1814 Samuel Colt was born on July 19 to Christopher and Sarah Caldwell Colt.
1836 Sam Colt issued U.S. Patent #138 on February 25; Patent Arms Manufacturing Company established, Paterson, New Jersey.
1842 Patent Arms Manufacturing Company closed.
1847 Colt resumed manufacture of firearms and the .44 caliber, 6-shot Walker is introduced. Colt started his own factory on Pearl Street.
1851 Colt exhibition at London's Crystal Palace Exposition
1853 Colt's London factory established.
1855 New Hartford factory completed.
1856 Col. Colt married Elizabeth Hart Jarvis on June 5.
1858 Colt's only surviving heir, Caldwell Hart Colt, Born November 24.
1862 Samuel Colt died January 10; Elisha Root elected President to succeed Colt.
1864 Major part of the Armory destroyed by fire February 4.
1865 R.W.H. Jarvis (Colt's brother-in-law) elected President after Root's death.
1866 Publication by Mrs. Colt of "Armsmear."
1873 Introduction of the Single-Action revolver.
1876 Colt firearms displayed at the Philadelphia Centennial Exhibition.
1889 Colt entered the modern era with it's first double-action with a swing-out cylinder, the Model 1889.
1894 Caldwell Hart Colt died on Jauary 21.
1897 John M. Browning issued Patent #580924 - the basis for most of Colt's automatic pistols.
1901 Mrs. Colt sold the Armory.
1905 Elizabeth Colt died on August 21.
1936 The Great Flood - Robert Courtney and other employees saved the shipping ledgers, dating back to the 1860's, by moving them to an upper floor.
1947 Name changed to Colt's Manufacturing Company; 1861 Colt building torn down.
1955 Penn-Texas Corporation takes over and the name is changed to Colt's Patent Fire Arms Manufacturing Company.
1961 Commemorative firearms series introduced.
1964 Corporation name changed to Colt Industries. The Rampant Colt logo is dropped and a circular device representing a machine tool gear was adopted for the corporation.
1976 Custom Gun Shop established.
1981 East Armory vacated and offices moved to West Hartford.
1986 Colt's 150th Anniversary; Colt Historian M.S. "Marty" Huber celebrated his 50th Anniversary with Colt Firearms.
1986 to 1989 Union employees' strike lasts almost three years.
1989 The Firearms Division of Colt Industries sold to new investors; name changed to Colt's Manufacturing Company, Inc.

 

 

Home | CCA Colt Book | Colt Facts | 2007 Show | Gun Art Gallery | Join the CCA