The Colt Way

By
Garrett Fiducia
Mario Machuca

Annotated Bibliography
Primary Sources
Advertisement
Colt Firearms. Getty Images. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Sept. 2015. <http://www.gettyimages.com/detail/newsphoto/advertisement-for-colt-pistols-by-colts-firearms-news-photo/163548965>. This
advertisement shows Colts exploration into the civilian firearms market. The ad claims eight
shots in under two seconds, faster than any other sidearm at the time. The Colt automatic pistol
was also the first step in exploring the world of high power automatic sidearm's. The Colt
automatic pistol would later lead to the development of arguably the best sidearm of all time the
Colt M1911.
Colt Company. Getty. N.p., n.d. Web. 6 Dec. 2015. <http://www.gettyimages.com/detail/newsphoto/advertisement-for-colt-pistols-by-colts-firearms-news-photo/163548941?
et=n3CRBr__Q2xIAmEzJCh8KA&referrer=http%3A%2F%2F66908911960115329613132758.preview.editmysite.com%2Feditor%2Fmain.php>. <span>This
advertisement shows that the U.S Military supports the use of Colt firearms. It shows that the
weapons are built tough and can withstand large amounts of gunfire exchange.</span>
Colt Company. Getty. N.p., n.d. Web. 6 Dec. 2015. <http://www.gettyimages.com/detail/newsphoto/advertisement-for-colt-pistols-by-colts-firearms-news-photo/163548966?
et=3Dx5YZBWTktZ_YJkr2JqoQ&referrer=http%3A%2F%2F66908911960115329613132758.preview.editmysite.com%2Feditor%2Fmain.php>. <span>This
advertisement shows three servicemen looking at the colt .45 revolver. This shows that Colts
exploration in military technology were greatly appreciated by the men using them to protect
themselves.</span>

Journal
Dimond, Francis C., Lieutenant Colonel, and Norman M. Rich. "M-16 Rifle Wounds In Vietnam." The
Journal of Trauma: Injury, Infection, and Critical Care 7.5 (1967): 619-25. Wolter Kluwer. Web.
22 Oct. 2015.
<http://journals.lww.com/jtrauma/Citation/1967/09000/M_16_RIFLE_WOUNDS_IN_VIETNA
M_.1.aspx>. <span>This is a journal written three surgeons that discusses the stopping power
and the damage the Colt M16 has on the human body. This journal was written after Vietnam and
its purpose was to inform surgeons how to prepare their hospitals for similar injuries since many
civilians have started to purchase the Colt M16. This shows how Colt weapons not only changed
the way war were fought but the way soldiers lives were saved.</span>

Newspaper

Anderson, Elmer. "Every Shooter Wants a Rifle That's Accurate." Beaver County Times [Pennsylvania]
13 Jan. 1991: C13. Google Archives. Web. 21 Oct. 2015. <https://news.google.com/newspapers?
nid=2002&dat=19910113&id=DLciAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ILUFAAAAIBAJ&pg=3041,1986240&h
l=en>. <span>This news article shows how the use of colts guns in previous wars spread into the
homes of Americans because they trusted the reliability of the company. This lead to a rise in the
production of colts. This affected how hunters encountered animals and how colt bearing police
officers exchanged and protected themselves from colt bearing criminals. Colt began to explore

new ways to not only provide the military weapons but to provide weapons for the everyday
person.</span>
Welles, Benjamin. "Gen. Walt Calls M-16 Rifle the Finest Weapon." Miami News 8 June 1967: 11-A.
Google.com. Google. Web. 23 Sept. 2015. <https://news.google.com/newspapers?
nid=2206&dat=19670608&id=2TQ0AAAAIBAJ&sjid=ZesFAAAAIBAJ&pg=1395,1516576&h
l=en>. Colt firearms earned a great reputation in the field amongst soldiers. Many agreed that the
M16A2 was the best rifle ever produced. Colts superior design and ease of use proved its worth
in several theaters of action . These great qualities earned Colt the slogan "Old reliable" in the
field of action. The M16A2 changed foreign encounters forever.
Writer, Staff. "Browning Rifle." The Telegraph [Nashua] 16 June 1944, Friday ed.: n. pag. Google
Archives. Google. Web. 24 Sept. 2015. <https://news.google.com/newspapers?
nid=2209&dat=19440616&id=5IJAAAAAIBAJ&sjid=yqQMAAAAIBAJ&pg=3545,5024609&
hl=en>. This newspaper article describes the Browning Automatic Rifle or BAR for short. The
author tells the audience the basic features of the gun and why it was so useful to US troops.
The .30 caliber machine gun packed a punch and could lay down suppressive fire with a firing
rate of 120-150 bullets per minute. The BAR helped the US explore the possibility of highpowered but lightweight machine guns.
Writer, Staff. "Colts On Overtime." Meriden Daily Republican [Meriden] 11 Mar. 1898, Friday ed.: 2.
Google.com. Web. 23 Sept. 2015. <https://news.google.com/newspapers?
nid=2511&dat=18980311&id=iV81AAAAIBAJ&sjid=9RMLAAAAIBAJ&pg=3725,918141&h
l=en>. With WWI approaching rapidly Colt firearms was put into high gear. The mass
production of their revolvers was contracted by the government. The Colt company was working
hard to fulfill the government contract while still producing civilian models and working on new

