Google Groups no longer supports new Usenet posts or subscriptions. Historical content remains viewable.
Dismiss

Colt Manuals On CD

1 view
Skip to first unread message

Bluehawk99

unread,
Jun 29, 2009, 9:55:41 PM6/29/09
to
Many years ago ( mid 1980's) I received from Colt a bunch of original
handgun and AR15, M16 rifle owner manuals....all that were actually
available! I've started scanning them in PDF (Adobe) format.
I'm wondering if anyone out there would be interested in these on CD
(for a fee of $10 each + shipping to cover my costs) ?
The scans are full color of the front and rear of the manuals and any
colors contained on the inside...usually highlighting... and quality
is excellent!
If enough of you guys are interested I will continue to scan what's
left to do soon or else I will just go at my own pace if nobody is
interested.
The following numbered items are each a seperate manual which will be
on the CD:
1) M16A1
2) AR15 Sporter Rifle
3) AR15A2 (Sporter II rifle and carbine, Hbar sporter and 9mm
carbine)
4) Govt Model MK IV/Series 70
5) Govt Model MK IV /Series 80 (Combat Commander, Commander
Lightweight and Officer's ACP model)
6) Govt Model MK IV/Series 80 (Delta Elite, Combat Elite,
Combat Commander (lightweight) and Officers ACP model)
7) Combat Commander and Commander Model (lightweight)
8) MK IV/Series 80 Gold Cup National Match
9) Service Model Ace automatic pistol
10) Lawman MK III & Trooper MK III
11) Lawman MK V & Trooper MK V
12) Agent,Cobra,Commando Special,Diamondback,Detective Special,Viper
and Police Positive
13) Single Action Army revolver (Sheriffs model and New Frontier SAA
revolver)
14) Python
15) King Cobra
16) New Frontier and New Frontier Buntline
17) .22 Cal Single Action Revolvers that do NOT have a cross bolt
safety
18) Colt-Sauer Bolt Action Rifles (short action, standard, magnum,
Grand Alaskan and Grand African)
As an added bonus I will also scan the owners manual from the DCM for
the M1 Garand and for Marlin owners, the original owners manual for
the Model 1894CS Lever Action .357 Magnum Carbine!


--------------------------------------------------------------
Learn about rec.guns at http://www.recguns.net
Last call to win a Fulton Armory .308 Titan Carbine and defend
liberty at the same time! Details at http://myguns.net
--------------------------------------------------------------

Rubaiyat of Omar Bradley

unread,
Jul 3, 2009, 12:34:31 PM7/3/09
to
FYI most of these are available for free at
http://stevespages.com/page7b.htm

E30 Rocketman

unread,
Jul 4, 2009, 7:16:46 AM7/4/09
to
Thanks...looked at a few pf his Colt scan...his covers are B&W...mine
are in color and the OCR on mine is far better! :o)

Bill Swafford

unread,
Jul 4, 2009, 8:36:21 PM7/4/09
to
On Tue, 30 Jun 2009 01:55:41 +0000 (UTC), Bluehawk99
<blueh...@aol.com> wrote:

#Many years ago ( mid 1980's) I received from Colt a bunch of original
#handgun and AR15, M16 rifle owner manuals....all that were actually
#available! I've started scanning them in PDF (Adobe) format.
#I'm wondering if anyone out there would be interested in these on CD
#(for a fee of $10 each + shipping to cover my costs) ?

Colt will probably take issue with your selling what they consider to
be their copyrighted information. Further, most gun manufactures
either give away or sell their manuals for less than that.

Or check out this site:
http://stevespages.com/page7b.htm

He's got you beat. Don't quit your day job.

Bill Swafford

unread,
Jul 4, 2009, 8:36:23 PM7/4/09
to
On Sat, 4 Jul 2009 11:16:46 +0000 (UTC), E30 Rocketman
<blueh...@aol.com> wrote:

#Thanks...looked at a few pf his Colt scan...his covers are B&W...mine
#are in color and the OCR on mine is far better! :o)

Color covers are somehow worth 10 bucks? Who cares about OCR? unless
it's 100% perfect (it ain't) it's less than worthless.

