Samuel Colt

"Samuel Colt (1814-1862) first patented his "Colt" revolver in 1835 and thereby redefined the architecture of handguns. This book is the first to present in detail the evolution of his most famous invention and to document the unsurpassed Colt firearms collections held by the Wadsworth Atheneum." "Essays discuss Colt's personal collection of historic firearms as well as the memorial collection of Colt-manufactured firearms, the relationship between art and commerce as they pertain to the inventor's career, and his international celebrity. This volume presents the artistry of the firearms that Colt worked so diligently to perfect - as well as his promotional abilities that made a tremendous impact on American culture."--BOOK JACKET.