designs. The article gives testimony to the power of Colts weapons by providing test results. The
Revolver was claimed to have gone through a 3/8 inch steel plate, 20 inches of wood a steel pipe
and through another 1/8 inch steel plate before being stopped. This shows how the civilian
population first encountered news of the high powered repeating sidearm.
Writer, Staff. "New Pistol For Army." Gazette Times [Pittsburgh] 13 Apr. 1911, Thursday ed.: 11.
Gooble.com. Google. Web. 23 Sept. 2015. <https://news.google.com/newspapers?
nid=1126&dat=19110413&id=aA1RAAAAIBAJ&sjid=eWYDAAAAIBAJ&pg=3616,1553227
&hl=en>. This newspaper article from 1911 gives a brief description of how the Colt .45 semi
automatic pistol was selected for use in all US service branches. The military began to explore
for a new sidearm for its military encounters. The article states that the Colt outperformed every
other gun manufacture in all categories proving its worth to the testers. The Colt was known to
be the superior of all automatic pistols after undergoing highly rigorous tests. The Model 1911
set a precedent for all other manufacturers to follow and strive to achieve.
Writer, Staff. "Two Machine Guns Invented For United States Army By The"Edison" of Firearms." The
Palm Beach Post [Miami] 17 Nov. 1917: 11. Google Archives. Web. 21 Oct. 2015.
<https://news.google.com/newspapers?
nid=2206&dat=19171117&id=VnIuAAAAIBAJ&sjid=HtgFAAAAIBAJ&pg=5598,6698733&hl
=en>. <span>This newspaper discusses how Colt-Browning had to produce their automatic rifles
day and night to keep up with the War(WWI). The weapons were needed by U.S troops in
Germany. Both of the full autos that Colt-Browning produced were both produced for the
government. The guns allowed for U.S troops to fire long distances at high rates so troops could
advance. This exploration by Colt-Browning helped lead to a U.S victory in the war.</span>

Patents
Browning, J.M. Automatic Machine Rifle. C.J Ehbets, assignee. Patent 1293022. 4 Feb. 1919. Print.
Colt-Browning began to explore for a new weapons that benefited the military. The weapon that
was manufactured was used by moving infantrymen to lay down fields of suppressive fire as
other riflemen rushed from one trench to the next. This weapon allowed soldiers to exchanges
large amounts of gunfire in short period of time.
Browning, J.M. FireArm. C.J Ehbets, assignee. Patent 984519. 14 Feb. 1911. Print. J.M. Browning was
a firearms dealer from America who specialized in firearms for the military and civilians. His
patent from the Browning Firearm is important to the project because it is a document that came
straight from the creator himself. This gives the sense of how he explored to figure out how to
build the gun and how he exchanged ideas with other inventors to get his final project.
Browning, John M. Automatic Rifle. John M Browning, assignee. Patent US 1533968 A. 14 Apr. 1925.
Print. <span>This is a patent for an automatic rifle made by J.M. Browning. This gun was made
under the Colt company. This shoulder rifle was a game changer in all wars that followed its
creation. It was a crucial weapon during World War One and changed the way soldiers
encountered opposing forces. This gun provided suppression fire while soldiers moved from
trench to trench.</span>
Colt, Samuel. Gun-Stock. Patent US22627 A. 18 Jan. 1859. Print. <span>This patent is of a change in
configuration to a gun stock. This patent is important because the stock was used immensely
after Samuel Colt introduced it to the country. It affected encounters between the Americans and

the Indians because the gun stock gave many advantages to the soldiers. The design of the stock
allowed for the solider to place the rifle in his shoulder creating more stability which led to a
more accurate rifle.</span>
Colt, Samuel. Improvement in Firearms. Patent US1304 A. 29 Aug. 1839. Print. <span>This is a patent
for the first colt revolving pistol and rifle. The guns were built and designed by Samuel Colt. The
improvements that were made to the guns were important to exploration, encounter, and
exchange because it made it easier for Americans to shoot for longer periods with the revolving
cylinder instead of a muzzle loaded single shot pistol and allowed for faster reload speed. During
the battles with Indians a revolving pistol gave soldiers a huge advantage over the poorly armed
Indians.</span>
Colt, Samuel. Improvement in Revolving Chambered Fire-arms. Patent US 7629 A. 10 Sept. 1850. Print.
<span>This patent is of an improvement in revolving chambered firearms invented by Samuel
Colt. This new invention would prevent accidental discharges from the revolver caused by the
rotating of the barrel. This is important because with this invention it brought more safety to
users of the weapon which led to more guns being exchanged with allies of the United states ,
which in turn increased the Colt company's production and reliability.</span>
Colt, Samuel. Improvement in the Mode of Lubricating Firearms. Patent US16716 A. 3 Mar. 1857. Print.
<span>This patent is also another one of Samuel Colt's many improvement ideas. This
improvement was to make the mode of lubricating firearms. This new method prevent the balls
from falling down the barrels and damaging the guns. This is important to the paper because it
gives another primary account of how Colt was exploring ways to make his guns change the way

