Guns and Hunting

These Legendary Colt Firearms Shaped US Military History

24/7 Wall St. Staff

Published: November 3, 2024 9:10 am

First introduced in 1873, the Colt .45 Peacemaker is one of the most iconic firearms in American history. Often romanticized as “the gun that won the West”, this famous revolver played a pivotal role in shaping the American frontier as it was utilized by outlaws, cowboys, lawmen, and civilians alike. The gun’s success firmly established the Colt Manufacturing Company in mainstream culture, leading it to become the forefront of firearms innovation for generations. (This is America’s favorite rifle company.)

To identify the most iconic military firearms built by Colt Firearms, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed a catalog of Colt Firearms from Military Factory, an online database of military vehicles, aircraft, arms, and more. We ordered these firearms chronologically, from the newest to the oldest. We also included supplemental data from the Military Factory regarding the year entered service, type, firing action, caliber, and feed. We excluded firearms that were experimental or prototypes.

Why We’re Writing About This

The Colt Manufacturing Company built many of the firearms that shaped American history and have been vital to the U.S. military for over 100 years. These guns are deeply embedded into American folklore, frequently showing up in books and movies. In addition, Colt is famous for the quality, durability, and reliability of its firearms.

Here is a look at the iconic guns produced by Colt Firearms over the years.

Canada C20

• Year introduced: 2020
• Type: Designated marksman rifle
• Firing action: Semi-automatic
• Caliber & Feed: 7.62x51mm NATO, 20-round detachable box magazine

LE901

LE 901 Adapter block (CC BY-SA 3.0 DEED) by FilmWerks

• Year introduced: 2013
• Type: Carbine
• Firing action: Gas-operated; locking bolt; semi-automatic
• Caliber & Feed: .308 Winchester, 30-round detachable box magazine

Navy Mark 12 Special Purpose Rifle (Mk 12 SPR)

• Year introduced: 2002
• Type: Sniper rifle / designated marksman rifle
• Firing action: Gas-operated, rotating bolt
• Caliber & Feed: 5.56x45mm NATO, 20- or 30-round detachable box magazine

M4

• Year introduced: 1994
• Type: Assault carbine
• Firing action: Gas-operated; locking bolt; semi-/full-automatic
• Caliber & Feed: 5.56x45mm NATO, 20- or 30-round detachable box magazine

M4A1 SOPMOD

• Year introduced: 1993
• Type: Carbine
• Firing action: Gas-operated; rotating bolt
• Caliber & Feed: 5.56x45mm NATO, 30-round detachable box magazine

Anaconda

• Year introduced: 1990
• Type: Six-shot revolver
• Firing action: Double-action; repeating
• Caliber & Feed: .44 Special, .44 Magnum, .45 Colt, 6-shot rotating cylinder

M16A4

• Year introduced: 1990
• Type: Assault rifle
• Firing action: Gas-operated; semi-automatic; select fire
• Caliber & Feed: 5.56x45mm NATO, 30-round detachable box magazine

Diemaco C8

• Year introduced: 1988
• Type: Assault carbine
• Firing action: Gas-operated; rotating bolt
• Caliber & Feed: 5.56x45mm NATO, 30-round detachable box magazine

Diemaco C7

• Year introduced: 1984
• Type: Designated marksman rifle
• Firing action: Gas-operated; rotating bolt
• Caliber & Feed: 5.56x45mm NATO, 30-round detachable box magazine

M16A2

• Year introduced: 1983
• Type: Assault rifle
• Firing action: Gas-operated; semi-automatic; select fire
• Caliber & Feed: 5.56x45mm NATO, 30-round detachable box magazine

Model 635

• Year introduced: 1982
• Type: Submachine gun
• Firing action: Blowback; closed-bolt
• Caliber & Feed: 9x19mm Parabellum, 20- or 32-round detachable box magazine

AAI M203

• Year introduced: 1969
• Type: Breech-loading under-barrel grenade launcher
• Firing action: Single-shot
• Caliber & Feed: 40x46mm, Single-shot

CAR-15 Commando (XM177)

• Year introduced: 1966
• Type: Assault carbine
• Firing action: Gas-operated; locking bolt; semi-/full-automatic
• Caliber & Feed: 5.56x45mm NATO, 20- or 30-round detachable box magazine

M16

• Year introduced: 1963
• Type: Assault carbine
• Firing action: Gas-operated, rotating bolt
• Caliber & Feed: 5.56x45mm NATO, 20- or 30-round detachable box magazine

ArmaLite AR-15

• Year introduced: 1958
• Type: Select-fire automatic rifle
• Firing action: Rotating bolt, direct impingement system
• Caliber & Feed: .223 Remington, 5.56x45mm NATO, .45 ACP, 20-, 30-, 40-, 90- or 100-round magazines

ArmaLite AR-10

AR10 Armalite vue d (CC BY-SA 4.0 DEED) by Le-boulanger

• Year introduced: 1958
• Type: Battle rifle
• Firing action: Gas-operated; rotating bolt
• Caliber & Feed: .308 Winchester, 7.62x51mm NATO, 20-round detachable box magazine

