The Official Record of the Colt Single Action Army Revolver 1873-1895 by Don & Carol Wilkerson, Kathleen Hoyt

This comprehensive study combines factory research and historical data from 1873 - 1895. The reader is given an overview of the Colt factory and its procedures in effect during a time when many of Colt's most collectible revolvers were manufactured. This era features the black powder production of the Colt Single Action Army revolver through serial number 164100. There is a wealth of color and black and white photography to support and compliment the text.

A chapter on the Colt Company also features General William B. Franklin, Frederick von Oppen and John H. Hall. An in-depth chapter on the Colt records features serial numbers and talks about the accuracy of those records.

The chapter years 1873 through 1895 cover Colt's history and development and are an in-depth study of all the calibers produced for the Single Action Army revolver. There are complete production figures for standard and engraved revolvers, with and without ejectors, special features, special stocks and revolvers in the soft for engraving. These detailed figures are broken down by caliber, barrel length, finish and type of stocks.

There is a chapter on many of the dealer's that purchased Colt Single Action Army revolvers from 1873 - 1895. A brief history of the dealer is noted, the date the first Single Action Army was purchased, the last date or if they were still active in 1895, it is so noted. A total is given of the revolvers purchased, if appropriate.

Richard Atkinson, Richard Burdick, Ray Bentley, Robert Hartman, Charles Marx and Paul Fredrich collections were the backbone for the Colt Single Action Army revolver photography used in this volume. These collections allow the reader to follow early guns from 1873 through 1895 and the gun's transition. A wealth of knowledge is available in these photographs for the astute reader.

The book is interspersed with a large number of period cowboy studio photographs from the collection of Gianfranco Spellman, DVM, with others from the collections of George Lewis and Erich Baumann. Many other photographs are featured from the historical libraries around the United States.

Period cartridge boxes are shown from the collections of Richard Atkinson, Robert Hartman, Richard Burdick and George Lewis.