The colt story started in 1814 when Samuel Colt is born in Hartford, CT. And in 1836, Sam Colt receives U.S. Patent No. 138 for the first revolving-cylinder pistol — the first Firearm. Sam Colt built his first factory in Paterson, NJ, the Patent Arms Manufacturing Company, and begins making the Paterson revolver. In 1847, Captain Samuel H. Walker of the U.S. Army and Sam colt collaborate on the development of a new, more powerful revolver, known as the Walker.

Then in 1855, Sam Colt incorporates his business and constructs the new armory in Hartford, CT, overlooking the Connecticut River. Colt’s Patent Firearms Manufacturing Company becomes the world’s largest private armament factory, producing 150 weapons daily. The American Civil War then began in 1861. Colt’s revolver and Special Model rifle musket orders fulfilled one of the largest Union armament contracts for the war. Sam passes away at age 47 in 1862. His wife, Elizabeth Jarvis Colt, inherits a controlling interest in the company. Unfortunately, The Colt Armory burns to rubble. But Elizabeth had insured the property and rebuilds the facilities. Production resumes stronger than ever. In 1867, Colt introduces its first Gatling Gun using the design patented by Richard J. Gatling in 1862.

The hand-drive machine gun played a significant role in the war, solving issues of reliability and reloading, and by firing sustained bursts. U.S. troops and police utilized it for decades, and modern variations still exist today. Colt introduced the iconic Single Action Army revolver — also known as the Peacemaker, Colt 45, and ‘gun in 1873 that won the West’. He secures a U.S. government contract designating the SAA as the standard military service revolver and delivers over 30,000 from 1873 to 1891. In 1877, it introduced its first double-action revolver, the Model 1877, beginning a long legacy of manufacturing  premier double-action revolvers. He later introduced the Model 1889 Navy, the first Colt double-action revolver with a swing out cylinder, leading to a 5,000 revolver order by the U.S. Navy and subsequent Army and Navy contracts for later, improved models. In 1896, NYPD Commissioner Theodore Roosevelt selects the Colt New Police 32 caliber revolver as the first standard-issue revolver for the NYPD police force. After which he introduces its first production automatic pistol, the Colt Model 1900, which was the first handgun to utilize short-recoil operation. After many years of stewardship, Elizabeth Colt sells the Colt Armory to a group of investors.

Elizabeth passes away in 1905, leaving behind a significant legacy of contributions to industry and the community. After years of rigorous testing and competition the Colt Model 1911, designed by John Browning, is officially adopted as the standard sidearm of the United States Armed Forces, replacing the 38 Caliber Colt revolver. In 1917, The U.S. enters World War I, and Colt ramps up production of Model 1911s and Colt-Vickers Machine Guns to help arm the war effort. During World War II, Colt, along with several other manufacturers, produce 1.8 million Model 1911A1 pistols supporting the war effort and Allied victory over the Axis powers. After the war, a renewed interested in the SAA kicks off Colt’s countless appearances in Hollywood productions. A series of firearms in 1950 incorporating a lightweight alloy frame was then introduced, including the Cobra revolver and the Commander semi-automatic pistol. They introduced arguably the finest production revolver ever produced, the Colt Python. Colt purchased exclusive manufacturing and marketing rights in 1961 to the AR-15 from the Armalite Division of Fairchild Engine Corporation, Hollywood, CA and won its first government contract for 104,000 M16 rifles in 1963. Colt introduced the Colt Custom Shop in 1976, where Master Gunsmiths and Master Engravers build and customize firearms to the exact specifications of each customer. And sponsors the first NRA Bianchi Cup in 1979.  The Bianchi Cup is the NRA Action Pistol Championship, held annually in Columbia, Missouri.