Table of Contents

Includes authors' autographs

In the 1850s, Samuel Colt worked assiduously to patent his revolver concept and prevent infringements around the world. It was a losing effort and unauthorized copies of his pistols were showing up from Europe to Japan. In an example of lateral thinking, Sam Colt decided to take advantage of the situation. He informed Belgian and gun makers in other countries that he would withdraw his lawsuits if they would accept a licensing arrangement whereby he would provide parts for assembly or allow them to manufacture some or all parts in return for a royalty for each gun that passed through their country's proof house. Otherwise, he would continue his lawsuits and they would see their revolvers confiscated.

The program worked very well. The number of spurious copies fell and the Colt factory revenue rose.

Until now, most collectors have considered brevete revolvers to be illegal copies, when in fact, the greater majority were licensed by the Colt Factory. To quote Norman Flayderman, Marcot's book will open a new arena of Colt collecting.