Is Colt Dead?
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22-rimfire
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You would think so, but don't count on it. Colt seems to be content with their military contracts and they are apparently selling all the semi-auto pistols they can manufacture. I have hoped to see a small carry revolver, but that is unlikely. Smith just has more sales and capital for expansion than Colt as I understand it. Plus the Classic lines are just re-do's of former revolvers with the "classic" name attached to the model.
Quiet
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During the mid/-90s, the management made the decision to get out of the civilian market and concentrated all their efforts to secure/maintain government contracts.
During the late-90s, Colt sold off the majority of the tooling they used to make their double-action revolvers and non-1911 pistols and converted what was left for M16/M4 production.
During the early-00s, Colt sold off the rights to their .380ACP handguns to SIG.
During the late-90s, Colt sold off the majority of the tooling they used to make their double-action revolvers and non-1911 pistols and converted what was left for M16/M4 production.
During the early-00s, Colt sold off the rights to their .380ACP handguns to SIG.
watchman101
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Colt worth more dead than alive.
cityslicker
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Maybe one day Colt will loose their military contract, and then they'll take a hard look at the civilian market. I would like to see them succeed with both.
Colt's handgun division is a small part of a larger corporation that isn't (at least so far) interested in putting any money into new handguns. Without some considerable investment there will be no new handguns, just variants of the 1911 platform or the even older 1873 Single Action Army. It is doubtful that any new double-action revolvers will be introduced, and I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for something chambered in .380 ACP. All of this is sad for those that have enjoyed the substantual mix of guns once made by Colt, but right now the future doesn't look bright. Put bluntly, the handgun part of the operation is being starved to death by a brain-dead, bean counter, corporation management. :banghead:
1911Tuner
Moderator Emeritus
Don't count Colt out just yet. Can't say more than "stay tuned"...no pun intended.
oneounceload
member
They did just lose their exclusive contract for the M4.
Maybe another company can buy them out.........like S&W
feedthehogs
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Since they lost the patent so to speak on the M4 with the military, the military now can shop the M4 to many other makers for a better price.
This could very well motivate Colt back to civilian sales.
Deanimator
Member
Hope not. I wouldn't buy a Colt with the ILS either.
I'd rather see Cimarron buy them.
Well Colt's handgun division has been on the block for years, maybe decades - and no one has been willing to pay what the owners want. As it is, each year the company's value to a potential buyer goes down while new buyers come into the market witn no particular knowledge or interest in what have been offering.
Yes, what they make is very good, but they make much less then they're competitors who turn out guns using the same Colt designs.
Yes, what they make is very good, but they make much less then they're competitors who turn out guns using the same Colt designs.
Even if the MSRP (Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price) was in the $800 to $900 ballpark? Colt couldn't produce those old designs for less. Come out with a similar but new revolver? That would take a lot of money to design and tool - and they don't have the money. :banghead:
larry starling
Member
Colt isn't dead yet! Though they do seem to go down that road very often. Colt has a history of bad management and poor timing with product releases. Colt releases a 1911 with a rail several years after everyone else has done it and the popularity is on the down slope. Just one example mind you! we could have several pages of examples of Colt's mistakes! But as a Colt supporter I hope they continue to survive! But they better start making what we consumers want or they might be in trouble once again.......
The 1911 and the limited production SAA is all Colt offers. Colt has been DOA for a long time. Used Pythons sell for $1200+ but Colt can't built a new one and turn a profit. Mismanagement, vultures wearing union badges, and terrible QC doomed the once great handgun maker. Was it about 10 years ago a retired general took over as president and all the magazine touted the changes that were coming? Yeah, right. Look at all the changes that have occurred. Throw the dirt in.
RIP.
RIP.
CoRoMo
Member
The plague of far too many of today's firearm manufacturers.
Vern Humphrey
Member
Colt has a very bad track record with new introductions -- the Double Eagle (AKA the Double Turkey), the Colt 2000, the Colt Anaconda. None of these succeeded. I suspect Colt will not bring out anything new in the near future.
watchman101
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I do want Colt to be successful. But all they have introduced since their divorce from us civilians have been junks. Before all they had to do is have the word "Colt" on their piece and it would sell. Now Colt = junk. Colt is a good company. They came from bankruptcy before, and showed everyone that they are one of a kind. But they can't continue like this. They need a major cleansing job in their intestines.
fireman 9731
Member
Straight from the Colt website:
Just be patient...
Just be patient...
Vern Humphrey
Member
Presumably by cr*pping on the consumer.
I'm a Colt man -- I've only owned one S&W in my life, and that was found in the wreckage of a shot-down C-130. But all my Colts are old Colts.
The Colt Koolaid is strong stuff. Folks will bash S&W and Ruger for their past doings, yet will fall over themselves for a Colt "LE only" models. Their civilian AR's come w/o flash hiders and bayo lugs, collapsible stocks are pinned open.
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