E30 Rocketman

unread,
Jul 4, 2009, 8:37:32 PM7/4/09
to
Update on copyrights for publications:

Works created on or after January 1, 1978.
The following rules apply to published and unpublished works:

For one author, the work is copyright-protected for the life of the
author plus 70 years.
For joint authors, the work is protected for the life of the surviving
author plus 70 years.
For works made for hire, the work is protected for 95 years from the
first publication or 120 years from the date of its creation,
whichever is less.
For anonymous and pseudonymous works, the work is protected for 95
years from the first publication or 120 years from the date of its
creation, whichever is less. (However, if the author's name is
disclosed to the U.S. Copyright Office, the work is protected for the
life of the author plus 70 years.)

In the case of the Colt owners manuals they DO NOT say they are
copyrighted nor do they say it is prohibited to copy/distribute them.
They bear only the Colt logo trademark which is copyrighted!!!!!
When I received them back in the 1980s or so the Colt rep made a point
of letting me know distribution by copies (Xerox back then) was
authorized.
It is my belief Colt would like to have their safety/owners manuals in
the hands of as many people as possible and since these (so dated) are
out of print I'm simply offering them to anyone interested. The fee
simply recovers my cost of time and labor, cost of a new CD and
plastic jacket/enclosure, as well as wear and tear on the scanner and
cost of electricty!
It takes over an hour to properly scan and catalog just one 40-page
owners manual for Adobe PDF! (and thats conservative if you take into
account any mistakes made and it has to be scanned again!)
Please contact me with relevant questions but do refrain from comments
like the fee is excessive for all 18 manuals or OCR quality is
meaningless like I received from one member.
If you feel the fee is too high, I promise I won't twist your arm to
purchase one!
Thanks...
Henry J

E30 Rocketman

unread,
Jul 4, 2009, 8:37:30 PM7/4/09
to
To clear up any confusion a few of you are having...according to my
emails...All 18 owners manuals are on 1 CD.

Copyrights: Good for 21 years. These manuals are older than that!

Bill Swafford

unread,
Jul 5, 2009, 5:45:44 PM7/5/09
to
On Sun, 5 Jul 2009 00:37:30 +0000 (UTC), E30 Rocketman
<blueh...@aol.com> wrote:


#Copyrights: Good for 21 years. These manuals are older than that!

What's your source for that information? According to the US
copyright office, for materials published before 1978, the first term
is good for 28 years, then it may be renewed for an additional 28
years.

Bill Swafford

unread,
Jul 5, 2009, 5:45:47 PM7/5/09
to
On Sun, 5 Jul 2009 00:37:32 +0000 (UTC), E30 Rocketman
<blueh...@aol.com> wrote:

#Update on copyrights for publications:
#
#Works created on or after January 1, 1978.
#The following rules apply to published and unpublished works:

#For works made for hire, the work is protected for 95 years from the
#first publication or 120 years from the date of its creation,
#whichever is less.
So the copyrights on the manuals you want to sell still apply.

#In the case of the Colt owners manuals they DO NOT say they are
#copyrighted nor do they say it is prohibited to copy/distribute them.
That's immaterial. Work is under copyright protection the moment it
is created and fixed in a tangible form that it is perceptible either
directly or with the aid of a machine or device.
Seems to me that if it's on paper, it's "fixed in a tangible form that
it is perceptible either directly or with the aid of a machine or
device."

#They bear only the Colt logo trademark which is copyrighted!!!!!
No, logos are protected under trademark laws.

#When I received them back in the 1980s or so the Colt rep made a point
#of letting me know distribution by copies (Xerox back then) was
#authorized.
Hey, that statement will be sure to protect you in the event that Colt
takes issue with your selling their copyrighted works! :)

#It is my belief Colt would like to have their safety/owners manuals in
#the hands of as many people as possible and since these (so dated) are
#out of print I'm simply offering them to anyone interested. The fee
#simply recovers my cost of time and labor, cost of a new CD and
#plastic jacket/enclosure, as well as wear and tear on the scanner and
#cost of electricty!
I'm still thinking Colt will take an issue with your selling their
copyrighted works for profit.

