Product Description

"Hereme, and one that will be quoted for years to come as the standard reference of the history of Colt firearms."--Guns Magazine. 410 illustrations, 305 in color.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #72282 in Books
• Published on: 1985-12-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 406 pages

From Library Journal
Wilson has produced what may well be the definitive work on Colt firearms. Complementing his previous work, The Colt Heritage: the official history of Colt firearms, 1836-present ( LJ 11/1/79), this concentrates on the individual models the company produced. Interspersing his narrative with some biographical information on Sam Colt and his company, Wilson traces the development of the company line with more than 400 photos. The fine engraving and rich textures are shown to advantage in Latham's photographs. Every model produced is described and illustrated, including rare pieces. An invaluable appendix traces the complete serial numbers and years of manufacture. Of interest to collectors and students of the history of technology, this is highly recommended. George F. Scheck, Naval War Coll. Lib., Newport, R.I.
Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Customer Reviews

A truly beautiful book!

This is a book for your coffee table! It of course covers the history of Colt firearms, and was written by (who else?) the historical consultant to the Colt Firearms Division.

Wilson is also a well-known collector, free-lance consultant and well-known author in the firearms field. This is his twentieth book, and perhaps his best.

The book is well-written, of course, and the epitome of accuracy--deriving its facts and figures directly from the horse's mouth, so to speak--but its greatest value is the exquisite color photography with which it is filled.

There are 406 gorgeous eight and a half inch by eleven inch (landscape) pages, almost all of them containing color photographs of great beauty, depicting historical firearms directly from Colt's own collection, as well as from other sources.

If you are a firearm aficionado, or a Colt collector, or just a history buff who appreciates the role Colt firearms have played in American history, this is the book for you.

It is one of my most prized books.

Joseph Pierre,
Author of THE ROAD TO DAMASCUS: Our Journey Through Eternity

View the mountaintop of gun collecting...
Look, you can't get Wilson's seminal, collectible The Book of Colt Firearms because it is out of print, costs $1000 if you can find one, and your wife would kill you.

Get this book. This is as close as you can get and is widely available. I use it all the time to look up the date of manufacture of any Colt's I might want to buy. The illustrations are quite outstanding.

If you don't know, Mr. Wilson is the most famous Colt expert, who must be incredibly rich to have built his collection. Most of the items shown are from Wilson's own collection, worth millions. He doesn't need the money from this book. It is a labor of love.

still available in new condition elsewhere
before buying used, consider the author's own web site & other major bookstores - the book is available new for a very reasonable price.