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Why are some Colt's stamped "Colts" ?

6.5K views 22 replies 17 participants last post by  sanleonkid  
#1 ·
I have been looking at some Gov't models and saw some are stamped COLTS while some just are stamped COLT. Is this difference based on manufacture date or model or just flukes?

This is the model that got my attention and brought the question to mind. As for semi-autos, I have been a Hi Power having both a Mk III and an older (1981) standard.


 
#5 · (Edited)
On page 163 of Colt firearms book, it show a photo of a 1991A1 stainless with "COLTS" stamped on it also.
It seems kinda weird to have COLTS stamped on it -especially without the apostrophe S. Even then, in woudln't make any grammatical sense to me unless it had the full name of the company Colt's PTFA-------.
It is A gun that has the stamp so WHY would they want to make it plural?.? Makes No sense-
Maybe someone made a wrong New stamp and then realized how stupid it was and then changed back to the right stamp?

I never saw any Remington guns stamped Remingtons or Ruger guns stamped RUGERS or smith and Wesson guns stamped Smiths and Wessons
 
#7 · (Edited)
Yes...I've noticed these "vacillations" in what they called their company for some years now, and to be honest about it I've just assumed it was another example of "quality control" problems. I suppose it's also possible that the person stamping the guns in a given production lot, wasn't too proficient at English (or grammar), and stamped up a few hundred incorrectly, so they decided that rather than waste them, they just said "oh, what the hell!" This might be kind of like the discussion we had a few weeks ago having to do with the "Rampant Pony" logo moving all around on the side plate of various Colt revolvers, (and in some cases even being missing on some of them!) One of the biggest variances I've seen having to do with the "pony" being in a different location, is on "Detective Special" revolvers, as they're "all over the place"! While probably not of "earth shaking" importance, it is curious, that a major firearms manufacturer would tolerate this type of variance in the identification stamped right on their products, as that is usually a sign of sloppiness in manufacturing standards...

nowinca
 
#6 · (Edited)
The company has gone through various name changes. Colt's Manufacturing Company. Colt Industries. Colt's Patent Firearms Manufacturing Company (maybe others? These are the ones off the top of my head). \I don't know precisely the years these coincide with, but I'd be curious as to whether the markings of "Colt" vs. "Colt's" coincide with the various names.
 
#9 · (Edited)
The company has changed names quite a few times since 1955.

Sam Colt originally incorporated Patent Arms Manufacturing Company of Patterson, NJ in 1836. After some ups and downs, in 1855 he incorporated Colt's Patent Fire Arms Manufacturing Company.

In it's centennial year, 1955, the company was bought by Penn-Texas Corp and became a wholly owned subsidiary. I believe, but may be wrong on this one, the company was then named Colt Firearms Manufacturing Co.

In 1989, it was acquired by C.F. Holding Corp. and was renamed Colt's Manufacturing Company.

Zilka & Company purchased it in 1994 and it was known at that time as Colt's Manufacturing Company, Inc.
I couldn't find reference to when the next change came, but the current name is Colt's Manufacturing Company, LLC.

Here's a link to their current website detailing Colt Defense, LLC (military rifles & carbines) having acquired New Colt Holding Comany, the parent company of Colt's Manufacturing Company, LLC.

Colt Defense LLC and New Colt Holding Corp. Merge > Colt's Manufacturing Company LLC

So COLT bought New COLT, who owns COLT'S.
 
#21 ·
sanleonkid, I found another one on pg. 162 that is also stamped with COLTS , But this one may have the 'S (apostrophe S) COLT'S .It is hard to tell form the pic -It is a Blued gun .

If it is stamped COLT'S, then it would make sense, as the complete stamp would be COLT'S COMBAT GOVERNMENT MODEL.

The gun on page 163,looks like it doesn't have the apostrophe ,so looks like the one you have. But that pic is also hard to see if it is COLTS or COLT'S.

Being that your is clearly just COLTS-maybe the little ' just got worn down ??

If you have don't have the book it is-Standard Catalog of Colt Firearms by Rick Sapp. There is some misinformation in this book, but it does have these 2 examples which are relevant to your question.
 
#22 ·
This is the sorta stuff that makes me nuts. I believe for the past 50 years there is a special department at Colt that meets weekly to decide what will drive me crazy in future years. The answer to the spelling question is because that department just wanted to screw with us....and they do a great job of it. Don't we love it!