#Please contact me with relevant questions but do refrain from comments
#like the fee is excessive for all 18 manuals or OCR quality is
#meaningless like I received from one member.
My mistake, I just assumed that since you posted to a discussion
board, you wanted to discuss the issue.

Gunny2009

unread,
Jul 6, 2009, 6:11:08 AM7/6/09
to
One easy way to clear up the issue instead of everyone trying to play lawyer
and quote laws to each other. Get the word right from the horse's mouth.
Don't guess.

Just write to Colt, describe your project, and ask them if they have any
legal objections. That should give you a secure feeling that you aren't
risking your life savings on a potential lawsuit and will settle the issue
with any readers or purchasers that they are buying legal copies.

The direct approach. Easy. They actually may appreciate the effort as it
would take some of the load off of their own facilities to provide copies of
these manuals. They may not guard the copyrights on technical manuals as
much as a novel writer might guard his fiction since it is just a manual of
engineering facts and does not impinge on any single writer's imagination
and creativity. Heck, they might even send you a clean original set on CD
for you to further distribute. Who knows?

Please let us know the results of your correspondence with Colt.

Rubaiyat of Omar Bradley

unread,
Jul 6, 2009, 3:22:07 PM7/6/09
to
On Jul 6, 4:11�am, "Gunny2009" <patmagroin...@hotmail.com> wrote:
# Please let us know the results of your correspondence with Colt.

This information is already contained in the manuals themselves, which
are available at http://www.coltsmfg.com/publications.aspx

In addition to the usual "all rights reserved" clause, they further
state "for permission to reprint for noncommercial instructional
purposes, prior approval from Colt's is required".

Mortimer Schnerd

unread,
Jul 6, 2009, 3:22:21 PM7/6/09
to
Gunny2009 wrote:

# The direct approach. Easy. They actually may appreciate the effort as it
# would take some of the load off of their own facilities to provide copies of
# these manuals. They may not guard the copyrights on technical manuals as
# much as a novel writer might guard his fiction since it is just a manual of
# engineering facts and does not impinge on any single writer's imagination
# and creativity. Heck, they might even send you a clean original set on CD
# for you to further distribute. Who knows?
#
# Please let us know the results of your correspondence with Colt.

I'd be willing to bet they'll say no. Not because of any profit motive
but because of product liability. They lose direct control of the
information that's being published and if any of it's faulty, they may
end up holding the bag none the less. Just my opinion, mind you.


Mortimer Schnerd, RN
mschnerd at carolina.rr.com

Gunny_2009

unread,
Jul 6, 2009, 7:11:47 PM7/6/09
to

# I'd be willing to bet they'll say no. Not because of any profit motive
# but because of product liability. They lose direct control of the
# information that's being published and if any of it's faulty, they may
# end up holding the bag none the less. Just my opinion, mind you.
#

Good points. The liability for incorrect or faulty editions might still
fall back on Colt. "IF" he has the courage to actually correspond directly
with Colt, I expect them to take the conservative approach and deny
permission.

E30 Rocketman

unread,
Jul 6, 2009, 7:11:49 PM7/6/09
to
I'll give them a call and verify what they already gave me permission
for (but that was back in the 1980s).
I noticed they don't have the manual for the Combat Commander on their
site...didn't double check all they have against what I have though.
On a side note...of all the years I've been online I have never had to
ban email from anyone as I've always felt it was rude to do so.
Yesterday I found it necessary.
A certain individual on this forum fails to understand what it means
when you say..Please don't email me anymore!
Thankfully, the majority of us here are well mannered, so I hope I
won't ever have to resort to that again!

Gunny_2009

unread,
Jul 6, 2009, 7:11:51 PM7/6/09
to

"Rubaiyat of Omar Bradley" <cowar...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:h2tisv$q9i$1...@news.albasani.net...
# On Jul 6, 4:11 am, "Gunny2009" <patmagroin...@hotmail.com> wrote:
# # Please let us know the results of your correspondence with Colt.
#
# This information is already contained in the manuals themselves, which
# are available at http://www.coltsmfg.com/publications.aspx
#
# In addition to the usual "all rights reserved" clause, they further
# state "for permission to reprint for noncommercial instructional
# purposes, prior approval from Colt's is required".
#


That looks like pretty good evidence of their intentions. If they require
permission for noncommercial purposes, I expect they would also demand it
for commercial reasons. Also, why buy these manuals when Colt offers them
for free download from their own site? I guess the good old entrepreneurial
spirit kicked in but not enough research was done before going ahead with
the project. Good try though.

