"The revolver as a factor in the development of America has never received serious consideration, either from the historian or the literary man. The former has neglected it entirely, while the latter has neither understood it nor its true place in our national life. Too frequently he has used it as his chief stock in trade in portraying certain striking types of American men-the Texas Ranger, the cowboy, or the bad man on horseback. The sensational story-writers, the moving pictures, and even worthier literary men, are loath to abandon this original idea." (Walter Prescott Webb, University of Texas) These words were written in 1927, since which time the topic has received more adequate attention, though mainly from collectors and shooters of arms. Books written primarily by or for them have thoroughly catalogued the various kinds of American pistols and revolvers, including the Colt, but the significance of these weapons in the context of their times remains an inviting study. Make by make and model by model, this analysis is going forward as new sources of information are discovered or become available. It is the purpose of this book to detail the life story of only one model of revolver, the single action Colt. Rivals and ramifications extending over a century are involved in the telling. For a collector there is ever the temptation to write in catalog form, and I cannot claim to have avoided it altogether. Even an historian or professional writer might find the material too factual for literary treatment. My own endeavor has been where possible to relate each arm described to its setting, and in this way to bring out its import in history.