The Colt® Legacy Tribute .45 Pistol

Saluting Legendary Firearms Icons -
Samuel Colt & Colt's Manufacturing Company

Colt®

From the Civil War to the War in Iraq, more American military men have carried a Colt than any other firearm in history. For firearms enthusiasts, the name Colt® is legendary. Firearms produced by Colt have played a prominent role in American history, and classic Colts have been a favorite of firearms enthusiasts and collectors for generations. The tradition of excellence continues today. At Colt, the importance of maintaining the distinguished reputation that started with Samuel Colt continues to this day, and Quality Makes It A Colt ™ is more than a modern day motto, it’s a tradition Colt continues to uphold.

One name is synonymous with American handguns and that name is Colt!  Americans with an interest in the Civil War, Old West, and military history recognize the importance Colt firearms have played in these fascinating chapters of American history. In fact, Colts are often so closely identified with some of these eras, it’s hard to imagine the era without thinking of Colt. Where would the Old West be without the Colt six-shooter? And what U.S. military veteran doesn’t remember “old slabsides,” his trusty military-issued .45?

At America Remembers, we are dedicated to producing handsome firearm issues honoring important American events and celebrating America's unique heritage. Now, America Remembers proudly presents the Colt Legacy Tribute Pistol. For this historic Tribute, we have selected the legendary Colt Government Model .45 pistol. Each Tribute is issued by America Remembers, under a license agreement with Colt's Manufacturing Company LLC. Each Officially Licensed Colt pistol in the edition is decorated with artwork saluting Colonel Samuel Colt and Colt's Manufacturing Company LLC.

More U.S. military men have carried the classic Model 1911 .45 pistol than any other sidearm ever made. That alone is enough to make it a classic among collectors, but add the name Colt and you've got an American icon.

The Story of the Rampant Colt
Here’s a fascinating story behind the Rampant Colt. Look closely and you see that the Colt carries a spear in its mouth. In heraldry, a horse signifies readiness to serve the monarch. The broken spear signifies a warrior slain in battle. By carrying the spear, this warhorse is continuing the fight for his fallen rider. It's a fitting symbol, considering the indomitable spirit of inventor and entrepreneur Samuel Colt!

A Classically Decorated Colt
In accordance with our high standards of quality, each pistol has been designed and decorated by craftsmen commissioned by America Remembers for this Tribute. The slide is polished and elegantly blued. Artwork saluting Samuel Colt and the heritage of Colt’s Manufacturing Company is handsomely featured in lustrous 24-karat gold. The workmanship is outstanding and no detail has been overlooked. On each side of the slide, the distinctive Rampant Colt is also proudly displayed, along with the familiar stylized Colt logo, signifying that each pistol in the edition is an Officially Licensed Colt firearm.

The grips for this deluxe presentation pistol are crafted of rosewood and are checkered in the classic "double diamond" pattern. Inset in each grip is a gold clad Rampant Colt medallion.  As a final touch, the grip screws, slide stop, hammer, safety lock and magazine catch are all polished and elegantly clad in lustrous 24-karat gold.

This museum-quality Colt Legacy Tribute Pistol will be the focal point in any collection of fine firearms. With only 300 Tributes available in the edition, it is anticipated demand will be high.
 

On the left side of the slide a portrait of Samuel Colt serves as the centerpiece. This portrait was made from a photograph taken by the celebrated Civil War photographer, Matthew Brady, a few years before Colt’s death at age 47, in January 1862. You’ll often see Sam Colt referred to as Colonel Colt. Although associated with the military for the guns he made, Colt never served his country in uniform. In fact, “Colonel” was an honorary title bestowed on him by the Governor of Connecticut.

To the left of Sam Colt is a depiction of the Hartford Armory’s distinctive dome. The art is so finely detailed you can almost count the gold-plated stars. The extravagant Colonel Colt wouldn’t top his gun factory with just an ordinary cupola or typical weathervane. Instead, an enormous Byzantine-inspired blue onion dome sprinkled with more than 80 gold stars crowned the armory and made it a local landmark. Atop the dome stood the familiar “Rampant Colt” that became the Company’s trademark. The gilded zinc Colt statue was cast in the Armory.

 
On the right side of the slide is the Charter Oak, the patriotic symbol and official state tree of Connecticut. Legend states that in 1662, this majestic white oak tree served as a hiding place for the royal Charter when agents of England’s King James II came to seize it. When the historic tree was toppled by a storm in 1856, Colt acquired much of the wood, some of which he made into grips for special presentation pieces he called Charter Oak Models. His firstborn son also slept in a cradle made from pieces of the historic old oak. Today, the Charter Oak is closely identified with Samuel Colt and Colt’s Manufacturing Company as a symbol of patriotism, defense of country, strength, and virtue.

To the right of Colt’s portrait is his ancestral “Armsmear Crest,” the source of the Rampant Colt adopted by Samuel Colt for his Company’s logo. The crest carries the Latin motto, vincit qui patitur, “He who perseveres is victorious,” a motto which aptly sums up Colt’s life and the history of the company he founded. In the center of the slide a view of the Colt Armory and office building is taken from a 19th century engraving. The impressive four-story brick factory with its blue onion-shaped dome stood at the junction of the Connecticut and Little River and was the nation’s largest producer of munitions. During the Civil War, over 1,500 men worked two ten-hour shifts at the Hartford Armory to keep the Union Army supplied with guns.

To the right of the factory is a representation of Samuel Colt as a young sailor of 16. He is shown carving a block of oak into the revolving cylinder that would make firearms history. A statue depicting this event can be seen today as part of the memorial to Samuel Colt in Colt Park in Hartford, formerly part of Colonel Colt’s estate, “Armsmear.”