher, the historian, the curator, the shooter or hunter, the arms dealer, or the interested layman. In one 616-page volume is the fascinating story of the gunmakers and engravers, promoters and industrialists who made and sold the products which have met the needs of the armed forces and peace officers, miners and explorers, gamblers and gunfighters, cowboys and ranchers, and the good the bad and the ugly from the old west -- as well as hunters and target shooters of the silver screen and TV. Here in one unequaled volume is the romance and adventure, history, artistry, and craftsmanship of the most famous gunmaker in history: Colt. Author R.L. Wilson has delivered to Blue Book Publications a completely redone first section, with several superb new color illustrations, a fresh foreword, and updated acknowledgments. New black & white and color illustrations have also been added within the body of work, improving on the original volume. The bibliography has also been updated, as has the historical chronology. Seven new color illustrations appear at the back of the book. Further, the endpapers are fresh, and in full color. Over 50% more color appears in this new edition than in the classic 1971 First Edition - the book which has sold for as much as $3000 amongst dedicated collectors. The Book of Colt Firearms is a complete Colt library in a single volume. In over 1,250,000 words, over 1,250 black & white and 67 color photographs, this mammoth work tells the Colt story form1832 through the present: a comprehensive study of Colonel Colt and his company, yet tailored for readability, with human interest for the layman. All Colt revolvers, pistols, longarms, and even automatic weapons, and countless items of memorabilia, are described and reviewed in prodigious detail, in an authoritative text of unsurpassed scope. This lavish and unprecedented work presents thousands of facts, drawn from the author's years of specialized research, ever featuring serial number sequences be year for all percussion and cartridge hand and longarms. Standard production arms, variations, experimentals, prototypes, and a variety of engraved guns, are exploded in minute detail. Markings, calibers, barrel lengths, finishes, and a panorama of other features are thoroughly presented in an easily used reference format. The Colt company's factory records are but one of the many sources for the text. Colt firearms in major museums were researched and recorded. Numerous private collections were thoroughly studied. Catalogues, correspondence, ledgers, and patents from over 150 years of source material were examined. The result is the most comprehensive pictorial and textual work ever published on any of the world's gunmakers.
	Colt : An American Legend/the Official History of Colt Firearms from 1836 to the Present by R. L. Wilson / Hardcover / Published 1989 Over 400 color plates, over 110 black and white illustrations. Official history of Colt firearms with detailed serial number tables. Hailed by Michael Korda as "a classic... the most beautiful book on firearms ever published and a milestone in modern book design and production". All-time best selling book on Colt firearms. 11" x 8.5". 410 pages. Abbeville Press, Inc. Sid Latham (Photographer)
	Colt : The Making of an American Legend by William Hosley / Hardcover / Published 1996 A profusely illustrated social history explores the origins of America's gun culture through the life of Samuel Colt and his wife, Elizabeth, who started America's gun industry and transformed pre-Civil War Hartford. Recent Review: From Booklist , January 1, 1997 The Colt name is now a legend in the field of firearms. This is the story of how, through personal efforts, Sam Colt, along with his wife, Elizabeth, turned an idea into a manufacturing empire and transformed himself into a household name. Beginning with Sam's early failures, it traces the evolution of his now famous revolver. The key to Sam's success was demanding a high standard of precision manufacturing backed by vigorous and imaginative marketing. The result was one of America's first major export industries. Elizabeth Colt was the person most responsible for maintaining the legacy her husband had created. Upon his premature death, she launched a 40-year campaign of civic memorialization as a patron of the arts by endowing parks, museums, and public artworks. Unlike most books on Colt, the only guns illustrated are primarily from Sam's personal collection, while the vast majority of photos depict art and memorabilia. A large-format book with a social-history approach that distinguishes it from other volumes on the subject. Fred Egloff Copyright© 1997, American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to the hardcover edition of this title.
	Colt : The Making of an American Legend by William Hosley / Paperback / Published 1996 ~ Ships in 2-3 days See description above.
	The Colt Armory : A History of Colt's Manufacturing Company, Inc. Ellsworth S. Grant / Hardcover / Published 1996 ~ Ships in 2-3 days A completely new edition, featuring new chapters, lots of added information and an all-new color section. This affordable, updated version, complete with details of Colt's triumphant escape from bankruptcy, deserves a cherished place in the library of every arms collector and historian. 232 pp., 199 photos, 8.5" x 11".
	Colt Firearms Legends Narrated by gun collector and entertainer Mel Tormé, script by R.L.Wilson, VHS Tape / Published 1993 No firearms are more avidly collected than Colts. Brought together for this one-hour-long video are over $30,000,000 worth of the finest and most rare Colt firearms. Beginning with the Sam Colt-John Pearson prototype of c.1835 through the fabulous exhibition model revolver made to commemorate Colt's 150th anniversary, this unique program allows close examination of the entire history of the legendary company's production. The guns shown are assembled from museums and private collections. Literally dozens of famous firearms are shown including Abraham Lincoln's gift to King Charles XVth of Sweden and Norway, Sam Colt's gift to the Czars Nicholas I and Alexander II of Russia, the revolver of the Sultan of Turkey, and the sole existing prototype of the most famous gun of all: the Model 1873 Single Action Army, often called the Peacemaker. A great companion to the video Son of a Gun. Rated best collector-oriented gun video to date.
	Colt Memorabilia Price Guide John Ogle / Paperback / Published 1997 The first book ever compiled about the vast array of non-gun merchandise produced by Sam Colt's companies and other companies using the Colt name, this guide includes more than 1,500 color photos to help readers identify a wide range of objects from knives, buckles, and badges to office supplies, decals, glassware and coasters.
	Crisis and Political Beliefs : The Case of the Colt Firearms Strike ~ Ships in 2-3 days Marc Lendler / Hardcover / Published 1997

