January 10

God made all men and Abe Lincoln made them free - but Sam Colt made them equal.

— Original source unknown

Samuel Colt died in Hartford, Connecticut on this day in 1862 at the mere age of 47. His father, Christopher Colt, had been a farmer in Connecticut, who moved his family to Hartford when he traded professions and got into business. Young Sam Colt had acquired a horse pistol at an early age and his fascination with it led him to his eventual life’s profession. Before he was done, his name would almost be synonymous with the revolver, unquestionably his greatest invention.

Probably more than any other American citizen in the 19th century, Sam Colt was responsible for giving the average man the ability to stand his ground against any and all who would harm him or his kin.
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