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Need recommendation for Colt books

budmottbudmott Member Posts: 155 ✭✭✭
edited May 2002 in Ask the Experts
I have started collecting Colt revolvers,
especially less than 3" barrel Colts.
Could someone point me in the right
direction for books that cover Colt
revolvers. Thanks in advance.
In fact JudgeColt as beat me to a couple
lately. :>) I think he stays up later
than I do.
bud

If it weren't for lawyers, I wouldn't need a lawyer.
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Comments

  • old single shotsold single shots Member Posts: 3,594
    edited November -1
    The Book of Colt Firearms by R.L. Sutherland and R.L. Wilson is as good as it gets.
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  • JudgeColtJudgeColt Member Posts: 1,790 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    The Sutherland book stops at 1970, and does contain some errors, particluarly on the later stuff, like the Agent. (For instance, it has the introduction date of the Agent as 1962, when it is 1955, etc..)

    What age of short-barrel Colt revolvers are you seeking? If you are looking for recent stuff, after 1970, there probably are no reference materials available.

    What did I beat you to? I bought a couple of Colt revolvers recently on some of the auction sites, which required bidding, and I do not recall any ending late at night.

    The only two Colts I recall buying lately were a beautiful little 2.5" Pocket Positive from 1939, and a Courier .32 from 1954. I felt both sold for under market value, and the Courier way under. I have been looking for a .32 Courier for 30 years (I have had the much more common .22 Courier for 25 years), and that one was the first one I have seen for sale. It turned out to have box and papers, is a VERY early first year, is a duo-tone as only the early ones were, and I am thrilled with it. I think the alloy-cylindered .32 Courier (the only production Colt ever to have an alloy cylinder) may be one of the rarest Colts ever. Only 3,000 were made, with the large majority being .22s. They are sleepers on the collector market as I believe most are still in service because the owners do not realize their rarity. Unfortunately, the seller of my Courier knew enough to place a serious reserve on it, which apparently blew away the earlier bidders as not one bid again after I put in a bid that met the reserve.

    The Sutherland book was reprinted several years ago, which helped as those reprints can often be bought for under $150, while the originals bring $500 and up, depending on condition. I paid $400 for my original copy in about 1975, and bought a reprint at a book store for $50 on a closeout when nobody was buying them.
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  • budmottbudmott Member Posts: 155 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    JudgeColt,
    It was the Pocket Positive, I was
    late and a dollar short. As far as
    the Courier I was more than a dollar
    short. Before I assume room temp I
    would like to have at least one of
    each short barrel revolver that Colt
    made. [Everyone needs a goal] Iam selling
    off my WWI and WWII handguns and buying
    Colts as I can. I really do appreciate
    your insite and thanks once again for your
    help.
    bud


    If it weren't for lawyers, I wouldn't need a lawyer.
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