Saga of the Colt Six-Shooter: and the Famous Men Who Used it…

By George E. Virgines

This is the story of the famed Colt Single Action Army Revolver from 1873 to date. The early history of the Single Action parallels that of our American frontier and goes on to include many wars, the Western movies and television shows, and the current sport of Fast Draw. Coupled with this history are the famous men who used and depended on this gun. Lawmen, outlaws, Western stars and gun sportsmen, all these men lend an aura of romance to the history of this famed old shootin’ iron.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Frederick Fell Publishers, Inc.
• Release date: Sep 1, 2018
• ISBN: 9780883917602

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Bibliography

Introduction

The Colt saga is the story of the famed Colt Single Action Army revolver from 1873 to 1965. The early history of the Single Action parallels that of our own American frontier and goes on to include many wars, the Western movies and television shows, and the current sport of Fast Draw. Coupled with this history are the famous men who used and depended on this gun. Lawmen, outlaws, Western stars, and gunsportsmen, all these men lend an aura of romance to the history of this famed old shootin’ iron.

It has been my endeavor to record every detail of the Single Action in history. To accomplish this end I have had to research and assemble information, material, and photographs from many sources. This project would have been impossible had it not been for the generosity, cooperation, and interest of many people to whom I would like to extend my sincere thanks:

To E. B. (Bev) Mann, editor-in-chief of Guns Magazine, whose encouragement and constructive criticism guided me in the task of writing this book;

To Bob Steindler and Jerome Rakusan, also of Guns, whose many suggestions were indeed helpful;

To Fred A. Roff, Jr., past president of Colt’s Patent Firearms Company, whose generous invitation made it possible for me to tour and inspect the Colt factory. Mr. Roff also supplied me with a very able guide who was most helpful in answering my many questions on the Colt Single Action;

To R. H. (Ron) Wagner, manager of the Parts and Records Division of Colt Company, who devoted much of his time to help me check the Colt factory records on the Single Action Colt and who supplied me with much information which would otherwise have been unobtainable.

The historians, curators, and librarians of various historical societies, museums, and universities, and the many gun collectors throughout the country deserve much more recognition than they usually receive for their foresight in preserving historical records and rare weapons. They have proved to be most cooperative and enthusiastic in contributing information and photographs for this book. My sincere gratitude and thanks to all these ladies and gentlemen.

PART I.

Colt History,

1873-1940

CHAPTER I.

Birthplace of the Colt

The Colt is one of the most renowned and historic firearms in American history. Since it was first manufactured in 1836, the Colt has made a significant contribution to the westward progress of our nation. Popular for more than a century, still widely publicized, and of undisputed historic importance, Colt firearms continue to interest gun users and gun collectors all over the world. Particularly among American collectors, a concern with their country’s past has stimulated appreciation of Colts with specific historic, romantic, or geographic background.

Colt collector firearms include a wide variety of types and models: Patersons, Walkers, Dragoons, Pocket Colts, Navy and Army models, Derringers, Colt rifles, and the later metallic cartridge models. Colts are so numerous, in fact, that a collector can even specialize in a single type and still possess a substantial collection of Colt weapons.

This book is devoted to the history of a single model —that most famous of all Colts, the much admired and much maligned gun that won the West—the Colt Single Action Army revolver. Only within relatively recent years has the SA* come into its own as a collectors’ item. The basis of its growing popularity is partly its long and large production, partly the many variations in its models, calibers, and finishes. All these factors have contributed toward making the SA a very desirable collectors’ piece.

Much research on the SA has been made by writers, historians and Colt collectors. They have unearthed many unknown facts and figures and filled in many gaps in the Colt saga. Just when it seems certain that nothing new can be added to the saga, someone will authenticate a Colt variation that was hitherto unknown. Collector interest in this particular variation will be aroused; demand will add to the value of extant models; and the search will be on. In the course of it yet another Colt variation will probably be uncovered and another search will be initiated.

