Colt M4 carbine production

[Slater]

Contained in the US Army's FY07 Budget document:

"Colt's present production is 6000 per month on M4 carbines which required a cessation of commercial deliveries. Production in 2006 will increase by adding a second shift to meet Supplemental requirements. The sustainable max. production rate can be increased to 10 thousand a month with a guarantee of continued production. Other orders received could impact planned schedules."

Does the "cessation of commercial deliveries" also include Law Enforcement or are those considered non-commercial transactions?

 

[Henry Bowman]

Does the "cessation of commercial deliveries" also include Law Enforcement or are those considered non-commercial transactions?

Generally, firearms manufacturers in the USA have 4 groups of potential customers:

1. US military
2. Law Enforcement
3. Foreign sales (export)
4. Commercial

I would not take "cessation of commercial deliveries" to include Law Enforcement.

 

[mp510]

Colt has two seperate companies/ divisions, at least for the last several years. One handles .mil and private security (ie. Blackwater type companies) contracts and possibly LE as well. The other makes commercial firearms and also does LE jobs as well.

 

[Henry Bowman]

While Colt has a separate operating company for commercial (consumer) sales, that does not necessarily mean that their manufacturing facilities are separate. It may be very easy for them to shift production emphasis. However, if you are in Colt's commercial sales team, you're screwed.