Colt Working to Bring New DA Revolver(s) to Market

[JohnBT]

"You have zero credibility"

You should listen to him more and talk less. That's been my experience.

 

[CraigC]

...as likely as Kate Upton knocking on my door in a string bikini.

I'm sorry, I lost my train of thought. What were we talking about again????

You have zero credibility as a semi-annonomous poster on an open forum.

Open mouth, insert foot......all the way.

 

[Vodoun da Vinci]

Not to be inflammatory but I guess I'm the only one who goes back a researches specific posters and forumites to ascertain credibility on the forum in question and on The 'Net in general.

We are all just 'Talking Heads" and "Monkeys with a Keyboard". Or not.

VooDoo

 

[Drail]

deleted

 

[Radagast]

benzy2:
I would expect DPris to read the press release. After all, that's what he does for a living - write about guns in the gun press.

Often a press release will be embargoed - not to be published until a certain date or until stock or samples are available. I'm guessing that something like that is the case here.

Whether Colt comes good is another matter. The gun industry has seen its fair share of vapourware.

 

[mackg]

A gun writer recently had an article published in which he said that he had seen some revolvers on a bench at Colt's; he was told something could be expected.
Sorry I cannot remember his name and the publication.

This reminds me of John Taffin visiting Colt some ten or more years ago.
He then posted on his or JimT's Forum about Colt's 3-Bullets plan regarding the revolver market.
I only remember "for sure" nr 2 and 3, but it went along the lines of:
- Keep the Anaconda
- Introduce a new Single Action
- Re-introduce the New Service...

1 and 2 happened, the New Service thing was scrapped; ...unless I blinked and missed it .

So who knows for sure... It wouldn't be the first time they try or cancel...

...And I vote for the BOA!

 

[Dframe]

two years ago I was told (by a colt employee) at the All Colt show that they were considering it but no deceision had been made. Like I said. I'm NOT holding my breath. Just hoping it happens before I die.

 

[gulogulo1970]

I'll would love to buy a Colt Magnum Carry. That didn't cost $1500 plus like the used ones online.

 

[Peter M. Eick]

The real question I see is will folks cough up the change necessary to buy a Colt?

This has been the ongoing question in my mind which I assume is probably why Colt has delayed so long in bringing one back. Yes the used market is up but (as DPris has pointed out above) it won't be a V spring Colt. So will folks really spend the money on what Colt brings out or not is the question.

I view my Colt's as shooters. I like blasting away with my Diamondback's, Python's and the detective special but would I buy a new Colt? It is hard to say. I would have to see how it fits into my collection and what it offers. Once you move into a new firearm over a collectible, the whole game changes in my mind and you have to weight the revolver against any other new gun.

There are a lot of nice new ones on the shelves so Colt better really do some great engineering and production to compete.

 

[Radagast]

Personally, no. I've never really been interested in Colts DA offerings. A SAA is on my wish list, but the funds have never been available when one comes up.

 

[Barry the Bear]

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA, I needed a laugh, that made my day

 

[brutus51]

I think it’s an excellent marketing strategy. Currently Smith Ruger and Taurus are the key players (not discounting charter arms). With Taurus we have quality issues, with Ruger we have big, heavy and the build of a Sherman tank instead of a swiss watch. With Smith you get the swiss watch action along with a lock nobody wants. I always preferred Colt over Smith’s in a Chevy vs. Ford kind of way and would really welcome a competitively priced offering from Colt and who knows if they take back enough of the market share maybe Smith will do away with the stupid lock.
By the way others are keeping an eye this market as I understand CZ is bringing back the Dan Wesson .357 later this summer. It’s number one on my list.

 

[Jim K]

If/when Colt does re-introduce a DA revolver line, their biggest competition will not be Ruger or S&W, it will be the old Colts. Fans of the old Colts will probably never accept any other design, yet reproducing the old guns is out of the question for the same reason production was stopped the first time.

I remember when Colt brought out the "new" guns, old-time Colt fans not only didn't accept them with joy, they trashed them, denouncing Colt in the terms used for the S&W internal lock. Even though Colt tried very hard to retain the feel of the old guns, gun store gurus complained that they didn't feel "right", that they were poor copies of S&W's, etc., etc.

Maybe there will be enough buyers who don't remember the "old" Colts, or who will buy on the name to make the new line a success. But I cannot help but wonder, if Colt does bring out a new OP, a new DS or a new whatever, the folks on here who say they want one will turn up with cash or turn up their noses. I suspect it will be the latter.

Jim

 

[brutus51]

Jim K,
I find your remarks to be 100% spot on but only for us old farts who have had the opportunity to experience the lock work found on the old Colt's. In this new world of tupperware semi's I think people considering a revolver are looking for something either small, compact and 100% reliable for concealed carry or an extremely accurate tool utilizing more powerful ammunition than can be found in a semi.
In that respect when one thinks of a revolver it's generally considered for wood's use as self defense against deadly predators or as a hunting tool. I guess what I'm trying to say is a Glock 19 is kind of like a Ford Taurus , while a quality 1911 is more like a corvette and a Colt python or model 27 Smith is like a Duesenburg or a Rolls Royce. I would view a Colt Trooper or Annoconda as kind of a 1967 GTO and a 1969 442. I would be very happy with either one. My only problem with the new model 27's is it's kind of like buying that 442 with a wheel boot attached.