Jim Swanson

unread,
Jul 7, 2009, 5:36:16 AM7/7/09
to
#I'd be willing to bet they'll say no. Not because of any profit motive
#but because of product liability. They lose direct control of the
#information that's being published and if any of it's faulty, they may
#end up holding the bag none the less. Just my opinion, mind you.


Bluehawk has that covered. Some guy told him 20+ years ago he could
distribute them.

E30 Rocketman

unread,
Jul 8, 2009, 9:09:27 AM7/8/09
to
Gunny_wrote:
�"IF" he has the courage to actually correspond directly
# with Colt, I expect them to take the conservative approach and deny
# permission.

I just got off the phone with Colt Industries. Left voicemail for the
gentleman I was directed to that could clear this up. Have to wait now
for the call back.
As far as being late with all this I started this project a year
ago...before the manuals were put on Colts website.
Why get them from me? You certainly can download from their site and
do all the work yourself and go out and buy blank CDs (if you dont
have any) or get them from me with all the work done.
This wasn't a for-profit venture...it's simply a share-with-you-guys
info if you want it. At $10 there is no profit if you consider it
takes about 20 hours or so to scan all these booklets plus the cost of
the CDs and jackets...add to that wear and tear on the scanner as well
as the cost of electricity!
Where is the profit??

Tony

unread,
Jul 9, 2009, 9:03:09 PM7/9/09
to
Well, let's see. 20 hours at $8 / hour (for an administrative
assistant) that's $160. CDs, about a quarter apeice. So figure 15
minutes foe each copy you want to produce at $2. That's $2.25 for time
and materials leaving $7.75 profit on each one. Figure in your ROI at
21 CDs, and the rest is $7.75 profit from then on.

E30 Rocketman

unread,
Jul 10, 2009, 8:57:24 PM7/10/09
to
On Jul 9, 6:03�pm, Tony <t...@cigardiary.com> wrote:
# Well, let's see. �20 hours at $8 / hour (for an administrative
# assistant) that's $160. �CDs, about a quarter apeice. �So figure 15
# minutes foe each copy you want to produce at $2. �That's $2.25 for time
# and materials leaving $7.75 profit on each one. �Figure in your ROI at
# 21 CDs, and the rest is $7.75 profit from then on.

Minimum wage is $8/hour...and I've been demoted to Admin Asst?? All
this time I thought I was the CEO!
I figured at most possibly 10 folks interested in the project.
You are forgetting cost of plastic flip-open CD jackets PLUS the cost
of electricity. It's not just electrical cost of running the PC and
scanner but the cost of it for lights and especially the AC running
here to keep things cool!

Jim Swanson

unread,
Jul 10, 2009, 8:57:26 PM7/10/09
to
On Fri, 10 Jul 2009 01:03:09 +0000 (UTC), Tony <to...@cigardiary.com>
wrote:

#Well, let's see. 20 hours at $8 / hour (for an administrative
#assistant) that's $160. CDs, about a quarter apeice. So figure 15
#minutes foe each copy you want to produce at $2. That's $2.25 for time
#and materials leaving $7.75 profit on each one. Figure in your ROI at
#21 CDs, and the rest is $7.75 profit from then on.

Then there's the legal costs Henry will have to pay after Colt finds
out he's selling their copyrighted materials.

Jim Swanson

unread,
Jul 11, 2009, 9:36:43 AM7/11/09
to
On Sat, 11 Jul 2009 00:57:24 +0000 (UTC), E30 Rocketman
<blueh...@aol.com> wrote:


#I figured at most possibly 10 folks interested in the project.
#You are forgetting cost of plastic flip-open CD jackets PLUS the cost
#of electricity. It's not just electrical cost of running the PC and
#scanner but the cost of it for lights and especially the AC running
#here to keep things cool!


Now he wants us to pay all his bills! What next, lunch?

0 new messages