Is Colt gone?

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Mycin

Mycin

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Just got back from the Dallas Market Hall gun show.

In one of the booths, a guy had a nice display of various Colt revolvers -- Pythons, Anacondas, King Cobras, Troopers, etc., in various finishes and configurations. I commented on the Anaconda in 45LC, that I'd heard they were pretty rare. I then made a comment that I hoped that maybe Colt might bring them back in a few years, if the new Cobra sells well.

The man said, "Colt's gone. It's not been announced, but they laid off the last of their factory workers last Thursday."

I did a quick web search but didn't find anything about this. Has anyone else heard about this? Was he just B.S.-ing, hoping to make a sale? I'm not even sure if he was trying to sell anything -- none of the revolvers had any sort of price tag, and they were all in glass cases, like he was just showing off his collection.
 
I call BS. Either that, or the Hartford Courant missed the story of a large, iconic local business closing down ...

Word of such an even certainly would have leaked out of the past four days.
 
Well, that's what I thought, too -- it would have leaked by now and made news somehow. But what do I know?
 
Colt's Gone?

More like just beginning.

This new Cobra will be a game changer for the industry, and will bring Col. Colt's back stronger than ever.

That rampant pony isn't going anywhere.
 
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Cooldill said:
Colt's Gone?

More like just beginning.

This new Cobra will be a game changer for the industry, and will bring Col. Colt's back stronger than ever.

That rampant pony isn't going anywhere.
Click to expand...
I would agree. Look at Winchester, or even more obscure (to some people) companies like Arcadia Machine & Tool, or Dan Wesson.
 
Colt apparently had TWO new rounds of layoffs, not one.
And I can tell you conclusively that the Cobra will not be either a game-changer for the industry or the means to bring Colt back stronger than ever.
Denis
 
DPris said:
Colt apparently had TWO new rounds of layoffs, not one.
And I can tell you conclusively that the Cobra will not be either a game-changer for the industry or the means to bring Colt back stronger than ever.
Denis
Click to expand...
I would agree with this too. Colt relied heavily on AR sales to the military. In earlier times they had less competition in the AR and 1911 field of products, and only marketed a smattering of sporting and hunting longarms, and produced just a few revolvers that were moderate sellers. Their .22 pistol products were limited and did not compete. S&W really negated their revolver sales to being insignificant in the long run. There was Ruger to contend with as well. Now everyone in town is making competitively priced and quality ARs and 1911s.

I don't think the name of Colt is down for the count by any means, but it will take a completely revamped marketing strategy and product line to put them back in the game as a competitive name.
 
Colt will be like Hostess. It will finally actually go bankrupt and no one will prop it up with cash. Someone will simply buy the name (I hope its not Remington), shed the union and the new factory will turn out 110% of the current output with 75% less employees.

I wouldn't be surprised if production moved to Turkey or Czechoslovakia.
 
C0untZer0 said:
Colt will be like Hostess. It will finally actually go bankrupt and no one will prop it up with cash. Someone will simply buy the name (I hope its not Remington), shed the union and the new factory will turn out 110% of the current output with 75% less employees.

I wouldn't be surprised if production moved to Turkey or Czechoslovakia.
Click to expand...
Yeah sort of like Springfield. Though I personally would pay extra for a really good, reliable American made product.

C0untZer0 said:
But if they chambered that new Cobra in 9mm ....

NOW THAT WOULD BE A GAME CHANGER !!!
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Ruger produced some good 9mm revolvers. I passed one up at a show one time - a Speed Six 3" I think it was - with later regret. But they were never a big seller for Ruger, and I do not think that will bail them out. They will need a new strategy and product line. If they are to stay in the AR biz they are going to have to cut their margins - or compete high end (aka Daniel Defense, H&K etc); there is really nothing new under the sun when it comes to low and mid priced ARs. Similarly if they are going to market 1911s; they are going to have to compete in price brackets.

They ought to, IMO, offer something to compete with Ruger, Browning etc in the .22 pistol market. And maybe something to really compete with S&W/Ruger in the .38/.357 revolver market. These categories are the "bread and butter" of the mass revolver market. Maybe throw in .22 versions as well. They have never produced a 9mm pistol that has been a good seller.

.22, .38/.357 and 9mm represent a big chunk of handgun sales which are likely to continue into the future. In handguns, if I were a Colt reformer this is the direction I would go.
 
Cooldill said:
This new Cobra will be a game changer for the industry, and will bring Col. Colt's back stronger than ever.
Click to expand...
Not if they are as poor quality was the last generation of Colt DA revolvers, which were junk. I owned several of them, front sight blades with no serrations to deflect glare, triggers with edges so sharp they would blister you in a short range session. Here's one example below. Of course I sold it for big bucks, because the Colt name is more important than the quality...

160687739.jpg
 
I have four Colts. Bought years ago. Colt lost me a while back when they dropped virtually every civilian oriented gun they made. No .22s, no production da revolvers, just specialty shop stuff at inflated prices. Government contracts went to their heads and they dumped us regular consumers. I loved my Pythons, Diamondback, Woodies and DS handguns. Don't wish them ill but won't do anything to add to my stash with these inflated prices.
I guess I don't care what happens to Colt and that is a shame, the history and iconic image they had. I have stock in RGR and Smith. Too many companies out there meeting customers desires to worry about Colt.
Only my two cents worth. As entertainers and politicians say, "If I offended anyone, I'm sorry".
 
"But if they chambered that new Cobra in 9mm ....now that would be a game changer !!!"

Why? Other makers tried 9mm revolvers with little success. One foreign police agency wanted them and only bought a few; some folks think it would be a great idea, but no company will make a special model for a dozen people who probably won't buy anyway.

Jim
 
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If 9mm revolvers would sell, they'd be selling now.
Not enough interest or demand.
Denis
 
I predict Colt will become a brand name, just as what what happened when Colt sold the rights to its name for knives. Cheap knives with the Colt name and the Pony and not made in Hartford. Colt branded knives made in China. In time, the Colt name will be on Chinese made rifles and handguns and people will pay extra because they always have, and always will, pay more for the Pony.

I am sorry if the Cobra goes out of production before I can get my hands on one. It might be the last American made revolver ever made by Colt
 
Last week it was the 2nd round of layoffs at Colt. The Custom Shop got hit hard. They are now down to 2 gunsmiths and 2 polishers. That's it. In my opinion Colt is on life-support due to gross mismanagement by the current gang running the company. I wish I could be more optimistic.
 
Like any badly managed company, Colt is likely to go defunct. There is still some magic in the name so someone will buy the rights to use the name.

I seriously doubt they will make any firearms in China with the Colt name on them though. I think anyone that was willing to pay for the name would realize that is not a winning move.

I would not be surprised if Freedom group bought it, or rather whatever is left to buy. It ought to be cheap enough to make it attractive. I suspect Colt's management is looking for some out but they are not yet desperate enough to take any of the unattractive outs available to them. My guess is that with the current firearms market climate none of the outs will get more attractive with time.
 
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