Gun collectors naturally thirst for data on unique items and little-known variations. The Colt SA can provide them with all these indispensable features, and more. To name just a few, there is seemingly endless variety in barrel-length, in type of caliber, and in the finish, types of which range from the serviceable and plain to the fantastically fancy. Association with Western expansion, cowboys and Indians, local law enforcement officers, and wandering outlaws, the more recent Western movies and cowboy stars—all these add appeal and glamor both to individual guns and to the Colt in general. A recent item in Colt history is the new manufacture of old guns in the form of centennial and anniversary models. While this development is almost purely commercial, in that it trades on a historic background for contemporary sales, it nevertheless represents a collector’s bonanza for future generations. Last but not least in the development of the Colt is the sport of Fast Draw. While the sport has been ridiculed and scorned by some, its thousands of fans and participants have contributed greatly to the contemporary popularity of the Colt SA. Certainly Fast Draw deserves a place in the saga.

The extent and complexity of SA history makes the decision where to begin its telling a difficult one. Here is a revolver that has become one of the most famous guns in the world. Its history is deeply involved with our Western frontier, both with its legendary background and with its actual, documented history.

The saga could commence with the U.S. Cavalry who were the SA’s first users and first ordered the SA, or with the Texas Rangers whose law enforcement is a tradition of the old West. It could also begin with the famous individual Colts that have been distinguished by personal association with the men who made history by deeds both good or bad, in legend and in fact. But, taking first things first, the saga should begin where the SA itself begins: with its manufacture.

The birthplace of the Colt SA is the Colt Patent Firearms Manufacturing Company in Hartford, Connecticut. Located on the banks of the Connecticut River, the factory still uses the original building that was completed in 1855. For more than a hundred years a familiar Hartford landmark has been the large dome whose bright gold ball supports the traditional rearing colt. The symbol was chosen by Sam Colt, and its enduring reputation through so many generations attests to his arms-making genius.

In 1962, the former president of Colt, Fred A. Roff, Jr., kindly invited me to tour this famous factory. A personable, enthusiastic man, Mr. Roff extended every courtesy to me and provided me with a guide who was familiar with all the phases of the manufacture of Colt weapons. Having been conducted through every department of the plant, I was able to follow the manufacturing process from the delivery of the raw steel to the production of the completely tested and packaged gun. The number of separate operations that go into the manufacture of the Colt SA is almost countless. Every gun is inspected part by part and gauges are constantly used to assure uniformity. Nothing is left to chance. Colt’s rigid standards in the production of their precision-built weapons represent one significant reason why the Colt has retained its popularity these many years.

Many of the machines used in the manufacture of the Colt are original ones dating back to the last century. Most, both new and old, were built to meet Colt specifications for the production of an accurate, dependable, and perfected firearm. But any machinery is only as good as the man who operates it. The craftsmen at Colt reflect one reason why Colt firearms are such precision-engineered weapons. It is not uncommon for a craftsman to represent a second or even a third generation of Colt employees who, like his father, has each devoted almost a lifetime of skills and experience to building the reputation of the Colt.

A Colt is literally carved out of steel by meticulous and precise manufacturing know-how. When it is finished, all parts and fittings are individually stamped by a fitter; these stamps stay with the gun until it is assembled. Thus the gun is actually hand-fitted and tailored to assure complete uniformity and perfection.

Once assembled, a Colt must go through several more processes before it is boxed and ready for the customer. First it must be target-tested for accuracy and checked for any type of malfunction. After this series of shooting tests, the gun goes back to the inspection room where it is thoroughly measured with gauges. If the gun passes—and it is proof of Colt efficiency and precision that it almost always does—it is then cleaned and stamped with the VP, verified proof, mark on the trigger guard.

On the esthetic side of manufacture, one of the most outstanding and attractive features of the Colt SA is the beautiful full blue finish and case-hardening. Many competitors have tried to copy the mottled multicoloring of the case-hardened frame but, so far, without success. Even Colt itself has experimented with other processes, only to fall back on the time-proven one involving in part charred bone and primer heated in a furnace—the rest is a secret—that they have used for so many years with apparently unbeatable success.

