The Death of Colt

[Leaky Waders]

"And then there is Colt the snob company."

That's what I don't understand about these Colt bashing threads...why are they a snob company? There products are not overpriced. Sure when you compare them to some knockoff product made in another country, they are more expensive. But when compared to locally produced products they are competitive. See post 71 for example.

Bubba the gun store guru was challenged to name some similar products with similar features at similar prices...he cited 4 foreign manufactured pistols and even recommended a Para over a Colt...remind me never to shop in that gun shop with their wealth of misinformation.

Alan Dan chooses a Les Baer over a Colt SCGM (see post 63) although he misquotes the price of the Colt...they are really either 1600 or 1700 out the door (that means tax and paperwork) based upon my buying experience last year. I can't remember - deployed right now and don't have access to my safe.

When looking at a pistol in this price range, I looked at Wilsons, Baers, and Browns - all a little more expensive than the Colt SCGM. I chose a SCGM because it was available (ie no build wait) and because of longevity of the company. In other words, when someone like Les Baer and Ed Brown retires - who's going to work the kinks out of their guns should they present?

For example, when purchasing an item with a lifetime guarantee, it's not based upon your lifetime...it's based upon the company's. So, if the company fails eg Tasco, the guarantees usually go along with it.

Lastly, Colt does have enough product line for me. I'm not into the mall ninja plasticized products. They make SAA's, 1911's and M-4's as well as concealed type/small 1911 pistols.

Their 1911 line is over 100 years old...that's like 10 gazillion internet years Bubba ...and they have reliably kept the 38 super (I lust for one) and 10mm in their line up.

Their SAA's are basically unchanged as well and as referenced by Dennis are manufactured for basically a favor for Americans ie they are not a large moneymaker but they remain iconic.

One thing for sure...whether you say Colt...pull your hammer back and hear the four clicks C-o-l-t, flash the pony on your firearm, or just mention Colt on the internet...it will generate a lot of discussion.

 

[MikeNice]

Chindo post 66 was pure gold.

Hey, it made me want to go buy my uncle's old ratty 1980's Colt 1911. I mean hey it must be nearly free since it isn't a "proper" 1911. It rattles, it is picky about which hollow points will feed,and it even has a finish that is flatter than Oklahoma. Never mind that after 15,000 rounds the frame and slide are still in good shape. The fact that it still drills 4" groups free hand at 15 yards is not good enough. It is just a shoddy piece of jetsam that should be discarded.

 

[Baba Louie]

The reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated -- Mark Twain aka Sam Clemons

We all gotta die sometime, why hurry things along? All firearms mfgs have some issues with someone or something in their lineup. Or their QC or CS, parts they use, where they're made, maybe the politics behind their top dogs decisions, unions, etc... C'est la vie

Back when I was a kid, in way of the 1911 model, there was Colt and there was... uh, Colt. Or old milsurp 45 autos bought cheaply. (I still like both categories, even if cheap is now much more expensive than then) Similar with SAAs and the AR platform tho' there were a few dozen Peacemaker clones around.

My, how (some) things have changed. Colt even has stainless models now

Thank goodness we now have umptey dozen mfgs making the old Colt/JMB/Stoner designs, from big boys to boutique makers, loose to very tight, forged, cast, MIM, damascus, alloy (frames, even polymer), internal/external extraction, made here/made there... why, there's now something for everyone to gripe about should they so choose.

I, for one, am still glad the old Pony is alive and relatively well. The last 50 years have been interesting watching the ups and downs and ins and outs as they keep on keeping on while everyone and their brother are making the same darned guns (SAA, AR15, 1911s) yet the yardstick from which we measure was set up by... who again?

And if they do go TU? I got mine, they each work every time and I'm sure I could get a buck or two more for them than I have in them if need be... eh? (but hope to pass them on to grandkids) It's all good.

Life is good and still we debate the (expected) demise and reasons why certain makers should be dead. And yet...

Here's to a long(er) and prosperous continuation in the evolution of the company. YMMV

 

[Guillermo]

Chindo...no worries.

psychack...sure I would

 

[Prosser]

5. You have a much different memory than mine. The 1970s produced guns that looked like they were made by a drunken UAW union worker 5 minutes before a strike. The 80s were not much better. The current Colts are some of the best ever.
6. You can get a Colt for under $1K, that has more forged and less MIM than anything else in the price range.

My first shooting experience, about 1980, was with Colt AR 15's, a 1911 Gold Cup, and a Colt Python, also a couple forged Springfield M1A's, and a select version of both the AR and the M1A/ really M-16 and M-14.

