Colt Walker
Colt 1851 Navy
Colt 1860 Army
Colt SAA
Colt 1911
Colt 1892 New Army
Colt New Service
Colt Super .38
Colt 1903 Pocket Hammerless
Colt 1908 Vest Pocket
Colt Woodsman
Colt Official Police
Colt Officers Model Target
Colt Police Positive
Colt Detective Special

Much of what Colt makes after WWII builds in large part on one of these foundation guns.

Looking forward to seeing the other responses.

 

What I like best about this list above is the distinct absence of the Python

 

I like Colt75's list. I would also include the Richards Conversions, Lightning and Burgess Rifles, and the shotguns. As a matter of thought just about everything they did pre WW2. And then for us war babies the AR15/M16.

 

Can't go wrong with Colt75's list at all. I wouldn't mind thinking of the later 'snake' DA's as iconic; Python, Diamondback, Anaconda, King Cobra, etc.

 

I agree with all the others; "Colt75's" list is perfect except I also like the Colt 1877 DA Revolver too.

 

Where is the Paterson???

 

I would add a few Government Models to Colt 75's list. The 1911 is the US contract pistol for WWI and the 1911A1 is the WWII version. Most of the commercial models based on the O frame are Government Models. Maybe a Delta 10mm Government Model as well as a 45 ACP GM.

 

Man, you are going to draw some fire for that remark! I have been severely criticized for differentiating between the Government Model and the M1911.

Bob Wright

 

I made the inexcusable mistake of omitting the great Colt Woodsman from my list. Corrected this inadvertent mistake.

 

Since you mentioned that, note that all the iconic automatics from Colt were originally Browning patents. John Moses Browning was quite an innovator.

 

O.K. Here's my opinions:

The Paterson, just because it started it all.

The Walker, which defined subsequent characteristics.

The 1851 Navy, that reduced the horse pistol to a belt pistol, and introduced the perfect grip profile.

The 1872 Open Top (marginal selection) introduce large frame cartridge revolvers.

The 1873 Single Action Army, simply because it was so great.

The Single Action Flat Top, further refined the SAA, and inspired Bill Ruger.

The New Frontier, the Single Action Colt perfected.


Not wishing to detract from the DA revolvers and autoloaders, these just my favorites. If I were to build a display, they would be displayed in this order. That is, if I had the specimens.



Bob Wright

 

The Paterson, just because it started it all.

The Walker, which defined subsequent characteristics.

The 1851 Navy, that reduced the horse pistol to a belt pistol, and introduced the perfect grip profile.

The 1872 Open Top (marginal selection) introduce large frame cartridge revolvers.

The 1873 Single Action Army, simply because it was so great.

The Single Action Flat Top, further refined the SAA, and inspired Bill Ruger.

The New Frontier, the Single Action Colt perfected.

Bob - thanks for adding the "whys", very helpful.

 

One of my intentions was to pick a Colt Catalog year, say 1936, and collect everything in that catalog (but not MADE in 1936 of course). As of now, I am only 6 ones (out of 24) short (SAA, NS Target, Super 38 , Super 38 Match, Gov't 45 and NM 45) away but they are the BIG ones and I may not make it. But, I did have a plan. Also, then considered a much shorter early post war catalog 1946/1947 and look for those pre-war/post war models with Coltwood, mixed parts, dual-finish models, etc. The general idea was to blown up/enlarge the Catalog to full size and show the actual gun mounted next to the picture for display. I'm sure this is not an original idea and probably have seen it somewhere before. Just a thought, Jackson.

 

Question -

Should consideration also be given to the 1849 Pocket Model (a huge seller) and/or the Model 1855 Sidehammer Pocket Revolvers? They seem different enough to merit some consideration.

Also, how about the Bisley Model?

 

BobWright,

I wholehearted agree with you on the 1877 DA Revolver from Colt, but the one thing they have is being the first DA manufactured by Colt. I know they are not big collectors firearms, but I just love the feel of these firearms!

I had thought they were one of the Milestones in Colt history, although not the biggest sellers, LOL!

 

We have had these discussions before. I do not think "variations" belong on a "iconic" list. That means that the Single Action Army belongs on the list, but a New Frontier does not, nor do the Model1877 and Model 1878 variations. The Army Special belongs because it "fathered" the longest run of some of the most important Colt models, but the subsequent variations on that frame size do not. There may be exceptions to that generalization, such as the Detective Special "variation" of the Police Positive (Special), THE highest production Colt revolver line ever.

I do not have time to add my list, but I would encourage each participant in this exercise to briefly explain why a particular Colt belongs on the list.

 

I will disagree with you, with all due respect. But I look at a model as to what it introduced and what it spawned.

Really, there are only one of two guns that come to people's minds when Colt is mentioned, and I refer to the public as a whole, not necessarily gun minded folks, and that is the Colt Government Model or the Single Action Army. I reckon that would be really the definition of "iconic."


But I like my list best of all!

Bob Wright

 

Well if we mean firearms produced by Colt then the Thompson Submachine Gun would be on the list. Colt manufactured the first production run, Auto Ordnance did not actually produce any Thompsons until WWII.

And I suppose we could include the "BAR."

 

But they are not "Colts." No one thinks in terms of the "Colt submachine gun." Though the BAR was the "Colt Monitor."

Bob Wright

 

Bob,

The Colt Monitor is about as rare as it gets. From my research, only about 125 were ever produced. 90 went to the FBI, most all of the FBIs Monitors were destroyed over time.
The remaining Monitors were sold to large Police Depts. and Prison systems on the east coast. Some say that only around a dozen Monitors exist today, mainly in museums.

