Consumer confidence in the gun industry has never been lower.
Guessing that you're not keeping track of annual sales figures of firearms nor tracking the stock market. Not sure what analytics you base this supposition on, but most market indicators reflect the opposite.
In any case, I have confidence in Colt righting the ship (as far as the Python is concerned). The big turnaround in its 1911s -- new models, cool stuff, much improved quality --demonstrated to me that as a company, it wants to do the right thing and satisfy its loyal customer base. Why else bring back (a version of) the Python?
Some of you can continue dragging the company's name through the mud, as you are wont to do, but for those of us who've stuck by the company and continued buying its products, I'd suggest that most of us as pretty well satisfied with what we've seen. My last couple recent production Colt 1911s were exceptional, and I'm pleased as hell with my new Cobra and King Cobras, which I am coming around to believe are exceptional revolvers.
A little history may be in order for some as well. Have y'all forgotten the Bangor Punta and Saf-T-Hammer era of Smith and Wesson? The concern about the company's politics and quality control? The issues of MIM and "The Lock?" The boycott in the early aughts? The agreement with President Clinton to implement changes in the design and distribution of its firearms in return for "preferred buying program" to offset revenue loss from the anticipated boycott? The other crap in the agreement about how dealers and distributors of Smith & Wesson's products had to abide by a "code of conduct?" When thousands of retailers and consumers boycotted the company until Smith Shultz was forced out as CEO? There were so many issues with Smith and Wesson guns for a while, many of us saw no future for the company. Then, voila, the M&P, a bunch of new flavors of revolvers (still with the lock), new management, and S&W was suddenly back in the good graces of the gun consumers.
Now, my 2016 Corvette may be a totally different car than a '63 'Vette, but … at the end of the day, it's still a Corvette. Is the new Python really a Python? Far as I'm concerned, hell yeah, and I'm happy it's back.