wars were fought. The end result was a safer and more accurate way for the military to exchange
gunfire.</span>
Colt, Samuel. Revolving Gun. Patent 194. 24 Oct. 1848. Print. This is a patent for the revolving gun.
This revolver was made by Samuel Colt and the patent shows the different parts and pieces that
make up the gun. This was important to the project because it shows another one of the many
popular guns that Samuel Colt designed.
Colt, Samuel. The First Practical Revolving Firearm. His Majestys Patent Office, assignee. Patent 6909.
22 Oct. 1835. Print. This patent was for The first practical revolving firearm (a revolver with a
mechanically rotating cylinder) was patented by Samuel Colt on October 22, 1835. This was an
entirely new idea for the people at the time to encounter. The people were reluctant to give up
there black powder single shot pistols. However, when the people did decide to buy the colt .45 it
became the most known gun to this day.
LaTorre, Antonino ,, and Antonio Fugazzotto. High Feed Ramp for Colt 1911. Latorre Antonino,
assignee. Patent US8234807 B2. 7 Aug. 2010. Print. <span>This patent was for the high feed
ramp of the colt 1911. The improved high feed ramp was invented to allow for bullets to enter
into the barrel with ease and not jam or misfire. This ramp also fed the bullets quicker allowing
for faster shooting. This is important to exploration, encounter, and exchange because soldiers
who firing Colts needed every advantage over the enemy during an exchange of gunfire.</span>

Photographs

A U.S. Marine of the 1st Division Takes Aim. 1945. WWII Data Base. Cincinnati. Web. 24 Sept. 2015.
<http://www.gannett-cdn.com/-mm-/7d7f301edbc26fde1071ea9b780c8c76569cd460/c=0-78-

27762166&r=x408&c=540x405/local/-/media/2015/04/03/Cincinnati/Cincinnati/6356365277388675
87-AP45010101102.jpg>. This picture of two marines on the Western Front show three of Colts
premiere firearms. The soldier in back is carrying a Thompson sub machine gun and a M1911 in
his holster while the soldier in front is carrying a Browning Automatic Rifle. This shows that
Colt was the dominant firearms manufacturer of the era. The picture shows how Colt firearms
were involved in every military exchange from WWI and beyond.
CHANG. Soldier of 5th Regimental Combat Team, US 24th Infantry Division with a BAR,. 1951. United
States National Archive. World War II Database. Web. 23 Sept. 2015.
<http://ww2db.com/image.php?image_id=8025>. This picture taken during the Korean War is a
testament to the quality of Colt Firearms. It shows that the BAR was still being used several
conflicts after it was initially put into service. The BAR was the first of its kind. It was a portable
automatic rifle that packed a serious punch. It shot the same cartridge as many bolt action sniper
rifles. This high caliber hard hitting machine gun changed the encounters in many fields of action
including Korea.
Core, John. Man Practices with the Colt Monitor (R 80. 1932. Historical Men. Web. 18 Oct. 2015.
<http://static1.squarespace.com/static/54dc6b0be4b0d364a5ee20e0/t/54f970a2e4b0dc4428e356f
4/1425633443515/?format=300w>. <span>This is a picture of an ordinary man getting ready to
shoot his Colt rifle. This picture is important because it displays that not only were Colt changing
lives of those in war but also that normal people were becoming familiar with these weapons and
were purchasing them for protection. This is a new exploration in the use of guns from
specifically use in war to a form of protection in all homes.</span>

Cox, Matthew. Marines Pick Colt for New Pistol. 2012. Military. Web. 22 Oct. 2015.
<http://images.military.com/media/news/equipment/marsoc-45-pistol.jpg>.This a recent photo
that shows after a hundred years Colts explorations are still being favored today. The picture is a
U.S Marine using a Colt 1911 as his sidearm. The colt M1911 is one of the most trusted
sidearm's and is still used by military and law enforcement today Colts inventions are still being
used in the exchange of gunfire today.

