Colt Working to Bring New DA Revolver(s) to Market
- Thread starter Cincinnatus
- Start date
- Status
22-rimfire
Member
Historically, Colt has never been successful with a firearm that was manufactured outside their factory.
Cincinnatus
Member
In case this hasn't yet been seen by members on this forum, here is a picture that Colt recently posted to its Instagram account that's been floating around the internet lately.
http://instagram.com/p/o6oWV1p1Tc/#
As you can see, the caption reads: "Colt Customer Service reviewing Colt Products at the range. #FactoryFriday" and front and center of the picture is clearly a double action revolver.
This may or may not be relevant to this discussion, since I am the first to admit that it doesn't specifically state NEW Colt products, but it is possible that this could be a new product being tested and evaluated. The fact that it is blued rather than stainless also makes me hesitate to immediately believe that this is a new DA revolver, but it can't hurt to dream, can it?
http://instagram.com/p/o6oWV1p1Tc/#
As you can see, the caption reads: "Colt Customer Service reviewing Colt Products at the range. #FactoryFriday" and front and center of the picture is clearly a double action revolver.
This may or may not be relevant to this discussion, since I am the first to admit that it doesn't specifically state NEW Colt products, but it is possible that this could be a new product being tested and evaluated. The fact that it is blued rather than stainless also makes me hesitate to immediately believe that this is a new DA revolver, but it can't hurt to dream, can it?
Vern Humphrey
Member
There are two revolvers in the picture -- one at each end of the line. The nearer revolver might be an Anaconda -- hard to tell.
CraigC
Sixgun Nut
There's two on the far side and they both look like single actions.
I 99% believe colt is bringing back revolvers. Most likely Anaconda and King Cobra. They don't have qualified manpower to build a python that anyone cold afford. It's no secret they are doing it. They are taking space and employees dedicated to rifle lines and moving them to enable capacity to expand pistol lines. That and the fact that the CEO said they were probably bringing revolvers back is enough for me to add up the pieces. I haven't read anything in the gun mags but their current sales and expansion plans have been in some business magazines. Colt owns the design and patents to the Medusa. They bought it just before they shut down DA revolvers. That would be one cool piece. If I'm wrong I guess they are gearing up to make more 1911s as if there aren't 25 of them in every gun store now.
The large revolver at the front is an Anaconda, and it has some mileage on it. The two revolvers at the far end appear to be small .22 Single Actions. I think Jim is exactly right, and none of what they are shooting has any relationship to any new products they might have in mind.
The gun market has exploded. Now people that just bought one gun are getting into buying more. Automatic pistols have saturated the market pretty good, but there is a huge demand for revolvers. All of the gun stores around here never have a new S&W or Ruger in stock unless it is a plastic or alloy gun. Used ones in decent shape don't stay on the shelf long. When they do they are sold quickly. One shop I know of got a large shipment of 2014 production Ruger Redhawks in a few weeks ago. They got them in on a Tuesday and were sold by Friday. It wouldn't surprise me at all if Colt got in on the action, especially since people are willing to pay $1500 for used King Cobras. Don't get me wrong, I love Colt revolvers, but the price of existing Cobras and Anacondas that are for sale has gotten a little out of hand especially since you can get a Smith 686 and 629 for the price of 1 King Cobra. Some people say that the old ones will still be worth more, but besides the Python and Diamondback I'm not so sure of that. They haven't had any trouble selling the new Dan Wesson revolvers priced at $1,000+.
greenmtnguy
Member
With so much interest in ccw-capable revolvers, I'd think that they'd include a more or less Detective sized model, 357Mag capable wheelgun.
A set of dies for marking the magnum carry are up for sale on ebay. I know dies get replaced but that doesn't bode well.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/2-Factory-C...434?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2c8516bb12
http://www.ebay.com/itm/2-Factory-C...434?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2c8516bb12
My buddy use to have two Colts, the only two I've ever fired. A 6" King Cobra that both he and I shot better than any other gun we owned and a 4" Anaconda that I didn't particularly care for. I really liked that KC, but don't know that it would be unique enough in the market these days to grab a large market share. From a business standpoint I'd think the Anaconda or something similar would be their best move. And with the large number of CCW now, maybe a type of 6-shot snubbie as they really seem to still have a number of afficianados.
hAkron
Member
S&W's recent re-introduction of the model 66...regardless of how poorly executed it may or may not be, along with their 'classic' line of revolvers should give Colt all of the sales data they need to determine if a re-introduction into the DA revolver maket is a good move.
Maybe yes, and maybe no. But in any case S&W isn't likely to share any sales data with competitors in general, and Colt in particular. As a rule-of-thumb the demand for mid-frame .357 Magnum revolvers isn't what it used to be, and the law enforcement market for this kind of handgun as all but disappeared.
What's on the block has nothing to do with manufacturing the Magnum Carry model as such. They are a set of roll stamps that were used to impress the markings on the side of the barrel. All of the production tooling was either sold or scrapped (mostly the latter) years ago, presumably so what ever value was left could be written off the company's taxes.
Some how, for whatever reason, some Colt fans refuse to understand that the company has gotten rid of everything they had relative to the manufacture of double-action/hand ejector revolvers. They cannot return any of the past models to production without having to start from scratch; and the considerable cost of doing this must be ultimately added to the MSRP of the resulting revolver - that is something they're competitors don't have to do because they already have.
The main question is not if they can come forth with new model revolvers, but can they do so at a price the market will accept and is in line with what competitors are offering, while at the same time absorbing the design, development, and production tooling costs. This is highly questionable.
I posted earlier that I do believe they will come back, but I figure it would be an expensive revolver for a specialized market. I do agree that the market is not there to put out a ton of mid-sized revolvers. I may be dead wrong and they may be intending to start selling a complete new line of pistols in .40, 9mm, and .22 target pistols. I just read in business week or WSJ that they were reallocating assets to expand hand gun sales. I wouldn't think it would be 1911s but who knows. The article I read was about the growing gun industry in general and mentioned a few companies. I will look and see if I still have it somewhere. I don't like the rebranding stuff like they did with one of the AR models.
Vern Humphrey
Member
They bring back the Anaconda, and I'll buy one in .45 Colt.
They bring back the Shooting Master and I'll buy a half a dozen!
They bring back the Shooting Master and I'll buy a half a dozen!
You're thinking of a line of revolvers that for the most part were introduced in 1908 and discontinued during the 1970's. The ones I'm referring to date from 1970 forward into the 1980's and 1990's. they were designed to be made, and were made, using what we would call "modern manufacturing methods," roughly similar to what Smith & Wesson does today. The same is true so far as Ruger and Taurus are concerned except Colt continued to make forged frames where the other two had frames that were investment cast.
All of these manufacturers had largely (if not totally) eliminated the individual hand fitting that was required before.
Yup, I know you would - and so would some others.
The question is, are they're enough serious buyers to keep up sustained year-over-year sales to justify the cost the project would entail... ??
After the first rush I have doubts, especially at the MSRP I would expect they'd have to ask for to provide the quality I'd believe potential customers would demand.
Vern Humphrey
Member
Okay, I'll buy a Shooting Master a year for the first six years.
Well I certainly applaud your thinking and hope you get the opportunity.
But the core question is how many other folks think like you do, and have the financial means to carry it out?
Colt is going to have to puzzle that out for a bit.
- Status
Similar threads
