Life, 1904-12-01 · page 3 of 64
Life — December 1, 1904 — page 3: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a **straightforward product advertisement**, not satire or political commentary. Colt's Patent Fire Arms Manufacturing Company of Hartford, Connecticut advertised their revolvers in *Life* magazine. The ad emphasizes Colt's market dominance by claiming 60 years as "the first choice" of the U.S. Army, Navy, and general public. It showcases four weapon models with marketing copy: the "Cowboy's Friend," the government-standard military revolver, a "New Police" pocket model, and an "Automatic Colt" pistol. The ad promises mail-order catalogs and notes weapons are "for sale everywhere"—reflecting an era when firearm mail-order and retail sales were completely unregulated, before 20th-century firearms restrictions.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
REVOLVERS COWBOY’S FRIEND For years unfailing : in time of need NEW ARMY AND NEW NAVY : The U. S. Government i) standard NEW POLICE ne oon) Ht ARMY Revolver with a GRIP ‘AUTOMATIC COLT BAN ber Flat, like a book in the ; TH EPUDLIL pocket ‘ Safe—Rapid—Reliable CATALOGUES MAILED THE ARMS FOR SALE FOR SALE ON APPLICATION — EVERY WHERE Patent Fire Arms Mfg. Co. HARTFORD, CONN. U.S.A.