Nightcrawler
Member
Let's say, through some strange turn of events (skullduggery and cunning) I managed to become the CEO and owner of Colt's Patent Firearms Company, and all holdings.
Hooray for me.
Now, what to do with it? Colt has had some problems lately. Anytime any anti-gun group wants to sue somebody, they sue Colt, because Colt has name recognition.
However, Colt could probably do better on the market, too, so I'd try some bold things.
There would be a lot of risk involved in this; a lot of people HERE say they want certain guns produced, but then nobody else buys them. A company can't support a line of firearms based on a few dozen purchases.
In the long guns field, it'd be simple: I'd more aggressively market my AR-15 line to the public. Colt has the big LE/Gov't contracts and the big name recongition; I'd use that.
However, in the handguns field, Colt could do more to compete with Smith & Wesson and Springfield.
The M1911 lineup that Colt currently has is fine; they have a wide variety of models. I'd continue to have the basic Government Model, with classic lines, and more swoopy-looking guns like the XSE and Gunsite Pistol.
Also, the compact Defender would continue in production, as would limited runs of the Super 38. All of these guns would have classic rollstamps, no plastic, and no MIM parts.
Revolvers is where Colt has a lot of room for improvement. The Python is a slick gun based on ancient lockwork. Most Python owners don't carry their beautifully blued guns as working field guns.
So the Python would become a limited production model, which I'd dub the Python Classic. It'd have a high MSRP, probably a thousand dollars or more, but it'd be worth it. The revolvers would all be hand fitted (If US Firearms can do it with its single actions, surely Colt could do it with its Python). They'd be made of highly-polished stainless steel, and would be available in either stainless or, the classic-style Royal Blue finish, applied OVER the polished stainless, for a high sheen. 4" and 6" barrels, mostly.
The Anaconda would continue production, more or less unchanged, as it's the most modern revolver Colt makes (it's based on the King Cobra lockwork, yes?). It'd be available in .44 Magnum and .45 Colt, with 4" or 6" barrels. Royal Blue would be available at cost. The basic stainless models would be marketed as accurate, rugged, working field guns, for hunting, target shooting, or self-defense.
Now, Colt needs an all-business .357 wheelgun. I'd bring back the King Cobra, with a 4" barrel. Stainless or matte blue, high-viz sights, and comfortable, useable grips. It'd be an all business gun to compete with the GP100 and 686.
I don't know enough about Colt's older revolver lineup to make any more suggestions than that, at this time.
However, Colt's single actions....right now they're made for Colt by Uberti. This is unacceptable.
So I, CEO and President of Colt, would make a deal with US Firearms Company, who currently produces single actions just down the road from Colt's original Blue Dome Factory (and in fact WAS making them there for a time).
So, all Colt Single Action and Colt Bisely revovlers would have proper Colt markings and grips, and would be made by USFA. USFA would have the rights, of course, to put their own rollstamps on their own guns, like the Omni-Potent, etc.
That way, Colt Single Actions would be 100% made in the USA in Hartford, Connecticut, just like they should be.
That's all for now, I think...anything else?
Hooray for me.
Now, what to do with it? Colt has had some problems lately. Anytime any anti-gun group wants to sue somebody, they sue Colt, because Colt has name recognition.
However, Colt could probably do better on the market, too, so I'd try some bold things.
There would be a lot of risk involved in this; a lot of people HERE say they want certain guns produced, but then nobody else buys them. A company can't support a line of firearms based on a few dozen purchases.
In the long guns field, it'd be simple: I'd more aggressively market my AR-15 line to the public. Colt has the big LE/Gov't contracts and the big name recongition; I'd use that.
However, in the handguns field, Colt could do more to compete with Smith & Wesson and Springfield.
The M1911 lineup that Colt currently has is fine; they have a wide variety of models. I'd continue to have the basic Government Model, with classic lines, and more swoopy-looking guns like the XSE and Gunsite Pistol.
Also, the compact Defender would continue in production, as would limited runs of the Super 38. All of these guns would have classic rollstamps, no plastic, and no MIM parts.
Revolvers is where Colt has a lot of room for improvement. The Python is a slick gun based on ancient lockwork. Most Python owners don't carry their beautifully blued guns as working field guns.
So the Python would become a limited production model, which I'd dub the Python Classic. It'd have a high MSRP, probably a thousand dollars or more, but it'd be worth it. The revolvers would all be hand fitted (If US Firearms can do it with its single actions, surely Colt could do it with its Python). They'd be made of highly-polished stainless steel, and would be available in either stainless or, the classic-style Royal Blue finish, applied OVER the polished stainless, for a high sheen. 4" and 6" barrels, mostly.
The Anaconda would continue production, more or less unchanged, as it's the most modern revolver Colt makes (it's based on the King Cobra lockwork, yes?). It'd be available in .44 Magnum and .45 Colt, with 4" or 6" barrels. Royal Blue would be available at cost. The basic stainless models would be marketed as accurate, rugged, working field guns, for hunting, target shooting, or self-defense.
Now, Colt needs an all-business .357 wheelgun. I'd bring back the King Cobra, with a 4" barrel. Stainless or matte blue, high-viz sights, and comfortable, useable grips. It'd be an all business gun to compete with the GP100 and 686.
I don't know enough about Colt's older revolver lineup to make any more suggestions than that, at this time.
However, Colt's single actions....right now they're made for Colt by Uberti. This is unacceptable.
So I, CEO and President of Colt, would make a deal with US Firearms Company, who currently produces single actions just down the road from Colt's original Blue Dome Factory (and in fact WAS making them there for a time).
So, all Colt Single Action and Colt Bisely revovlers would have proper Colt markings and grips, and would be made by USFA. USFA would have the rights, of course, to put their own rollstamps on their own guns, like the Omni-Potent, etc.
That way, Colt Single Actions would be 100% made in the USA in Hartford, Connecticut, just like they should be.
That's all for now, I think...anything else?