	COLT LONG GUNS
	Colt Rifles & Muskets from 1847 to 1870 ~ Ships in 2-3 days Herbert G. Houze / Hardcover / Published 1996

	COLT PERCUSSION REVOLVERS
	A Study of Colt Conversions and Other Percussion Revolvers R. Bruce McDowell / Hardcover / Published 1997 ~ Ships in 2-3 days This definitive new work will take you inside the history of American revolver conversions from the standard percussion (cap and ball) ammunition to the newer and faster self-contained metallic cartridges. Included are never-before-released documents, drawings and photos a sequence of events that changed American firepower. The detailed photos, drawings and technical specifications provide essential identification info, enabling you to distinguish between factory conversions and those made by private sources.
	Colt Blackpowder Reproductions & Replicas : A Collector's & Shooter's Guide Dennis Adler / Paperback / Published 1997
	The Original Confederate Colt (William Albaugh Collection) William S. III Albaugh / Hardcover / Published 1993

	COLT SINGLE ACTION ARMY REVOLVERS
	The Colt : Single Action Army Revolver Larry Hacker / Paperback / Published 1989
	Colt Cavalry Artillery and Militia Revolvers 1873-1903 Cochran / Hardcover / Published 1994
	Colt Peacemaker British Model Keith Cochran / Hardcover / Published 1989
	Colt Peacemaker Encyclopedia Vol 1 Keith Cochran / Hardcover / Published 1992
	Colt Peacemaker Encyclopedia Vol 2 Keith Cochran / Hardcover / Published 1992
	Colt Peacemaker Encyclopedia Vol 3 Keith Cochran / Hardcover / Published 1998
	The Colt Single Action : Three Generations (For Collectors Only Series) Joe Poyer / Paperback / Published 1998
	Colt Single Action Army Revolvers and the London Agency by C. Kenneth Moore / Hardcover / Published 1990 This work chronicles the relationship between the London Agency and the Hartford home office. Includes a summary of shipments of the S.A.A. to the London Agency through the end of 1881. Heavily illustrated. 144 pp., 8.75" x 11.25".
	Colt's S.A.A. : Post-War Models George Garton / Hardcover / Published 1979 This book teaches the intricacies of the Colt SAA pistols and provides the reader with instructions for repairing minor problems with these magnificent guns.
	Study of the Colt Single Action Army Revolver Ron Graham / Hardcover / Published 1992

	THE BEST GUN VALUE BOOKS
	Blue Book of Gun Values (20th Ed) S. P. Fjestad / Paperback / Published 1999 ~ Usually ships within 24 hours. This New 20th Anniversary Edition simply contains more firearms values and information than any other single publication. Expanded to over 1,500 pages featuring over 100,000 firearms prices, the new Blue Book of Gun Values also contains over 3/4 million words of text - no other book is even close! Most of the information contained in this publication is simply not available anywhere else, for any price!
	Flayderman's Guide to Antique American Firearms and Their Values Norm Flayderman / Paperback / Published 1998 ~ Usually ships in 24 hours With its many new additions and revisions, this updated guide reflects the ever-changing collecting and buying patterns in the antique firearms market. Over 3,600 models and variants extensively described with all marks and specifications necessary for quick identification. Over 1,500 large-scale photos accompany model descriptions.
	R.L. Wilson the Official Price Guide to Gun Collecting (1st Ed) by R. L. Wilson / Paperback - 480 pages 1 edition / February 1998 ~ Usually ships within 2-3 days This official guide covers more than 30,000 prices from Colt revolvers and Winchester double-barrel shotguns to German World War II Lugers and British sporting rifles. This singular reference also features a unique history of arms collecting from the Renaissance to modern times, a selected bibliography of important firearms reference works, and a lavish full-color insert highlighting the year at auction.

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