1930s Colt Paper
1929 - 1930s: Great Depression
The stock market crash of 1929 and the ensuing Great Depression resulted in a slowing down of production for Colt. In anticipation of this, the company implemented a diversification. Colt acquired contracts for business machines, calculators, dishwashers, motorcycles, and automobiles; all marketed under a name other than Colt.
During this period, from 1929 to 1930 Colt used 'Small Arms Division'. From 1931 to 1939 they used 'Fire Arms Division'. From 1941 to 1947, they again used 'Small Arms Division', then in 1947 to 1955 they operated as 'Colt's Manufacturing Company'.
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All automatic pistol information sheets are
 
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Colt 'New' Super .38 Automatic
'Bob Cat' Pamphlet
3 1/12 x 6 1/4 in, multi-fold (A-84)
Small Arms Division
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* Have a second example with no stamp * Have a third example with Kirkwood Bros., Boston, Mass stamp |
Colt Export Price List
Colt Revolvers and Automatic Pistols
Form PL-12, 8 x 11", single page, one side
Small Arms Division
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Colt Retail Price List for Colt Revolvers and Pistols
Form PL-11, one page, one side
Small Arms Division
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Jan. 1930
King's Patent Rifle Sights
Letter to Dr. L. B. Reed regarding a #33C front sight sent to him for his Camp Perry .22 Model Colt pistol. D.W. King, Sights |
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1931
Introduction of Colt Shooting Master Revolver .38 Spl.
Double sided polished paper, 8.5 x 11 in.,
Form (107),
($52,50 is printed) Colt's Patent Fire Arms Manufacturing Co. |
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Feb. 1932
Colt letter to Dr. L. B. Reed, about their inability to supply a flat top sight for his .32 cal. automatic pistol
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1934
Letter from Colt to Dr. L. B. Reed, regarding a catalog sent to him and engraving prices for various grades
Colt's Patent Fire Arms Manufacturing Co. |
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1930s
Engraver Rudolph Kornbrath brochure
8.5 x 11 in. on polished paper, 4 pgs.
Kornbrath was born in Austria 1877. Emigrated to Hartford, Conn. in 1910. He engraved guns there until suffering a debilitating stroke in 1937. Did much of his work for Colt as well as private commissions.
From the Dr. L. B. Reed Estate |
 
 
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Colt Wholesale Price List, for pearl and Ivory stocks
Form PL-10, 8 x 11", one page, one side.
Small Arms Division
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1929
Colt's Patent Fire Arms mailer, Form (L-5), 8 1/4 x 6 1/4 in., flap seal, hand stamped (2 cent Permit), with no date, the small 1929 catalog would fit in this light tan envelope
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1930
Full size mailer
7 3/4 x 101/2 in., Form (A-86), flap seal with brass stud. The 'new' larger size 1930 catalog fit this dark brown envelope
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Colt differentiated its 'Firearms division from 1930 to 1939. Prior to and after those 'Firearms division' dates, Colt used 'Small arms division' for revolvers. Very confusing, because for a short time, from 1929 to 1930, Colt used
Small arms division , then used
Firearms division from 1931 until 1939, when it again used
Small arms division again from 1941 to 1947. |
1st Police Revolver Hand Book (scarce)
Form (A-96), 3 1/4 x 5 1/4 in.,
31 numbered pages Undated
Colt's Patent Fire Arms Mfg.Company
Small Arms Division
(1929-1930)
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Small Arms Division
2 New .22 revolvers shown on page 23
'Copyright 1930' shown opposite page from 'Fitz' photos
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2nd Police Revolver Hand Book (scarce)
Form (A-96), 3 1/4 x 5 1/4 in.,
32 numbered pages
No date
Colt's Patent Fire Arms Mfg. Co.
Fire Arms Division
(1931-1938) |
 
