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Colt Firearms Collector |
Colt AR-15 and M16 Paperwork and Instructions
Catalogs (1959 - 1970s)
1959Colt AR-15 .223. Automatic Military Rifle, Contractor's Operation Manual, 6 x 9 in., 23 pgs.Colt's Patent Fire Arms Manufacturing Co., Inc. Colt's business name (...Inc.) was first used starting in 1957 to 1959 Armalite sold the rights to the AR-15 in 1959 (Rare) |
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1957-1959Colt AR-15 Military Rifle, .223, 4 x 8.5 in., tri-fold, 6 pgs.Colt's Patent Fire Arms Manufacturing Co., Inc. This business name (...Inc.) was first used starting in 1957 to 1959 (Rare) |
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The first AR-15 Comanche rifle was produced by ArmaLite, not Colt. Colt acquired the rights to the AR-15 design in 1959, and began producing their own version of the rifle, which they called the Colt AR-15. The Colt AR-15 was a semi-automatic rifle, while the ArmaLite AR-15 was a select-fire rifle, meaning it could fire in both semi-automatic and automatic modes. Colt changed the name of their rifle to the Colt AR-15 Sporter in 1964, and the ArmaLite AR-15 was eventually discontinued. The first AR-15 weapons were sold by Colt to the Federation of Malaya (modern day Malaysia). In 1961 the U.S. Air Force buys 8,000 AR-15 rifles. 1963: The M-16 is Born. With the AR-15 in the hands of the Air Force, a standard model of the rifle is devep0-ed. They dub it the M-16, the most famous service weapon of the United States Military. |
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1964Colt AR-15, Military caliber 5.56mm, Brochure Bulletin D-1 in German; 8.5 x 11in., 8 pgs. on medium cardstock paper. Form 5464-6409Colt Industries/ Colt's Firearms Division (Rare)
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Application by Colt to the BATF for civilian sale of the AR-15 was made on Oct. 23, 1963. It was approved on Dec. 10, 1963, and sales of the civilian "Model R6000 Colt AR-15 SP1 Sporter Rifle" began on Jan 2, 1964 (Note: there is no forward assist).
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Below: The undated AR-15 Sporter Rifle, Caliber .223 manual was published at that time with the early 'COLT' company logo on the front and: Colt's Patent Fire Arms Manufacturing Co., INC, on the back |
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1964 More... Second Version Colt AR-15 Sporter Rifle, Caliber .223, Operation and Maintenance manual,6 x 9 in., 15 pages, no date, 'Archery Equipment' on red banner, Colt Patent Fire Arms Manufacturing Co., Inc
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Note: Diagram dated 5-13-1964 and the Sporter was introduced in the 1964 Colt catalog |
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In 1959 Colt's Manufacturing Company changed their name to 'Fairbanks-Whitney' Corporation and in 1964 became Colt Industries with 'Colt' becoming the 'Firearms Division' of Colt Industries |
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1964 Colt XM16E1 Prototype 40mm Grenade Launcher, 8 x 11 glossy photo print, back side has 'Not Authorized' notice (Enlargement to show the grenade launcher) U.S. Army Weapons Command |
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1964 More...(7 pages) Introduction of the AR-15 to the civilian marketplace by Colt for the first timeColt AR-15 Sporter rifle R6000 |
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1964 Colt 1964 promotional photo of their military automatic weapons including the M16 |
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1965 More...(4 pages)Colt AR-15 Sporter rifle R6000The 1965 version with the price of an AR-15 |
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1966 More... (5 pages) This catalog shows the AR-15 and the Colt 3x20 scope for the first time in the civilian market |
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1969Colt's AR-15 (R-6000) Dealer Notebook8.5 x 11 in., double-sided polished paper |
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1969 More... Third VersionColt AR-15 Sporter Rifle, Caliber .223, Operation and Maintenance manual,6 x 9 in., 15 pages, no date, 'Archery Equipment' on red banner |
Note: Diagram still dated 5-13-1964 |
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1969Colt Industries Early Production paperwork on the M16A1 rifle variations and accessoriessingle polished sheets
Colt Industries/Firearms Division
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1970-72 (Single-side sheet) Colt Police pocket adsfor AR-15 semi-automatic carbineColt Industries/ Small Arms Division/Security equipment |
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1972 Colt AR-15 Sporter Rifle, Caliber .223, Operation and Maintenance manual,6 x 9 in., 15 pages, 1972 date on lower-left back cover, Form A 11-72, Red banner shows 'ACCESSORIES' (Rare Version) |
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1973 More...Colt Catalog (32 pages)Colt AR-15 rifle Colt 3x20 optics |
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1974 Colt M-16, Military caliber 5.56mm, Brochure Bulletin D-4 in English8.5 x 11 in., 8 pgs on medium cardstock paper, Form 91816 A9-74 |
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c. 1974 Colt M-16, Military, caliber 5.56mm, Brochure in French8.5 x 11 in., 8 pages on medium weight polished paper, published in Paris, France. No date or Form # |
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1975 More...Colt Catalog (23 pages)Colt AR-15 Sporter rifle
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1975 Nov.Colt M-16A1 operators manual; 3 1/2 x 5 in, 42 pages, Part No. 94862 |
This late Vietnam era rifle manual goes to great lengths to address the issues which plagued servicemen in the field with jamming and the causes. |
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1976 More... (22 pages) |
 Colt AR-15 Sporter rifle |
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1976 More... (3 pages) Colt Retail Price List |
 AR-15 Sporter rifle $297.50Colt 3x20 optics $90.00 |
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1977 More... (18 pages) |
 AR-15 Sporter rifle Colt 3x20 optics |
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1977 More... (3 pages) Colt Retail Price List |
 R6000 AR-15 Sporter rifle $324.95WC1300 Colt 3x20 $97.95 |
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1978 More... (22 pages) AR-15 Sporter now with collapsible stock |
Colt 3x20 optics |
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1978 More... (3 pages) Colt Retail Price List |
 R6000 AR-15 Sporter rifle $341.95 R6001 w/ collapsible stock $376.50 3x20 WC1300 scope $102.95 |
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1979Colt Industries press release about the introduction of the AR-15 Sporter with collapsible stock and news about discontinuance of the 'D' frame revolvers |
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1979 Colt M16A1 Publicity Brochure in English, French, Spanish, 11 x 9 1/4 in.; 8 glossy pages 8/79 Part No. 91975 |
 
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1979 More... Colt Firearms Catalog (22 pages) |
  AR-15 Sporter w/ collapsible stock Colt 3x20 optics |
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1980-90s Colt printer artwork 'cuts' for Sporter & HBAR Competition introduction
Single glossy sheet used for producing modern ads photographically |
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Continue to catalogs: 1980s
Catalogs: 1959-70s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s