Recommended Reads: 'The Colt Model 1860 Army Revolver'

"The Colt Model 1860 Revolver", by Charles W. Pate, Mowbray Publishing, Woonsocket, Rhode Island, 2018, 462 pages.

There are a good number of arms enthusiasts, including this reviewer, who deem the Colt Model 1860 Army to be the most elegant, beautifully designed revolver ever. But beauty is as beauty does. The 1860 was also the high-­water mark of single-­action percussion revolvers. It was widely used by the military in the Civil War, by civilians in the East and West and by law enforcement.

In his latest book, Charles Pate presents the reader with a superb profile of this fine arm from its development to its demise. Profusely illustrated with more than 900 black-­and-­white photos, there is virtually no detail regarding the 1860 that has been overlooked.

Using Colt factory records and U.S. government sources, the author has put together a database profiling some 8,000 1860s. It's a fascinating read and superb reference that not only covers the history and mechanics of the revolver, but also the accessories and information on many of the people who used them.

The book is available from Mobray Publishing, gunandswordcollector.com, 401-­597-­5055. $66 (plus $5.50 shipping and handling)