Why did Colt fade away?

[Tachardiapsyche]

Yes but what I meant by that was the examples of Bill Ruger's designs used rather than current ones.

You mean like when he said we don't need more than ten rounds in a magazine or a gun smaller than a toaster?

Not an example I am interested in.

I like where the current Colt is headed. Nobody makes the 1911 I want, but I know who's the closest.

 

[Guillermo]

meant by that was the examples of Bill Ruger's designs used rather than current ones

I know Mossberg...just teasing you.

(don't think that you are any different...I tease everyone)

 

[wyocarp]

Those who haven't read the reply from rklessdriver on the first page ought to. I sell a lot of 1911 pistols and rarely does one work as smoothly and shoot as accurately out of the box than a colt.

 

[larryh1108]

Just from the perspective of Advertising - Colt Fails. And from the perspective of Distribution and market share - Colt Fails.

And inovation? Again - Fail.

It is a firearm company stuck on it's history and not looking to some future.

Glock actually was getting "stuck" because some desirable features where implemented on other tupperware pistols [like adjustable back and side straps] where lacking in Glock. So Glock adapted and changed with their Gen 4 offerings.

Ruger - again coming up with some interesting pistols and inovations - the LCP for example.

Yes - S&W...

But Colt? Just look at the front of their 2010 catalog and look inside of it and you get exactly what I mean. It's stuck in the past...

Bingo!

Americans are funny. American businesses can be stupid. The "old school" American public used to have brand loyalty. "My first car was a Chevy and I've driven Chevy ever since and Fords suck" or vice versa. The auto industry is a perfect example of American Corporations sitting in their ivory towers, sucking on $50 cigars and laughing that American buyers who were loyal and blind. The imports started to arrive in numbers in the late 70's and now run the auto market. Look at the last few years. Gone are Pontiac, Oldsmobile, Plymouth and on and on. American icons now gone. Lee Iacocca saved Dodge in the 80's with the K-car design which were made to compete with the imports. The imports made the American cars better but lazy and content American bigwigs thought Americans would never stop buying their (fill in the blank) Ford, Chevy, whatever. American cars did not get better on their own (innovation) but the were forced to get better by foreign competition. Today's car of all makes are technological marvels when compared to the cars made in the 80's. Previously, when a car hit 100,000 miles they were toast... done... get rid of it (by design). Now cars are still considered almost new at 100,000 miles.

My point is Colt suffered from the same arrogance. They didn't get better (innovation) because they didn't NEED to waste money on R&D... they had their market and the new guys with plastic guns were all short term and "flash-in-the-pans". Well, the Colt bigwigs were wrong and as their target market shrinks (age does that) and the latest gun buyers are all wowed by the plastic guns Colt has been left in the dust. If Colt does not decide to ramp up to the 21st century buyer's needs they will end up sellling a limited number of "niche" handguns and go the way of Pontiac and Oldsmobile. "It's not your Daddy's Oldsmobile" killed Olds and the same thinking applies to Colt. Join the 21st century or perish. Too bad, Colt was once the standard everyone else measured up to. They aren't any more with a few exceptions. Greed gone bad is how I see it. I hope the bigwigs choke on their cigars.

 

[Guillermo]

One thing that must be said is that Colt is doing something pretty amazing by surviving.

Think about it...how many companies have made it with the "retro" thing. Certainly Harley Davidson is a good example. Their product is very poor in quality (yes they have gotten better) and performance yet they have a cult-like following. It is truly a phenomenon.

Colt has done the same thing (on a MUCH smaller scale). They crank out old designs, some from over 100 years ago. They are a retro company that has made it. In that respect they are amazing.