In addition to these essential steps in Colt manufacture, there are two special departments to which the gun may be sent, at the customer’s request. First, there is the plating department, where the Colt may be given the finest of either nickel, silver, or gold-plate finish. Secondly, there is the engraving department, where the plated gun may be decorated in three grades of engraving or in any special decoration desired. Al Herbert is Colt’s master engraver, and it was my pleasure to meet him and to observe him as he made his fine engravings.

Being myself most concerned with the historic background of the SA, however, I found the Colt Records Department the most interesting of those I visited. It was here that I had the pleasure of meeting a gentleman who, for a long time now, has been my link with the history of many Single Action Colts, Ron H. Wagner, manager of the Records and Parts Department. Over the years, Mr. Wagner has been the researcher and adviser for many gun collectors, and they always look for a reply from him with great anticipation. All have the same thought in mind: will he impart some important historic information that will make their Colt the find of the century? It has happened more than once. A very amiable and conscientious fellow, Mr. Wagner hopes as hard as each collector that his information will make their Colt an especially valuable one.

Together, the two of us spent many pleasurable hours poring over the old Colt records. Stacked from floor to ceiling, these books cover a wide scope of Colt history. For instance, there are sixty-eight books which contain the shipping records of Colt firearms from pre-World War II days all the way back to 1872. They record the movements of such famous Colt models as the Single Action Army revolver, the Lightning and Thunderer Double Action revolver, and the New Service, New Police, Police Positive, and Automatic pistols. In 1932, Colt discontinued using the large books for recording handgun shipments in favor of looseleaf books which, being much smaller, require less storage space. A separate looseleaf book was used for most of the Colt prewar models. Following World War II, however, this method was also discontinued, and another system was introduced which is still being used.

One cannot help but feel nostalgia for the Old West while reading these records, especially when he encounters such names as Colonel Buffalo Bill Cody, Bat Masterson, Pawnee Bill, and the Miller Brothers and their 101 Ranch. Here one also finds the U.S. Army, the sheriffs and marshals of cowtowns and mining camps, the Wells Fargo Express, corporations and police departments, and motion picture companies and their famous Western cowboy stars. All these names and people add up to a colorful, highly significant chapter of American history.

The town of Hartford is a real treasure-house of Colt history and lore. In addition to the Colt factory itself, the town also boasts the Colt Collection of Firearms displayed at the Connecticut State Library; this famous gun collection was officially donated to the Connecticut State Library on March 7, 1957, by the officials of the Colt Company in a presentation ceremony.

Recognized as one of the best collections of firearms and related material in the world, the Colt collection is a must visit for anyone seriously interested in guns and their history. Here he will find, perfectly mounted and displayed, not only almost every gun that the Colt Company has produced but also various weapons made by other manufacturers such as Smith & Wesson, Remington, Savage, Manhattan, and Winchester. Within the Colt exhibition itself, the Single Action Army revolver is given prominent representation. Among the many on display are engraved models, cutaway demonstrator models, and experimental and pilot models that include guns with loading gate ejection, multiple ejection, and variations in both grip design and cylinder pin experiments. There are also several U.S. marked single action revolvers and the 16-inch-barrel Buntline Special with shoulder stock. The Colt collection is naturally the major American storehouse of the Colt SA and also contains many valuable letters, documents, books, and other firearm memorabilia.

The two persons responsible for this excellent display of historic firearms are Herb Glass, consultant firearms historian to the Colt Company, and Mrs. Arline G. Maver, curator of the museum. A highly respected gun expert and a collector himself, Mr. Glass saw to it that every firearm was properly tagged with complete data on make and origin. He also designed the display cases and all the accessories necessary to show off the collection to its fullest effect.

Mrs. Maver, the museum’s curator, has also made significant contributions to the success of the Colt collection. Before the firearms were put on display, she herself cleaned almost every gun—and there are several hundred Colts in