 

[Old Fuff]

If/when Colt does re-introduce a DA revolver line, their biggest competition will not be Ruger or S&W, it will be the old Colts. Fans of the old Colts will probably never accept any other design, yet reproducing the old guns is out of the question for the same reason production was stopped the first time.

Absolutely so! The will also have a problem making an "acceptable" new revolver that costs less then one of the original kind of the same (more or less) model on the second hand market.

I am waiting to see what the faithful fans will pay out in big-bucks for a revolver that is CNC machined, and filled with MIM lockwork!!! What if they include an internal lock? Dare I say the word, "Polymer?"

Of course they conld go the other way, and price (whatever) up with the Single Action Army. But if they go over $600 the market size will drop sharply. Also they will have an awful lot of development, tooling and marketing costs to work off against just so many sales.

 

[Panzerschwein]

If they bring out the Dick Special, especially in SS, count me. Same for the magnum carry.

I'd also be interested in a King Cobra if the cost isn't prohibitive.

-Cooldill

 

[Deltaboy1984]

If they come back I will try and get one.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

By the time Colt brings out a new DA revolver ammo will be so expensive we probably won't be able to afford either.

 

[barnbwt]

It kills me that you folks think the Colt won't have an internal lock, as well!

TCB

 

[jimbo555]

When it comes out, I'll buy one!

 

[MrBorland]

if/when colt does re-introduce a da revolver line, their biggest competition will not be ruger or s&w, it will be the old colts. Fans of the old colts will probably never accept any other design,

absolutely so!

I'll respectfully disagree. Ardent Colt/S&W revolver fans may be clarion on internet forums, but they represent a tiny fraction of the overall revolver market. S&W, for instance, does quite well selling their current revos to the general public.

 

[Old Fuff]

I'll respectfully disagree. Ardent Colt/S&W revolver fans may be clarion on internet forums, but they represent a tiny fraction of the overall revolver market. S&W, for instance, does quite well selling their current revos to the general public.

Actually we are in agreement – at least mostly so. At this point I’m not sure exactly what market Colt is looking at – if any. So far the suggestion has been (where revolvers are concerned), medium/large and large frame Magnums. The fans (at least on this forum) seem to be mostly interested in smaller frame snubbies.

Whatever they do (if anything) at this point Colt has to start from scratch. It’s clean-piece-of-paper time, with all that implies in design, development, tooling, and marketing costs – and the total could be considerable. Smith & Wesson, Ruger and Taurus have gone through this and amortized the costs over past sales. They also for practical purposes have between them 99% market share of the pie. So where is Colt’s best (maybe only) chance of getting a share of that pie, given the circumstances working against them?

Personally, I don’t think the company’s higher corporate management above the handgun operation is particularly bright. In recent years they have barely survived by selling a limited number of Single Action Army and 1911 platform guns at carriage trade prices to mostly older fans that could, and would (pardon the pun) “pony up the bucks.” This is not to say that the customers didn’t get their money’s worth, just that it took a lot to get what they got.

If they are going to expand what they now offer and introduce something entirely new, and that “something” is aimed at what presently constitutes they’re customer base, they’ll have to meet those potential buyers expectations – which are frankly very high. It remains to be seen if they can pull it off, but those buyers are for the most part unimpressed (I’m being kind here), with current-day manufacturing technologies. Otherwise they’ll be up against substantial and entrenched competition from the big three (Smith & Wesson, Ruger and Taurus) in a larger marketplace.

 

[Dain Bramage]

And here's an opinion from a non-fanboi. I used to own a Trooper MkIII, and have fired other Colts. Always considered myself an S&W man.

I would buy a Colt DA revolver if it offered something in a niche that I wanted, at a non-insane price. I don't want to relive the vaunted lockwork, or compare it to jewels from the past. I don't want a new museum piece, because the old museum pieces are too expensive. S&W tried that with their classics line, and I wouldn't touch one with a ten-foot pole.

This:

If they bring out the Dick Special, especially in SS, count me. Same for the magnum carry.

 

[Old Fuff]

I would buy a Colt DA revolver

if it offered something in a niche that I wanted, at a non-insane price.

Yup, I would say that describes a lot of potential buyers. The problem is that they don't march in lockstep (meaning they have different niches), and different perspectives on what is, or isn't "non-insane prices."

Would you say for example, "That the price should be around the same as a similar Smith & Wesson or Ruger?" More? How much more? Less? What?

 

[PabloJ]

I would part with good amount of cash for top opening Schofield type revolver with Webley-Scott type auto-ejector system and holstering fins. I would not care for re-introduction of any DA models Colt made in the past.