Antique Colt Pistols

At age 16, Samuel Colt hand carved a wooden model that became his most famous invention, the mechanism that gave the revolver its name. The spool shaped six-chambered device which rotates a fresh round into place each time a gun is cocked or fired changed the development of firearms like never before.

The gun maker leveraged its use of interchangeable parts, mechanized manufacturing methods, and organized production line to mass produce handguns in a way that would become the model for other industries. Colt's Model 1877, the first double-action revolver commercially produced in the U.S., was carried by Billy the Kid. Colt's .45-caliber Model 1878 with barrel lengths ranging from 2 1/2 to 12 inches became a favorite among lawmen and more than a few outlaws.

Later, the turn-of-the-century Colt Model 1900 .38-caliber semi-automatic was tested by the U.S. War Department before the M1911 .45-caliber was adopted for general issue during World War I, laying the groundwork for Colt to own the market for decades to come.

Antique Colt pistols from plow-handled two-shot derringers to turn-of-the-century semi-auto handguns rarely misfire at auction.

Quick Facts

• In 2014, a .45-caliber Colt revolver believed to be carried by legendary Arizona lawman Wyatt Earp topped its $150,000 pre-auction estimate to reach $225,000
• In 2007 at Greg Martin Auctions, a pair of Colt Model 1878 double-action revolvers with ivory grips and lanyard swivels topped their $30,000 high estimate, selling for $51,075
• In a 2013 Rock Island Auction sale, a U.S. Navy Colt Model 1909 double-action revolver sold for $3,500