Fass, Horst. VIETNAM WAR U.S. GUNS. N.d. Associated Press. Associated Press. Web. 21 Oct. 2015.
<http://www.apimages.com/metadata/Index/Watchf-AP-I-VNM-APHS371905-Vietnam-WarUS-Guns/cbb1d4fc83114cb99869d4063a713c90/187/1>. <span>This photo taken by Fass shows
a Vietnam soldier carrying a colt gas compressed rifle. This was the colt Model 603 otherwise
known as the Colt M16. This was a lightweight selected fire rifle that could withstand the brutal
use from soldiers exploring the jungles of Vietnam.</span>
Haeberle, Ronald. An American Soldier Firing His M16 Rifle. 1968. Getty Images. Web. 22 Sept. 2015.
This is a picture of a soldier in battle firing a Colt M16 rifle. This photo was taken during the Lai
Massacre during the Vietnam War. This is important to the project because it shows how the
company still exchanged ideas with other manufacturing companies to improve their guns and
make a great product.
HUET. VIETNAM CROSS WATER. 1968. Associated Press. Associated Press. Web. 21 Oct. 2015.
<http://www.apimages.com/metadata/Index/AP-PL-VNM-VIETNAM-CROSSWATER/3e8b501ab1e0da11af9f0014c2589dfb/74/1>. <span>This photograph by Huet shows a
Colt-Browning automatic rifle covered in mud over the head of a soldier who is completely

submerged in a stream. This shows that the Colt company explored all ways of making guns to
build one that could withstand the jungle conditions of Vietnam and still provide a reliable
weapon in the event that the soldier needed to exchange gunfire.</span>
Kauffman. Four US Marines Cleared out a Cave with BAR. 1945. World War II Database. World War II
Database. Web. 23 Sept. 2015. <http://ww2db.com/image.php?image_id=2885>. This picture
displays a group of soldiers firing their BAR rifles and clearing out an enemy base. The BAR
was another gun manufactured by the Colt company and this is important to my project because
it shows how powerful it was and how even when encountered the company had made a good
enough gun to respond back.
Lardner, Richard. U.S. Marines Fire at Taliban Positions. 2008. Associated Press. Cleveland. Web. 22
Oct. 2015. <http://media.cleveland.com/world_impact/photo/marines-fire-at-taliban-afghanistan100209jpg-40dd143dbbdb08d6_large.jpg>. <span>This picture depicts an America marine in
Afghanistan aiming down the sights of a Colt rifle. This is significant because the picture is
somewhat recent and the Colt is being used to be a powerful weapon against the Americans
enemies.</span>
Marines. 1944. World War II Database. WW2 in Color. Web. 22 Sept. 2015.
<http://www.ww2incolor.com/us-marines/battle_marianas28.html>. This photo shows Marines
Gunnery Sergeant J. Paget exchanging gunfire with Browning M1919 machine gun. This was
captured during the U.S's encounter with the Japanese at Guam beach. The advanced weaponry
of the United States which include Colt-Thompson submachine guns, Colt-Browning M1919 and
Colt 1911's lead to a U.S victory.
NICKELSBERG, ROBERT. M4 Carbine. 2003. Getty Data Base. Time. Web. 24 Sept. 2015.
<http://content.time.com/time/photogallery/0,29307,1885837_1857314,00.html>. A firearm

design that has survived and thrived over the course of several decades is the M4 carbine. Colt's
M4 was originally designed for CQB or Close Quarters Combat. The closed bolt short barrel
variation of the M16 was widely popular in the modern era of military engagements. The M4 is
still being produced today by Colt. The M4 assault rifle is solid evidence that Colt is still
exploring new ideas and exchanging ideas with the military. The M4 assault rifle is solid
evidence that Colt is still exploring new ideas and exchanging ideas with military personnel to
make a better firearm. The picture shows the M4 SOPMOD in use overseas, in a suburban
environment which the gun was designed to be used in.
Palmer, Alfred. Fort Knox. Colt 45. 1942. Library of Congress LOT 1866. Fort Knox. Web. 22 Sept.
2015. The picture shows a soldier training at Fort Knox, Kentucky. The soldier is shooting a
newly remodeled Colt .45 pistol. The weapon encountered several war and was modified to have
more accuracy. This newly remodeled weapon would be the sidearm of choice going into WWII.
Photographer, Field. Soldier Takes Aim. 1952. War History Online. Web. 22 Oct. 2015.
<https://www.warhistoryonline.com/wpcontent/uploads/2015/10/US_ARMY_M1919A4_Korea_1953.jpg>. <span>This photo shows a
U.S soldier and his m-80 on a hill in Korea. This was Colt's new exploration and it was used to
shoot into the dense forest and clear everything in its path. This gun was used to limit the
enemy's exchange of gunfire by firing thousands of rounds so they could not shoot back. Colt
took its encounters with this weapon from WW1 AND WW2 to improve this into a fast firing
accurate machine gun.</span>
Photographer, Military. Norwegian Army Machine Gun Crew with Colt M/29. 1940. WWII Data Base.
WW2 Database. Web. 21 Oct. 2015.
<http://ww2db.com/images/weapon_browningm1917_4.jpg>. <span>This photo shows the