Page 27: shows a Colt Banker's Special
Page 2: Practical Police Shooting by Inspector J.H. FitzGerald, aka 'Fitz' who is famous for the 'Fitz' handgun modifications.
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 c.1935-38 More...
Police Revolver Hand Book
No Form number, 3 1/4 x 5 1/4 in., 40 numbered pages. No date and medium tan color cover
Colt's Patent Fire Arms Mfg. Co.
Fire Arms Division
(1931-1939) |
Stamped for John Jovio, Inc.
Gun Shop, N.Y.
Page 27: shows no revolver
Page 2: Practical Police Shooting by Inspector J.H. FitzGerald, aka 'Fitz' who is famous for the 'Fitz' handgun modifications.
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1939 More..
Colt's Police Revolver Hand Book
3.25 x 5,25 in.,
Form (A-96), 40 numbered pages, dated w.r. 11-39, with 'Fitz' photo Small Arms Division |
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Colt's Police Revolver Hand Book
3.25 x 5,25 in., Form (A-96), 40 numbered pages, dated 7-41, with 'Fitz' introduction. First revolver shown: 'Match Target' Woodsman on page 29 Small Arms Division |
  
Official Police Revolver on Page 33 |
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1943 More..
Colt Police Revolver Hand Book, 3.25 x 5.25 in., 40 numbered pages, dated 1-43,
Form (A-96),
Fitz image and article on page 2
Colt's Patent Fire Arms Mfg. Co., Small Arms Division |
 
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Colt's Police Revolver Hand Book
3.25 x 5,25 in.,
Form (A-96), 10M-7-44-B, 36 pages, dated 7-44, with 'Fitz' intro page Small Arms Division
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Official Police revolver on page 27 |
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Police Revolver Hand Book
Form (A-96), Date: (AL 10-48) 3 1/4 x 5 1/4 in.; 32 numbered pages and light tan color cover
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'Fitz' is gone from the handbook.
Page 27: shows a Colt Official Police Revolver
Colt's Manufacturing Company
Small Arms Division
(1940 to c.1947)
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Bank teller brochure
Colt Police Positive
Revolver (A-66)
Fire Arms Division
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Colt Precaution 'as demonstrated in banks'
The Arm of the Law and Order
No 'Printed in U.S.A.'
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1931
Colt Revolvers 'Two New .22 Calibers'
Single-side polished spec sheet
Heavy caliber frames: Official Police and Officer's Target Model
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Colt Extra Heavy .22 Revolvers
(2) Versions of Form (A-97) (with & w/o) Colt address
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Colt 'Detective Special' brochure
Form (A-74)
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  For the policeman in plain clothes
From an early collection
'Printed in U.S.A.'
Fire Arms Division
Factory original, not a reproduction!
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Feb. 1932
Letter announcing:
New Colt Embedded Head Cylinder for Officers Model, Police Positive Target .22s
New Service Revolver chambered for .38 Special
"National Match" grade .45 with Patridge sights
Fire Arms Division
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Letter & envelope from Colt's Patent Fire Arms to an owner
Regarding parts for a .32 New Police revolver instructing him to order from a current catalog
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.32 Police Positive parts list
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Colt catalog mailing envelope
(A-86)
Fire Arms Division
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Mailer obverse and 1932 catalog
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1931
Colt 12 x 17" 'poster' size, single sided.
Colt pre-release announcement of the Ace .22 automatic pistol
Believed to have been placed in Colt boxes sold in 1931 for only one year. Not cut from a magazine.
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 Reprint from Colt ad in American Rifleman 1931
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1932
Colt 12 x 17" 'poster' size, single sided.
Colt pre-release announcement of the .45 Match Grade automatic pistol
Believed to have been placed in Colt boxes sold in 1932, for only one year. Not cut from a magazine.
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  Reprint from Colt ad in American Rifleman 1932
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1932
Letter from Colt Fire Arms Division to dealers about a new embedded head cylinder; New Service in .38 Spl.; and the National Match .45
Fire Arms Division
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Colt 'The Ace' Automatic .22 Pistol pamphlet
Form (A-102)
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1932
Colt letter to Dr. L. B. Reed concerning the .22 Woodsman's accuracy and number of rounds fired in an Australia shooting gallery and the Buffalo Police Department
Colt's Patent Fire Arms Manufacturing Co. |
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