I've been reading a lot of these posts lately, and I've just found a book that kinda answers a lot of the questions put forth by our stalwart members. I picked up my copy at
Half-Price Books, which seems to be a more-or-less national chain. It's a little out-of-date, but the newest book you can buy is out-of-date nowadays, what with a fast-moving world and time required for proofing, printing & distribution. It's a wonder anyone's writing anything at all. Anyway, the book is:
Colt Blackpowder Reproductions & Replicas, A Collector's & Shooter's Guide by Dennis Adler, ©1998, Blue Book Publications, Inc., Minneapolis
ISBN: 1-886768-11-0, Liberry O'Congress Cat. Card #: 98-87392
http://www.bluebookinc.com/email:
bluebook@bluebookinc.com