Norwegian Army using the Colt M29 machine gun. This shows that Colt firearms have been
exchanged with other countries as well. These weapons were requested by Norwegian Army to
help with their World War Two encounters. It also showed that colt weapons had such high
quality and reliability that other countries wanted them for their military.</span>
Photographer, Military. Rough Riders. 1895. National Rifle Association Museum. Web. 21 Oct. 2015.
<http://www.nramuseum.com/media/940564/guns%20of%20the%20spanish.pdf>. <span>This
photograph shows a group of Texas Rangers with a Colt "Potato digger" machine gun. The group
of Rangers photographed were in Cuba. In 1895 this colt machine gun was top of the line and far
superior than any of Cuba's rifles. This shows that even in 1895 a high rate of gunfire exchange
was crucial to having a successful military.</span>
Photographer, Union. Union Soldiers. 1862. Tennessee State Library and Archives. Web. 21 Oct. 2015.
<http://www.tn.gov/tsla/educationoutreach/cwresources.htm>. <span>This is a Tintype 2nd
Tennessee Cavalry Regiment during the Civil War. The soldiers were armed with Colt revolving
pistols and rifles. This was a huge advantage for the regiment because most of their enemies still
had muzzle loading rifles. This allowed them to exchange rapid rates of gunfire at the enemy
while they were reloading. Colts invention instantly changed the way wars were fought.</span>
Press, Associated. U.S. Marine Operating a Water-cooled .30 Caliber Machine Gun in Protection of His
Comrades Advancing,. 1945. Associated Press Data Base. Cincinnati. Web. 24 Sept. 2015.
<http://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/2015/04/16/remembering-battle-okinawa/70738952/>.
This photo shows a colt M1917 Browning machine gun. This gun allowed for huge exchanges of
fire. The gun could fire for a day straight with no jams. This gun was cooled by a water tank so it

did not overheat. The M1917 was the first of many heavy machine guns Colt-Browning
produced.
Reporter, Army. 12.7-mm Anti-aircraft Machine Gun Colt-Browning. 1942. Album War 2. Web. 22
Oct. 2015. <http://albumwar2.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/39403-728x583.jpg>.
<http://albumwar2.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/39403-728x583.jpg>. <span>This is a
photograph of one of Colts largest guns. The gun is 12.7-mm anti-aircraft machine gun. The gun
fires huge rounds into the sky to protect troops from bomb raid. This was Colt's first anti aircraft
gun and it proved to be very successful during world war 1. This allowed for the ground to
exchange fire with the air.</span>

Reporter, Field. Colt Factory Overtime. 1942. Olive Drab Historical. Web. 22 Oct. 2015. <http://olivedrab.com/images/id_pistol_m1911_700_07.jpg>.
This is a photo showing the production of parts for a colt m1911. The photo was taken during
World War One when there was a need for the pistol. The factory had to work night to keep pace
with the Military needs. The picture shows thousands of pistol handles being produced by one
man working a drill press.

Raw Data
Thompson, John T. The Thompson-LaGarde Tests. 1904. Weapons Test and Analysis. Union Stock
Yards, Chicago. The United States began to explore for a new side arm when the Colt .38 on

numerous instances proved ineffective. The Army Ordnance Corps appointed Colonel John T.
Thompson and Major Louis Anatole LaGarde of the Army Medical Corps to investigate the
effectiveness of various calibers. Thompson & LaGarde decided that testing on live cattle and on
donated human bodies would be the best method of finding which bullet would put a man down.
The Colt .45 dominated and became the sidearm of choice for the Military.
Secondary Sources
Books

Bates, Johnny, and Mike Cumpston. Percussion Pistols and Revolvers: History, Performance and
Practical Use. New York: IUniverse, 2005. Print. <span>This book discusses how colt went
from a percussion pistol to a revolver that did not need to be reloaded with gunpowder at all.
This changed the way the military and the Texas Rangers encountered their enemies. It allowed
them to shoot five times as many shots as the could before while using a percussion
pistol.</span>
Boorman, Dean K. Guns of the Old West: An Illustrated History. Guildford, CT: Lyons, 2002. Google
Books. Google, 2009. Web. 21 Oct. 2015. <https://books.google.com/books?
id=6EMF4l14xbMC&printsec=frontcover&dq=books+on+history+of+colt+revolver&hl=en&sa
=X&ved=0CFUQ6AEwCWoVChMI6vSPtNDUyAIVRsNjCh3imA_M#v=onepage&q=books
%20on%20history%20of%20colt%20revolver&f=false>. <span>This book shows how the colt
changed and how company explored new weapons based on what was needed by local law
enforcement and the Texas Rangers. Colt took the knowledge he learned from providing to local
law enforcement and the Texas Rangers and built weapons that the Military could use. The book

