The Paterson Colt Gun Collection of Dennis A. LeVett

July 26 through November 1, 2008

Born in 1814, Samuel Colt was to have a major impact upon gun manufacturing.  The guns subsequently produced by his Colt Company impacted the United States, as well as the rest of the world.

Prior to 1836, handguns were generally a single shot variety, being called pistols.  Loading and firing of these single shot handguns was problematic at best.  A single shot weapon was too time consuming to reload.  In Texas and parts of the United States, as the troops were continually thrown into combat, attempting to reload a single shot weapon during battle was too much of a disadvantage for a soldier.

The Lakes Art Center will display a collection of some of the rarest of all Colt firearms: the Paterson, made in the pioneer industrial city of the same name in New Jersey, c. 1836 to 1842.

This exhibition has ticketed entry.

Sponsored by: The Pearson Art Foundation