Python

• Year introduced: 1955
• Type: Six-shot revolver
• Firing action: Double-action; repeating
• Caliber & Feed: .357 Magnum, 6-shot rotating cylinder

Browning .303

• Year introduced: 1936
• Type: Medium machine gun
• Firing action: Recoil-operated; full-automatic, belt-fed
• Caliber & Feed: .303 British, Belt-fed (various lengths)

Browning M1918 BAR (Browning Automatic Rifle)

• Year introduced: 1918
• Type: Light machine gun
• Firing action: Gas-operated; open bolt; selective fire
• Caliber & Feed: .30-06 Springfield, 20-round detachable box magazine

Browning M1917

• Year introduced: 1917
• Type: Belt-fed, water-cooled heavy machine gun
• Firing action: Recoil-operated; full-automatic, belt-fed
• Caliber & Feed: .30-06 Springfield, 250-round fabric belt

Colt Model 1917

• Year introduced: 1917
• Type: Service revolver
• Firing action: Double-action; rotating cylinder
• Caliber & Feed: .45 ACP, 6-shot rotating cylinder

Kongsberg M/1914

• Year introduced: 1915
• Type: Semi-automatic service pistol
• Firing action: Single-action; short recoil-operated
• Caliber & Feed: .45 ACP, 7-round detachable box magazine

Colt M1911

• Year introduced: 1911
• Type: Semi-automatic service pistol
• Firing action: Single-action; short recoil-operated
• Caliber & Feed: .45 ACP, 7-round detachable box magazine

Hotchkiss Model 1909

• Year introduced: 1909
• Type: Light machine gun
• Firing action: Gas-operated; magazine-/belt-fed
• Caliber & Feed: .303 British, .30-06 Springfield, 30-round detachable box magazine

Model 1903 (Pocket Hammerless)

• Year introduced: 1903
• Type: Semi-automatic pistol
• Firing action: Single-action; blowback
• Caliber & Feed: .32 ACP, 8-round detachable box magazine

Browning M1895 (Potato Digger)

• Year introduced: 1895
• Type: Air-cooled, belt-fed machine gun
• Firing action: Gas-operated; closed-bolt; lever-actuated
• Caliber & Feed: .30-40 Krag; 7x57mm; 6.5x52mm, .30-06 Springfield, 240-round fabric belt

Colt 45 Peacemaker

• Year introduced: 1873
• Type: Six-shot revolver
• Firing action: Single-action; rotating cylinder
• Caliber & Feed: .45 Long Colt; .38 Special; .357 Magnum; .44 Special, 6-shot rotating cylinder

Model 1862 Pocket Navy

• Year introduced: 1862
• Type: Five-shot percussion revolver
• Firing action: Single-action
• Caliber & Feed: .36 Cap and ball, 5-shot rotating cylinder

Model 1862 Police

• Year introduced: 1862
• Type: Five-shot percussion revolver
• Firing action: Single-action
• Caliber & Feed: .36 Cap and ball, 5-shot rotating cylinder

Model 1861 Navy

• Year introduced: 1861
• Type: Six-shot percussion revolver
• Firing action: Single-action
• Caliber & Feed: .36 Cap and ball, 6-shot rotating cylinder

Model 1860 New Army

• Year introduced: 1860
• Type: Six-shot percussion revolver
• Firing action: Single-action; repeating; percussion cap
• Caliber & Feed: .44 Ball, 6-shot rotating cylinder

Model 1855 (Root Revolver)

• Year introduced: 1855
• Type: Sing-action six-shot revolver
• Firing action: Single-action; rotating cylinder; side hammer
• Caliber & Feed: .31 Cap and ball, 6-shot rotating cylinder

Model 1855 Revolving Carbine

• Year introduced: 1855
• Type: Six-shot service rifle
• Firing action: Percussion cap; hammer-actuated; revolving cylinder
• Caliber & Feed: .56 Cap and Ball, 5- or 6-shot revolving cylinder

Model 1851 Navy

• Year introduced: 1851
• Type: Percussion revolver
• Firing action: Single-action
• Caliber & Feed: .36 Cap and ball, 6-shot rotating cylinder

Model 1849 Pocket Revolver

• Year introduced: 1849
• Type: Percussion revolver
• Firing action: Single-action
• Caliber & Feed: .31 Cap and ball, 5- or 6-shot revolving cylinder

Model 1848 Baby Dragoon

• Year introduced: 1848
• Type: Five-shot percussion revolver
• Firing action: Percussion cap; repeat fire
• Caliber & Feed: .31 Cap and ball, 5-shot rotating cylinder

Model 1848 Dragoon

• Year introduced: 1848
• Type: Six-shot percussion revolver
• Firing action: Single-action; revolving cylinder
• Caliber & Feed: .44 Cap and ball, 6-shot rotating cylinder

Colt Walker

• Year introduced: 1847
• Type: Six-shot revolver
• Firing action: Single-action; rotating cylinder
• Caliber & Feed: .44 Cap and ball, 6-shot rotating cylinder

Model 1839

• Year introduced: 1839
• Type: Revolving carbine / shotgun
• Firing action: Single-action; rotating cylinder
• Caliber & Feed: .525 (Carbine); 16-gauge (Shotgun), 6-shot rotating cylinder