I bought this book because of my interest in Colt firearms, and particularly my interest in Colt automatic pistols, of which I am a collecter. The book is excellent. It begins with a history of Samuel Colt and the Colt Firearms Company. Then it progresses through the earliest inventions and products of Colt firearms from the earliest days to the present. It includes both short guns and long guns. The photographs and illustrations are excellent, and the suggested values (indexed by grade and condition) are reasonably accurate and reliable. The book itself is printed on a very nice grade of heavy slick paper and is well-bound in a durable, illustrated, hard-cover. The price makes this compendium on Colt Firearms a real value. My hat is off to the author and contributors.

Finally a Standard catalog of Colt Firearms. The last good resource for Colt Firearms was the BOCFA by Wilson. A lot has happened since in Hartford, Connecticut. It was about time somebody would try to capture that timespan. But oh boy, did the author made a mess out of things. It's a feast for Colt collector's indeed, trying to find all the errors, it's almost laughable and at the same time sad. This standard catalog cannot in any way compete with the issues about S & W or Winchester. Errors in pictures, discribtions, etc. The Colt pricing is a complete joke: Colt prices are rising almost as fast as a barrel of oil. Sorry to say: if you want a picturebook on Colt's buy it. If you want a good and correct Standard catalog, wait for the revised edition!

It is difficult for me to believe that this waste of time and money is in the same list with the Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson. That book is thorough and detailed; this thing is just a rush job and a crude one at that.
While there may be a room in any gun library for a comprehensive and MODERN Colt catalog (the old Sutherland & Wilson/Wilson is too flawed and dated) this thing isn't it!

this hardback is now one of my favorite books. the photography is the best of any colt work i have ever owned.this is the most complete source for information on the colt single action army i have read.

In my opinion, this book is a major let-down. To be fair, with a book of this kind the author is more apt to be blamed for omissions and errors than credited for what he includes. But whether or not Mr. Sapp put time, work, and enthusiasm into the book, the result of his work simply falls short. Compare the Standard Catalog of Colt Firearms with, say, even the first edition of the Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson. The authors of the S&W book clearly exerted due diligence in their research and made every effort to be thorough. In contrast, the author of the Colt book needed to do another two years of research and, as it seems, set a higher standard for what he would accomplish. For example, a "standard catalog" ought to round up and impose order on special production runs about which little is generally known. The S&W book essays this very thing. However, in the Colt book, although commemoratives are represented, what about non-commemorative, limited production items like the Super Lite Commander, Super Commander, or Custom Carry Commander? They are not here. What about the run of 9mm Government Models produced in the 1991A1 series? I'd like to know how many 9mm 1991A1 GM's were made and why they were produced, and I look to a book like this to do the research and tell me. But the information is absent. In what calibers has Colt produced the 1991A1 series? Not here. What is the difference between the old and new 1991A1 rollmarks? Every Colt newbie wants to know, and this book should have included an illustrated comparison, but did not. And so it goes: omissions, mixed-up captions, confusing organization (like putting ordinary MK IV Series 80 GMs and Commanders under the Gunsite heading). Too bad! It's a pity to write, edit, and publish a book of this kind without a greater effort to be thorough. I suggest that anyone considering the purchase of this book save his or her money. And--with respect--I suggest the author study the Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson as an example to aspire to for the next and hopefully better edition.

In my personal opinion, this book is a let-down. To be fair, with a book of this kind the author is more apt to be blamed for omissions and errors than credited for what he includes. Mr. Sapp may have put time, work, and enthusiasm into the book. But the result of his work simply falls short. Compare the Standard Catalog of Colt Firearms with, say, even the first edition of the Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson. The authors of the S&W book clearly exerted due diligence in their research and made every effort to be thorough. In contrast, the author of the Colt book needed to do another two years of research and, as it seems, set a higher standard for what he would accomplish. For example, a "standard catalog" ought to round up and impose order on special production runs about which little is generally known. The S&W book essays this very thing. In the Colt book, commemoratives are represented, but what about non-commemorative, limited production items like the Super Lite Commander, the Super Commander, or the Custom Carry Commander? They are not here. What about the run of 9mm Government Models produced in the 1991A1 series? I'd like to know how many 9mm 1991A1 GM's were made and why they were produced. I look to a book like this to do the research and tell me. But the information is absent. What calibers did Colt produce in the 1991A1 series? Not here. What is the difference between the old and new 1991A1 rollmarks? Every Colt newbie wants to know, and this book should have included an illustrated comparison, but did not. And so it goes: omissions, mixed-up captions, confusing organization (like putting ordinary MK IV Series 80 GMs and Commanders under the Gunsite heading). Too bad! It's a pity to write, edit, and publish a book of this kind without a greater effort to be thorough. I suggest that anyone considering the purchase of this book save his or her money. And--with respect--I suggest the author study the Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson as an example to aspire to for the next and hopefully better edition.