shows how the Colt pistol was transformed from a single shot percussion pistol to a pistol with a
six shot revolving cylinder.</span>
Boorman, Dean K. The History of Colt Firearms. New York: Lyons Pres, 2001. Print. This book
discussed how Samuel Colt started designing and producing firearms. Colt explored new ideas to
make a stronger weapon. The six cylinder revolving cylinder he developed allowed for multiple
shots to be fired without reloading. This was a revolutionary idea and changed the way military
exchanges took place.
Buehr, Walter. Firearms. New York: Crowell, 1967. Print. This books discusses how Samuel colts
inventions lead to a new way of fighting wars. Instead of reloading after each shot soldiers could
fire multiple shots. It also talks about how colt firearms were built to last even when hundreds of
rounds are going threw it a day. Samuel Colts ideas have lead to many new weapons and
improvements to weapons.
Doeden, Matt. Weapons of World War II. Mankato, MN: Capstone, 2009. Print. This book explains the
use of Colt Firearms during the military exchanges of WWII. It goes in depth on the why certain
firearms were favored over others during some encounters. The Colt .45 pistol was the favored
sidearm during every battle of the war because of its lightweight design and reliability. The ColtBrowning automatics were rugged and allowed for suppression fire over long distances so troops
could advance from trench to trench.
Haven, Charles T., and Frank A. Belden. A History of the Colt Revolver. Fairfax, VA: Published for the
National Rifle Association by Odysseus Editions, 1997. Print. <span>This book by Haven and
Belden goes over how Samuel Colt designed the revolving cylinder and how he tested several
models of it before he made one that met his expectations. While working on the revolving pistol
Samuel also explored ways to integrate the same technology into a rifle. Samuel colt encountered

several issues when testing the pistol. He had several pistols explode in his hand due to the
pressure created from the bullet.</span>
Haven, Charles T., and Frank A. Belden. A History of the Colt Revolver, and the Other Arms Made by
Colt's Patent Fire Arms Manufacturing Company from 1836 to 1940. New York: W. Morrow,
1940. Print. <span>This book goes over the Colt weapons made between 1836 and 1940. The
colt was involved in many military exchanges during these years. These wars and battles such as
the Civil war(1861-1865) Battle of the Little Bighorn(1876), World War One and the beginning
of World War Two. Colt kept exploring ways to improve its weapons and keep up with the
demands of the military.</span>
Haven, Charles T., and Frank A. Belden. A History of the Colt Revolver, and the Other Arms Made by
Colt's Patent Fire Arms Manufacturing Company from 1836 to 1940. New York: W. Morrow,
1940. Print. This books discusses the encounters Colt's patent fire arms faced between 1836 and
1940. The book discusses how Colt weapons was involved in every U.s encounter between 1836
and 1940. Colt's revolvers were used it the Great Sioux War of 1876,Cheyenne War, White River
War which gave the U.S a huge advantage over the American Indians. The Book also explains
how Samuel Colt perfected the first revolving chamber pistol.
Hodges, Robert R. The Browning Automatic Rifle. Oxford: Osprey, 2012. Print. This book explains the
way Colt- Browning Automatic Rifles(BAR's) were developed used in trench warfare. BAR's
remained in US Army service through the Korean War. They were also seen during the Vietnam
War and The US Army National Guard continued to use them until the mid-1970s. Around the
world, they remained in military use as late as the 1990s. This shows the quality Colt put into its
firearms.

Hogg, Ian V. Handguns & Rifles: The Finest Weapons from around the World. New York: Gramercy,
1999. Print. <span>This book rates the Colt .45 revolver as one of the finest pistols made. The
craftsmanship and design of the pistol Samuel created a strong reliable weapon that was
extremely advanced in its time. Hogg discusses that this new mode of pistol had a large impact
on the way battles were fought. The gun had a large amount of stopping power would knock the
enemy down and tear a hole in them.</span>
Kinard, Jeff. Pistols: An Illustrated History of Their Impact. Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CLIO, 2003.
Print. The Colt revolver was the handgun of choice on the frontier because it was the first
revolving pistol capable of firing more than one shot without having to be reloaded. The Colt
revolver had a dramatic impact around the world, but its greatest influence was in the American
West. It was giving the nickname" the gun that one the west"
Kyle, Chris, William Doyle, Jim DeFelice, and Taya Kyle. American Gun: A History of the U.S. in Ten
Firearms. N.p.: n.p., 2014. Print. This book discusses the importance the colt .45 six shooter had
on the way guns were produced. The gun allowed for six shots to be fired before reloading. This
was crucial in exchanges with the Indians because it took away having to reload after each shot
which left the shooter vulnerable to attacks.
Miller, David. The History of Browning Firearms. N.p.: Chartwell, 2006. Print. <span>This book
discuses how Mr. Browning and Colt firearms combined their technology's to create a automatic
rifle. The gun was capable of firing at a rate of 500 rounds per minute. It is regarded as the first
successful gas operated machine gun, designed by John Moses Browning and Colt Firearms.
This allowed for a rapid exchange of gunfire which was crucial during the encounters of World
War One.</span>