I just didn't get the Colt bug. I found all of their offerings priced high for the quality offered, and, found much better firearms produced by custom makers,
at the same price point. Detonics for one. A custom .45 Colt from John Linebaugh the other, and, I fell in love with the M1A. The AR 15's were accurate, I will say that, and easy to shoot. They just seemed expensive at the time, for what they were.

That said, that was my perception, and, considering those guns, how well they shot, I was wrong. As I bought rifles, I noticed none of my scoped rifles shot half as well at 100 yards, with a scope, as that AR and the M1A did with open sites. Plus, the Goldcup functioned perfectly, was very accurate, and had a great trigger. The DA trigger on the Python was smooth, but, I found it a bit heavy.

The Detonics did shoot more accurately then the Gold Cup.
What I found out later was the guns had all been custom tuned by their owner, a former armour for the US Navy.

I guess my point is our recollection, and judgement of the past can change with perspective. What I was shooting that day were the equal of 3000-40000
customs today(What is the going price for an M14 today)?
They all drove tacks, in the right hands, and yet that wasn't good enough, in my judgement, at the time. If I had it to do over, I probably should have bought the same rifles I got to shoot, have my friend custom tune them, he probably would have done it for free, and I would have had super match grade rifles for peanuts.

However, being new to guns, I didn't know that all rifles, out of the box, don't shoot 1/2-3/4" groups, with open sites, at 100 yards, at least not back then.

So, Colt has made it through to today. They are offering excellent values in new guns, with I gather, few, if any MIM parts, and, at a good price point.

More power to them.

Thanks to Obama, and the Democrats, the market has never been better for firearms. I think part of our value perception is correct, that the market is supply and demand, and, that the gunmakers are putting out more guns
then ever before, and, are charging higher prices then before. The combination of plants running 24/7 usually means a bit of diminished quality.

 

[Zerodefect]

Colt makes some great pistols. I've been watching these disappear as fast as the appear in my local gun shops:

Nice WW2 era copy, O1911ANVIII
http://www.coltsmfg.com/Catalog/ColtPistols/100thAnniversaryModels.aspx

Colt rail gun:
http://www.coltsmfg.com/Catalog/ColtPistols/ColtRailGun.aspx

Colt Special Gov:
http://www.coltsmfg.com/Catalog/ColtPistols/ColtSpecialCombatGovernment.aspx

I'd have no problem carrying any of those. They aren't LesBaer's or Dan Wesson's. But they're still decent 1911's in thier price class of under $1000. If you go over that you're better off with a LB or DW.

And Colt sells plenty of SAA revolver which are a ton of fun to shoot, not to mention the tons of 6920 rifles Colt sells.

Colt isn't going anywhere. Hopefully they'll streamline thier 1911 lineup and offer a high end 1911 line loaded with aftermarket parts and modern sights soon.

 

[jrmiddleton425]

Colt is anything but dead, or dying. They're putting out some high-quality guns now...if you've not shot or handled one, do yourself a favor and go look at a couple.

This is just me talking, but what I see in the OP is someone wanting to complain that Colt isn't making what THEY think Colt should make (Python).

 

[Flfiremedic]

Everyone can say what they want, but the Wiley Clapp I bought functioned perfectly, but the trigger was so loose it that it rattled...loudly enough to be heard when you walked. There was notably side to side play in the slide to frame fit, the edges were so sharp it shredded holsters, and the front of the ejection port has a sharp protrusion. It has been sent back to Colt, but is almost a month late in being returned and neither I nor the Gunsmith I've been working with to liase on it has heard a thing.
I'd like the gun back, and as it said it never had a FTF so IF everything is fixed I'd consider carrying it, but overall would I buy another Colt 1911? Not from what I've see of CS so far, but it will depend on what they do to remedy the current situation.
I will say the M-4 is fantastic, and the 6920 is the Gold Standard...

 

[Armed012002]

Brent is the manager of the Colt Custom Shop and posts on the Colt forum and on the 1911 forum. His ID is "Bjt72".

Earlier this year he told us that a new double action revolver is in the works.
He won't/can't tell us any details.

Here is the thread: http://www.coltforum.com/forums/colt-revolvers/34238-colts-2011-catalog-reactions-impressions.html

The timeline photos in the catalog are ment to pay tribute to milestones along our 175 year history, since it is our 175th this year. The Mustang will be made, it is at the SHOT show right now. The stainless steel SAA I'm told will be later this year and was not ready for catalog photos or SHOT.
Brent
PS: Yes, double actions are in the plans too. No Pythons at this time.