As far as the original BARS, Colt did manufacturer them at the end of WWI. I own an early Colt called a BMR, Browning Machine Rifle, that has most of it's internals and furniture stamped with the C-arrow. As always,
the turn of the century Colt products are truly a works of art.

BTW, I also own a Colt Monitor and several Colt Thompsons as well.
Darryl

 

Sorry I kind of dropped the ball of this. Going through my Book of Colt Firearms and taking the above recommendations into consideration, I've put this list together with my reasons for including the handguns shown. The production figures are taken from the book, and stop at 1970. Feel free to edit/comment.

Revolvers

• Paterson - model that started it all
• Walker - responsible for rebirth of Colt
• 1849 Pocket - best selling percussion, over 330,000 made until 1873
• 1851 Navy - over 255,000 made until 1873, default handgun at start of Civil War
• 1860 Army - production over 200,000 until 1873, default handgun of Civil War
• Single Action Army - standard Western handgun, production over 355,000 from 1872 to 1940
• 1877 Lightning - first production DA, production over 166,000 until 1904
• Models 1892-1903 New Army and Navy - production approx. 291,000 through 1907
• Army Special/Official Police - first E/I frame revolver, production over 640,000 from 1908 to 1927 (A.S.) / to 1969 (O.P.)
• New Service - production over 356,000 with variants, served in both World Wars
• Police Positive 32/38/Special - production over 1,000,000 through 1970
• Detective Special - production over 350,000 through 1970
• Python - the holy grail of Colt revolvers, produced 1955 to 1996

Maybe?

• Pocket Positive - production over 130,000 from 1905 to 1940

Automatic Pistols

• 1903 Hammmerless Pocket .32 - production over 910,000 through 1945 (including 1908 .380)
• 1908 Hammerless .25 - production over 400,000 through 1941
• 1911 Government - production over 335,000 through 1970
• 1911 Military (including 1911A1) - production over 2,695,000, served in both World Wars and others
• Woodsman - production over 340,000 from 1915 through 1970 (including Target and Sport)
• Super 38 - production over 205,000 from 1929 through 1970

 

But they are not "Colts." No one thinks in terms of the "Colt submachine gun."

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Some of you guys have listed 10 to 20 models as being "iconic".

I see "iconic" as models that most everyone is familiar with and want to own at least one of each. Even the non-colt people.

My list of truly iconic COLTS is much shorter.

SAA
1911
Python

 

I guess I am getting cranky in my old age. What follows is my opinion, you may not like it and you can quit reading at any time. Also ( I have seen this disclaimer more than once here) if you are offended, well, I guess it’s my fault.

In what world is the Python not a Colt icon? I understand the beginning thing. Suppose you were doing “on the street interviews” and the question was “who had the most influence on the modern day computer, Konrad Zuse or Bill Gates?” Can we agree the Bill Gates is a computer icon (and I don’t mean a funny little picture thing)? Who is the king of Rock-N-Roll…. Elvis? Who is the king of NASCAR…….. Richard Petty? Back to Colt, if you were to put the silhouettes of three handguns on a billboard, say an Army Special, Python or 1911 and told average Joe Gun Guy to identify them, which two do you think he could name? Isn’t that what icon means, most recognizable or representative of a certain genre? The only other Colt that would be as recognizable would be the M16, and it would probably be recognized for all the wrong reasons. I think in your rush to be purists, you are overlooking the obvious.
I love my Rock Island Armory 1911, couldn’t help myself.

 

When I think of the M16...the original M16...developed as the AR15, I think of ARmalite, not Colt.

 

Yes, you are correct the AR15 was indeed made by Armalite and the original M16 was a Colt.

 

No matter where in the world you go to, the Colt SAA is recognized. They may not know the correct name, but they know it's a Colt 'cowboy gun'. Only the AK-47 is more widely known. The Python and the 1911 are both vying for 2nd place, IMO.

 

In what world is the Python not a Colt icon?

Python... Python... seems to me I've heard that term somewhere... Oh yeah, isn't that a gussied-up Army Special?

The thread went in the direction of "foundation" guns, which if course the Python is not, but nobody would deny that the Python is one of the two or three most-recognized Colts.

 

OK, you guys convinced me to add the Python to the list, even though it's a variant of the E/I frame it deserves its own callout, much like the DS. Here is the updated list, hopefully in chronological order:

Revolvers

• Paterson - model that started it all
• Walker - responsible for rebirth of Colt
• 1849 Pocket - best selling percussion, over 330,000 made until 1873
• 1851 Navy - over 255,000 made until 1873, default handgun at start of Civil War
• 1860 Army - production over 200,000 until 1873, default handgun of Civil War
• Single Action Army - standard Western handgun, production over 355,000 from 1872 to 1940
• 1877 Lightning - first production DA, production over 166,000 until 1904
• Models 1892-1903 New Army and Navy - production approx. 291,000 through 1907
• New Service - production over 356,000 with variants, served in both World Wars
• Army Special/Official Police - first E/I frame revolver, production over 640,000 from 1908 to 1927 (A.S.) / to 1969 (O.P.)
• Police Positive 32/38/Special - production over 1,000,000 through 1970
• Detective Special - production over 350,000 through 1970
• Python - the holy grail of Colt revolvers, produced 1955 to 1996

Maybe?

• Pocket Positive - production over 130,000 from 1905 to 1940

Automatic Pistols

• 1903 Hammmerless Pocket .32 - production over 910,000 through 1945 (including 1908 .380)
• 1908 Hammerless .25 - production over 400,000 through 1941
• 1911 Government - production over 335,000 through 1970
• 1911 Military (including 1911A1) - production over 2,695,000, served in both World Wars and others
• Woodsman - production over 340,000 from 1915 through 1970 (including Target and Sport)
• Super 38 - production over 205,000 from 1929 through 1970