Pate, Charles W. U.S. Handguns of World War II: The Secondary Pistols and Revolvers. Lincoln, RI:
Andrew Mowbray, 1998. Print. <span>This book discusses the success the Colt m1911 had
during WWII. Due to its reliability and accuracy soldiers trusted the weapon and was the sidearm
of choice by soldiers. When a soldier's primary weapon failed his secondary weapon was
sometimes their only way to survive. The fact that soldiers chose the m1911 was huge boost for
the Colt company and its future military contracts.</span>
Samuels, Charlie. Machines and Weaponry of the Vietnam War. New York: Gareth Stevens Pub., 2013.
Print. This book explains how weapons Colt designers were able to make a perfect rifle for the
Jungle conditions of Vietnam. They took what they learned from encounters with jungle
conditions during WWII and explored new ways to improve Colt firearms. The weapon they
developed was the M16. This gun worked flawlessly even when covered in mud or dropped in
water. This gun had to be rugged it could fire thousands of shots and not break in the middle of a
exchange of gunfire.
Sweeney, Patrick. 1911: The First 100 Years. Iola, WI: Krause Pubns, 2010. Print. <span>This book
discusses how the Colt 1911 changed between 1911 and 2010. It gives a detailed description of
the changes that were made to the gun following military encounters. This shows that Colt is
constantly exploring new modes of weaponry to improve it weapons quality, reliability and
accuracy.</span>
Thompson, Leroy. The Colt 1911 Pistol. Oxford: Long Island City, NY, 2011. Print. <span>This books
discusses the effects the colt m1911 had on both world wars. The book shows the different
prototype models that Colt firearms tested before sending them off to war. The m1911 changed
the way pistols were made by making its the strongest and most reliable pistol during both wars.
The book also discusses how after the war many policeman chose the m1911 to be their weapon.

They felt if the weapon was trusted by the Military they could trust Colts craftsmanship
to.</span>
Thompson, Leroy. The Colt 1911 Pistol. Oxford: Long Island City, NY, 2011. Print. This books
discusses how the Colt .45 revolver became the Colt .45 semi automatic pistol(m1911). J.M
Browning used colts ideas and more modern technology to create the pistol which held 8 rounds.
The pistol became the main sidearm of the military from 1911 to 1985. Both the Colt .45
revolver and the m1911 are still sold and used by the military as of 2011.
Films
BATTLE OF OKINAWA. History: BATTLE OF OKINAWA. A+E Networks, 2009. Web. 22 Sept. 2015.
<http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/battle-of-okinawa>. Many Colt firearms were used
to fight the bloodiest battle in US history. Soldiers were armed with Thompson sub-machine
guns (manufactured by Colt) as well as Colt new model service revolvers and M1911 sidearm's.
If you were fighting at Okinawa there was a 90% chance you had were equipped with a Colt
Firearm. Colts dominance on both the Western and Pacific fronts was undeniable and
unavoidable. Again Colt firearms were changing foreign encounters for the benefit of the US.
Triggers: Weapons That Changed The World. Perf. Wil Willis. Wil Willis. Discovery Channel, 2 July
2013. Web. 22 Sept. 2015. <http://www.discoverychannelasia.com/shows/triggers-weapons-thatchanged-the-world/>. This film is about how Alvin C. York(Sergeant York) rifle ran out of
ammo. while exchanging fire on hill 23. His platoon was surrounded by enemies and he had to
use his Colt 1911. He killed 6 Germans that were charging and took a 132 POW's. Colts
Firearms were extremely accurate which helped York defend himself from the charging
Germans.
Newspaper

Skorneck, Carolyn. "Colt Firearms Weighs Making Assault Rifle." The Daily Gazette [Pittsburgh] 2 Apr.
1990, Daily Edition ed.: 10. Google.com. Google. Web. 20 Sept. 2015.
<https://news.google.com/newspapers?
nid=1957&dat=19900402&id=e3MhAAAAIBAJ&sjid=qIgFAAAAIBAJ&pg=3660,79105&hl=
en>. <span>In the midst of great success there will always be adversity to overcome. Colt had to
face this in 1989 when the ban of civilian model Assault rifles was placed. Although Colt was not
specifically mentioned in the ban they stopped producing their popular Bushmaster series sport
rifle to follow the spirit of the law instead of the letter of the law. This encounter with the federal
government proved Colt was not a profit hungry brand that had no regard for public
safety.</span>
Vazquez, Maegan. "Sticking to Their Guns." Fox News. Fox, 28 July 2012. Web. 23 Sept. 2015.
<http://www.foxnews.com/us/2012/07/28/marines-pay-22m-to-go-back-to-their-old-guns-colt45-caliber-pistols/>. <span>One hundred and one years after being put into initial service the US
Marine Corp calls again on "old reliable" Colt firearms to fulfill a 22.5 million dollar contract to
produce the M1911 .45 caliber sidearm for over 12,000 marines. This article is a true testament
to the entire line of Colt Firearms. It shows just how far ahead of its time the M1911 was. Colt
Firearms have changed encounters in foreign and domestic affairs alike.</span>

Websites

"The Price of Freedom: Colt Walker Pistol." The Price of Freedom: Colt Walker Pistol. Smithsonian,
n.d. Web. 22 Sept. 2015. <http://amhistory.si.edu/militaryhistory/collection/object.asp?ID=820>.

