Colt suspends production of AR-15 for civilian market

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WEST HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — Gunmaker Colt says it is suspending its production of rifles for the civilian market including the popular AR-15.

Colt's chief executive officer, Dennis Veilleux, says it is not permanently ending production but believes there is already an adequate supply of sporting rifles on the market. He said in a statement Thursday the company will concentrate on fulfilling military and law enforcement contracts with its rifle manufacturing.

The West Hartford, Connecticut-based company has received some criticism from gun rights advocates for moving away from the civilian market.

Veilleux said in the statement the company remains committed to the Second Amendment and is adapting to consumer demand.

A national gun control debate has focused on access to AR-15s and other assault-style rifles because of their use in mass shootings.

Copyright 2019 Associated Press. All rights reserved.
 
I think we should just remain open minded. The AR market was flooded with cheap guns after the Obama scare years. It doesn't surprise me at all they would temporarily suspend civilian production if demand is low. I mean that's just good business sense.

If it's some veiled attempt to avoid losing money ion the even of a ban, that sucks. But again, that's business.

Any way you shake it though, the timing sucks a little.
 
Colt needs to build a new automated, CNC controlled plant in a "right to work" state, and compete in the single action and double action revolver market, as well as developing newer designs for autos.

I would love to have a new design 9MM built as rugged as a CZ75, but with the quality of an old style Python. And affordable versions of the SAA, New Frontier and Bisley.

But this would require top end CNC machines to replace hand labor.
 
OP linked to the liberal news service article that didn't tell the complete story. In the same interview, the Colt guy stated that the company was now going to focus on its pistol and revolver production for the civilian market.
 
Colt has assumed for decades they would always be able to make a living off taxpayers, and to a great degree totally ignored the civilian market. And they did it in an arrogant way.

They realized it too late and have remained a union shop in a Non Free State.

Well sadly - Bye.
 
460Shooter said:
I think we should just remain open minded. The AR market was flooded with cheap guns after the Obama scare years. It doesn't surprise me at all they would temporarily suspend civilian production if demand is low. I mean that's just good business sense.

If it's some veiled attempt to avoid losing money ion the even of a ban, that sucks. But again, that's business.

Any way you shake it though, the timing sucks a little.
Click to expand...

This is all old news at this point but most likely will be the final nail in the coffin for Colt. Their marketing person should be fired as well as whoever made this decision. Whether their reasoning is legit or not, I would have never made this decision given this atmosphere as it certainly looks like the gave in to the other side. They are making a statement whether it was intentional or not and as a result they will most likely go under.
 
I don't have a problem with this if they are really doing this to focus on government sales for wartime production. If it turns out that this is being done, even in part, due to political pressure I will be angry at Colt.

If in fact it is for fulfilling carbine replacement for the military, it will be temporary in my estimation.
 
Not that many civilians were buying their stuff anyway. There are too many equal or better options at a lower price. As far as the US military goes, many M4's in circulation are FN's. My former unit had colts when I was there, but they have since been replaced with FN's. FN also makes 4 different machineguns for the US mil as a sole source, as well as the SCAR used in SOCOM. Also, let's not forget the massive FAIL that happened with the MARSOC 1911. Colt probably does more business in the international community than within the US on gov't contracts. Several years ago I was working with an allied SOF unit in South America- they had just gotten brand new M4's- from bushmaster. Rock River got the DOJ contract several years ago. Many LE agencies end up going with options from companies like S&W or DPMS.
 
Particularly with all the talk of a ban, everyone capable of producing receivers is going to be cranking them out at full capacity. There is little incentive for Colt to compete in that market segment right now. For complete rifles, they charge upper end prices for a mid-range product. Years ago it was warranted, now there are a dozen companies producing just as good a rifle as colt for 1/3-1/2 the price. Possibly poor timing, but probably smart business.
 
Conspiracy theory: Colt big wigs rub elbows with many elites in Washington...

They are waiting for the next panic for a big return with warehouses full and a hero's welcome to keep up with demand!!!
 
Marketing move done wrong. Understandable - hard to compete with PSA making good solid rifles for a third of what Colt charges, only the high end users and name snobs have to have a Colt. They are right - the market is saturated, and yet PSA continues to rake in the bucks selling lowers and rifles all day long. As for contract - WHAT military contracts - I thought they lost those decades ago?
Colt should have not said a word, just idled the machinery and moved the staff to other projects.
 
Nothing political to this. they are not making money Colt has failed at marketing as well maintaining its validity in the current market. Colt demands $1200 for a carbine that is straight mil spec. Other competitors are offering full custom packages but Colt is sating pay our rate because were colt. Junk is junk even if it says colt.
 
Colt is a privately held company, and they don"t release production figures. If they were making money on it though, they would probably continue civilian sales.

They're basically saying they're not, and will focus on where the money is. They didn't make a PC statement about how they shouldn't be in civilian hands, they said they support 2A. We can look for hidden meanings, political statements, etc., but the bottom line is the bottom line. It's a union shop in the pricey NE, they can't compete with PSA, etc.

No sales, no profit, why continue to make a losing proposition?
 
AR’s are now a commodity product, at least when it comes to M4-gerry things. No sense trying to compete in a commodity market if you are locked in to higher production costs... or even if you have the ability to devote your production capacity to higher-margin items.
 
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