[Handy]

Well, obviously not, one would think.

I was speaking with a vendor at a recent gun show who specialized in old Colt products. His collection was...grossly impressive.

Anyway, it was his contention that Colt, as a firearms manufacturer, hasn't existed since the late Seventies. He said that they went bust and destroyed all their tooling rather than let the mob take it.

So what's a Series 80? According to this man, all Colt pistols in the last 20 years are made in S. America and imported under the Colt name and nothing was made in Hartford any more.

While quite opinionated, this guy new what he was talking about in every other historical Colt regard. Any further illumination would be interesting and appreciated.

[CZ-75]

I doubt it.

If they did, it would only be rough forgings.

The fitting and finishing is done in Hartford.

[10-Ring]

Opinions....everybody's got one! :rolleyes:

[Sisco]

Opinions....everybody's got one!
There are some people who don't think Harley Davidson's made a real motorcycle since the panhead.

[Tamara]

They managed to set up a pretty convincing display at SHOT, complete with gringo-looking actors dressed up as Colt employees in photos of their alleged "US factory".

Maybe your acquaintance was getting them confused with a certain other 1911 maker who subcontracts a lot of work out to Brasil... :confused:

[BigG]

Sisco: ;)

In its day, the Series 70 45 Auto was considered quite a comedown from the traditional Gumt Model. Now they are spoken of in reverential tones, like a holy relic. Go figger.

[Handy]

That's alot of "No way!", but the only evidense are the Shot show pics. I didn't necessarily believe the guy, but does anyone know for sure what sort of operations are, or are not, done at Hartford?

[dfariswheel]

Whatever his reason, this is total BS.
I would bet his statement was an attempt to "hype" his older guns price. This is common with less honest gun sellers, "Wa hail, them there new guns is made in JA-pan, ma guns is made in AMERICA".

Over it's history Colt has had a very few models made overseas, and finished out at Colt.
Among these were a .25ACP auto, and the modern blackpowder pistols.
The blackpowder guns in particular started the rumor that Colt was making the Single Actions in Italy. (False).

Colt had, and still has a factory in Hartford turning out 100% American-made guns. VERY few Colt guns were ever made elsewhere, and NO current gun is made anywhere else.

The only American gun company having guns "made in South America" is Springfield Armory. Their 1911 pistols are made in Argentina, and finished here. The Argentines are still using many of the tooling, dies, and specs from the factory Colt set up there in the 20's to make 1911's for the Argentine government.

Another reoccurring rumor always has Colt selling or destroying tooling and dies. A hot one was in the late 80's. It had Colt selling the tooling for the Detective Special to the Philippines.

Nobody seemed to have an good answer when Colt started producing the DS again a few years later, with the original tooling.

Nobody seems to know at what point Colt destroys dies and tooling. They have NEVER sold any tooling or dies, and there are stories that Colt still has the tooling for the ORIGINAL blackpowder pistols.

So, the dealer tried to sell you a line of crap. If he's as big a Colt collctor/dealer as you described, he was flat-out LYING.

[Handy]

Well, just called Colt. They say everything, down to forgings, are done in house. They were very clear and explicit about it, so they were risking lawsuit if they weren't telling the whole truth.

Thanks for the replies. It is nice to be respectful to ones elders, but often that is the group most fastened on whatever misinformation they fell in love with. He wasn't trying to sell me anything, he knew I wasn't interested. This really seemed to be something he totally believed.

[Onslaught]

Wasn't the CZ-40 originally a "Colt"?

[owen]

Colt does not have an operation in Hartford CT. They finished moving out of Hartford, to a new facility sometime around 1990.

Yes, they do still make guns in West Hartford, I know people that worked there recently.

[blades67]

My U.S. Patent Firearms S.A.A. is more genuine Colt than Colt is because my S.A.A. was built under the Blue Dome in Hartford, something Colt can't do anymore.:evil:

[Standing Wolf]

Colt's quality control isn't still in business, but the company is.

[Kahr carrier]

Didnt Colt have a 25 Auto made by Astra for them??

[Jim K]

Colt has had a number of their products made wholly or in part overseas for reasons of economy; they are hardly alone.

But they are still in business in Connecticut, and still making guns. I wonder if that collector just happened to be willing to sell you some of his "real" Colt guns at high prices because "they ain't gonna make them no more".

Jim

[2xTap]

dfariswheel,

Actually, in reference to Springfield Armory, their forgings aren't from Argentina. They come from IMBEL in Brazil.

They are the same forgings that go into the 1911's being made by South American Ordnance, a subsidiary of IMBEL.

2xTap

[dfariswheel]

2xTap:

I didn't know that. The last I heard, the semi-finished guns were still coming from Argentina.

[Jspy]

Onslaught The Colt Z-40 was indeed the forerunner to the CZ model. I think that Colt commisioned CZ to do the gun, but then ran into financial trouble resulting in only around 850 being released before production stopped. These have appeared on various auctions, etc. with some rather large prices being asked, but I doubt they are actually selling for all that much. I bought one NIB at a local shop for a market price at the time and it will probably remain unfired in box in the event it actually goes up in value.

[Dr.Rob]

Funny thing CDNN has Colt Z-40's ( I think they bought them ALL) for $300 or something. They quickly dissapeared, and now can be had on Gunbroker as collector's items, demanding collector's prices.

I never thought the Z-40 looked all that good, but I'll bet it works.

And Colt doesn't use castings for their frames and slides, those are forged.

Jim, yes Colt imported the Astra Cub and called it The Junior. It wasn't nearly as well made as the old 1908 Vest pocket, nor is it as collectable. (though there is on on Gunbroker in .22 short going for $600???)

[CZ-75]

And Colt doesn't use castings for their frames and slides, those are forged.


I thought 1991 series guns were entirely or partly made from castings, hence the lower price.