<span>The Colt Walker was the first revolver ever purchased by the Army Ordnance
Department. Captain Walker approached Samuel Colt to create a pistol suitable for the Texas
Rangers and the U.S. Dragoons. The new weapon was designed by both Colt and Walker, based
on the Colt Paterson revolver. The new pistol was as accurate as a rifle at a hundred yards and as
accurate as a musket at two hundred yards. This allowed Rangers to encounter their enemies
from far away keeping themselves protected.</span>
Bilsky, Ashley Kath. "THE PEACEMAKER." Sweethearts Of The West: THE PEACEMAKER...The
History of the Colt .45 and Samuel Colt's Revolvers. Blogger, 30 Mar. 2011. Web. 22 Sept. 2015.
<http://sweetheartsofthewest.blogspot.com/2011/03/peacemakerthe-history-of-colt-45and.html>. Ashley Kath-Bilsky is a bestselling author who has been known to do a lot of
research on her topics. This website is sponsored by blogger and is used of people to share their
research. Her research on the revolver is important to the paper because it gave many important
quotes of Samuel Colt and how the it became so popular.
Hanlon, Michael E. "Colt .45 Automatic Pistol." Colt .45 Automatic Pistol. The Great War Society,
2000. Web. 22 Sept. 2015. <http://www.worldwar1.com/dbc/colt45.htm>. <span>This website
gives an account of two stories that were about soldiers who used the colt .45 pistol to escape
from their encounters with enemy. This is important because it gives knowledge about the
expansive use of this pistol and how it was a major factor in many wars. This website also adds
statistics of production and characteristics of the different parts of the gun.</span>
Staff. "Samuel Colt." History Channel. A&E Television Networks, 2009. Web. 22 Sept. 2015.
<http://www.history.com/topics/inventions/samuel-colt>. <span>This website provides an article
on the man himself Samuel Colt. It goes into detail retelling the story of how Colt made his first

revolver that broke through during the Mexican War. Colt had exploded after that and by the U.S.
civil war had become the most popular firearm on the market.</span>
Writer, Staff. "Colt M16A2." Colt M16A2. Militaryfactoy, n.d. Web. 22 Sept. 2015.
<http://www.militaryfactory.com/smallarms/detail.asp>. This website goes in to depth on the
Colt M15A2 and how it is designed and used. This was important to the project because it gives
accounts of the wars that this gun was used in and shows how the colt was encountering more
and more uses in wars.
Writer, Staff. "Colt Model 1917 - History, Specs and Pictures - Military Weapons." Colt Model 1917.
Military Factory, Sept. 2013. Web. 22 Sept. 2015.
<http://www.militaryfactory.com/smallarms/detail.asp?smallarms_id=536>. This article written
by the military factory shows how effective and practical the Colt model 1917 was in many wars.
The model 1917 revolver was produced by Colt to fulfill a military contract in WWI and
continued its service through the 1950s. Colts encounters in WWI changed the way they
produced weapons and ultimately revolutionized how wars were fought.
Writer, Staff. "Colt Walker - History, Specs and Pictures - Military Weapons." Colt Walker. Military
Factory, 26 July 2013. Web. 22 Sept. 2015.
<http://www.militaryfactory.com/smallarms/detail.asp?smallarms_id=509>. After the success of
Colts five shot repeater the Patterson which was in circulation as early as 1836, Captain Samuel
Hamilton Walker explored ways Colt could make a larger higher caliber sidearm. The outcome
was the Colt Walker. A six shot .44 caliber revolver that helped shape the west. At over 15 inches
long weighing 4.5 pounds the Walker was a stout and sturdy firearm that helped explorers
expand westward. The Walker was mass produced and ultimately helped the civilian population

gain more firepower in a compact package. The modern era of high caliber sidearm's was just
beginning and the Colt Walker led the way.
Writer, Staff. "What Is the Historical Timeline for Browning? - Browning Questions and Answers."
Historical Timeline for Browning. Browning, 2010. Web. 21 Oct. 2015.
<http://www.browning.com/customerservice/qna/detail.asp?ID=202>. <span>This timeline
shows the guns that Colt-Browning produced and how the two companies combined ideas to
explore new ways to make powerful weapons. The timeline also show that dates papers were
filled for all Colt-Browning weapons. This website helps determine which guns were used in
which wars and how the weapons were improved overtime.</span>