An OK first effort to give the Colt people something similar to books on S&W, Winchester, and other gun makers.

Problem is, WAY too many blatant errors and switched/wrong pictures.
Just sloppy editing.

Just as an example, the book describes the 1950's Colt Border Patrol correctly, but pictures the later 1970's Border Patrol that was just the Trooper Mark III with "Border Patrol" stamped on the barrel in place of the Trooper Mark III stamps.
I couldn't find ANY listing or description for the Mark III based Border Patrol.
An unwary Mark III owner is going to assume he has a valuable, rare original 1950's Colt Border patrol worth big money.

Many of the listings appear to be simply lifted whole, word for word, from the Gun Digest Book of Gun Values, and I think that's just what was done, just re-hashing the info.

Bottom line, a good effort to produce something for the Colt people, but not a great first cut at it.
The many errors are obvious carelessness that undercut the value of the information.

This book is an outstanding work in many respects. The photos - and there are lots of them - are excellent and the book is organized on a time-line that parallels the development of firearms. Sapp's writing is interesting and seems authoritatively researched. This very substantial book is an outstanding value, and it is a visually striking work of art. With its most impressive cover, this catalog also serves as coffee table book that you will be proud to display. I have received more comments of interest from family and friends regarding this book than any other I have acquired in quite some time. It also has renewed my interest in antique auctions and gun shows.

I read through this book and found it to be a good addition to my library.
It has a lot of clear pictures of old Colts and quite a few newer models,
too. Who knows where Colt (the company) is headed these days? Strictly into
the military market, I think. Anyway, learned something and recommend this
book. Gun values seem pretty fairly in the range of what I have found at
some antique shows, too.

I purchased this book as a gift and wasn't quite sure what to expect - the shiny magazine-like cover made me just a little suspicious. Usually intensely informative books about esoteric subjects look like textbooks and are written so that the average person can't get through the jargon to the heart of the subject. I would say, however, that this book makes both a good read and a great gift for firearms collectors. Interesting that the author noted that Sam Colt was a workaholic - and praised him for it. I kind of like that quirky point of view. Excellent pictures, too.

A well illustrated, well produced book. Lacking the depth of technical, product and pricing data that I expected, but a good first attempt. Hopefully the author will build on the current information and flesh it out quite a bit.

Heavy on information about the Colt 1911, but very weak on detailed information on other models, particularly revolvers.

No comparison to the Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson which it seems to emulate.

As a beginning Colt collector, it gives me some information I have not seen yet, but not much. I bought it at the pre-publication price and that was fair. Not detailed enough to find specific information about models and changes. Price guide quotes auction prices. No information on variations.

I like the book at $20, would hesitate to pay full price of $30.

A good first attempt, hope it gets built up to something more.

The first item that is noticed was the book in printed in China. Are there no American printers to print a book on American guns? Pages are cut with a dull blade and very sharp, one paper cut and counting. Binding starting to separate, I have owned this book for two weeks and am a careful reader. Cheaply made plus all comments buy the others are correct. Krause Publications and Gun Digest Books should be ashamed.

I agree with the 1st guy, what a joke,I ordered this book in July and it took till Dec.to get here. You think somebody would have proof read some of the pages! I'm not a gun expert but I know a blued gun from a stainless. Also the book came damaged kind of beat up, but I was not going to pay for shipping again. Shame, shame on this book. Only thing good was the price.
Tom Nunz

This book must of been rushed to press in order to catch the Xmas market. The editors should of waited a few months and put together accurate and reliable information. The pictures of examples are often mismatched or wrong. The prices are so far off the mark it is laughable!! Save your money and get a later edition (or a different book!) that has been corrected and proofed by reliable Colt collectors and experts.