Survival Directory
Some guns are timeless in design and function. The Colt 1911 is the foremost
example, yet I've always thought the Colt 1903 Pocket was too. It hasn't been
made since WWII, but Colt did make 572,215 1903 .32s and 138,009 1908 .380s
before shelving the design. Although many of these guns are highly desirable
collector's items and should be left in their existing state, there are many
more rusting away with little or no finish and pitted outer metal still able to
perform yeoman duty as a defensive gun. The pistol was to be a fighting tool, and nothing else. Did Colt do that? I
think so, and so does Gunsite. In over 500 rounds of .45 loads, fired by three different
shooters without cleaning, there was not a bobble, not the slightest hint of
malfunction. The pistol was accurate--probably more accurate than was necessary
given its mission--and utterly reliable. It's a pistol Colt and Gunsite can be
proud of. Parabellum power in a .380-sized pistol, the new Pocket Nine comes with
special tactical features. Colt has made many types of revolvers over the years, but the family of
small, solid frame, simultaneous ejection swing-out cylinder revolvers known as
the Detective Special, the Cobra and the Agent were among the most popular
revolvers Colt ever made. By the end of the 1880s, Colt's began a line of Army and Navy double action
revolvers that were the first to have swing out cylinders. No other big bore double action six gun has ever intrigued and fascinated my
narrow little mind quite like Colt's big New Service revolver. During its 1898 to
1944 production run, its been called everything from raw-boned ugly, to
gracefully sexy. As is often the case, the truth lies somewhere in between. The Coil New Service in .38 Special was personally selected for Border
Patrol issue by the late Col. Charles Askins, renowned U.S. Border Patrolman
and firearms instructor. Chosen for its robust, heavy duty qualities, the Colt
New Service .38 Special was also adopted with fixed sights for the same reason. Colt introduced the Single Action Army and its .45 Colt cartridge in 1873
and the U.S. Army accepted it that same year for cavalry service. In fact, the
7th Cavalry's 1874 summer expedition to explore the Black Hills area was
delayed until the regiment's new Colt revolvers arrived via railroad from the
east. From 1873 until 1892 the Colt SAA .45 was standard issue for U.S. Army
horse soldiers, and it actually remained in their hands for some time after the
official adoption of a Colt double-action .38 revolver in the early 1890s. In 1877, the Colt Model P was chambered in .44-40 as a companion piece to
the Winchester Model 1873 levergun. About this same time the first Colt Single
Action Army with a 43/4-inch barrel was offered. The three standard barrel
lengths are known as the Cavalry Model (7 1/2 inch), Artillery Model (5 1/2
inch), and Civilian Model (4 3/4 inch). Colt's experiences with military contracts had convinced him that his
business would have to serve a much larger and more stable market in order to
survive and grow. In 1847, he announced plans to produce a revolver of
manageable size and simple construction that would be useful to the general
public. Custom pistolsmiths are doing a thriving business providing a service for
those who prefer their sixguns a cut above. Rechamberings are big these days
with .44 Magnums becoming .45 Colts, .475 and .500 Linebaughs. Rumors of its demise are greatly exaggerated -- the greatest sixgun in
history is still available from Colt. Even though the .45 Colt cartridge will celebrate its 125th anniversary very
shortly, it is still our most versatile sixgun cartridge. There are few sixgun
cartridges that can best it in any one category, and certainly none can do so
as an all-around sixgun cartridge. It simply does it all. 
Colt Handguns
Articles on Colt Handguns
Articles on Colt Semi-Automatic Pistols
Colt 1903 redux: some dead horses aren't
The Colt 1911 Gunsite Pistol: re-birth of a
classic idea
Colt's Depp Cover 9mm
Articles on Colt Revolvers
The colt snubbies: once the quintessential cop
gun, the "Dick" special still serves
Colt's New Service
Big, bold and beautiful: Colt's New Service: or
one man's talent for swiping dad's guns
The Colt New Service Border Patrol revolver: an
original 'fightin' sixgun
For want of a cavalry Colt: one man's quest for a
dream-gun
The Single Action Army Colt's legendary Model P
Colt model 1849 pocket pistol
Do-It-Yourself Gunsmithing Parts And Accessories
For Colt And Ruger Single-Actions
The New Colt Single Action Army
Articles on Colt Handgun Ammunition
The Custom Loading .45 Colt
Manuals for Colt Handguns
.22 Caliber Conversion Unit Semi-Automatic Pistol
22 Cal. Conversion Unit Semiautomatic Series 80
Pistol
22 Pistol and Target Model
All American Model 2000
Automatic Caliber .25
Automatic Junior Caliber .25 Pistol
Automatic Pistol Caliber .25 Pocket Model,
Hammerless
Automatic Pistol Pocket Model Caliber .32 and .380
Hammerless
Automatic Pistol Pocket Model Caliber .38
Cap and Ball Revolvers
Challenger Automatic Pistol Caliber
Cowboy Single Action Revolver
Detective and Commando Special, Diamondback,
Police Positive, Agent, Cobra, Viper
Double Action Revolver
Double Action Series 90 - 380 and 9mm Auto Pistol
Double Eagle
Frontier Scout Buntline '62 and Frontier Scout '62
Revolvers
Gold Cup National Match MKIV-Series 70
Government Model MKIV Series 70-Model O
Government Model MKIV Series 70-Model O1970A1
Huntsman Automatic Pistol
Lawman MK V, Trooper MK V, Peacekeeper
Lawman MK III, Trooper MK III
MKIV Series 80 and 90 Pistol (Government, Combat
Commander, Defender, 1991A1, Officers ACP)
MKIV Series 80 Pistol (Gold Cup, Delta Gold Cup)
MKIV Series 80-380 Auto Pistol (Government -
Mustang)
New Frontier, New Frontier Buntline
Python
Single Action Army Revolver
Woodsman Automatic Pistol Match Target Heavy
Barrel Caliber .22 Long Rifle
Woodsman Automatic Pistol Match Target
Woodsman Automatic Pistol Target-Sport Model
WWI Reproduction Pistol Model M1911
WWII Reproduction Pistol Model M1911A1
Z-40